diff --git a/backend/src/utils/validation.js b/backend/src/utils/validation.js
index feb5ab6..df966a6 100644
--- a/backend/src/utils/validation.js
+++ b/backend/src/utils/validation.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ const Joi = require('joi');
 // User validation schemas
 const registerSchema = Joi.object({
   email: Joi.string().email().required(),
-  password: Joi.string().min(8).pattern(/^(?=.*[a-z])(?=.*[A-Z])(?=.*\d)(?=.*[@$!%*?&])[A-Za-z\d@$!%*?&]/).required()
+  password: Joi.string().min(8).pattern(/^(?=.*[a-z])(?=.*[A-Z])(?=.*\d)(?=.*[@$!%*?&#+])[A-Za-z\d@$!%*?&#+]/).required()
     .messages({
       'string.pattern.base': 'Password must contain at least one lowercase letter, one uppercase letter, one number, and one special character'
     }),
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ const updateUserSchema = Joi.object({
 
 const changePasswordSchema = Joi.object({
   currentPassword: Joi.string().required(),
-  newPassword: Joi.string().min(8).pattern(/^(?=.*[a-z])(?=.*[A-Z])(?=.*\d)(?=.*[@$!%*?&])[A-Za-z\d@$!%*?&]/).required()
+  newPassword: Joi.string().min(8).pattern(/^(?=.*[a-z])(?=.*[A-Z])(?=.*\d)(?=.*[@$!%*?&#+])[A-Za-z\d@$!%*?&#+]/).required()
     .messages({
       'string.pattern.base': 'Password must contain at least one lowercase letter, one uppercase letter, one number, and one special character'
     })
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index a81d57e..4935aa1 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ services:
       context: ./backend
       dockerfile: Dockerfile
     environment:
-      - NODE_ENV=production
+      - NODE_ENV=development
       - DB_HOST=db
       - DB_PORT=5432
       - DB_NAME=${DB_NAME:-turftracker}
diff --git a/frontend/src/contexts/AuthContext.js b/frontend/src/contexts/AuthContext.js
index 80d97a4..d963130 100644
--- a/frontend/src/contexts/AuthContext.js
+++ b/frontend/src/contexts/AuthContext.js
@@ -161,7 +161,8 @@ export const AuthProvider = ({ children }) => {
       toast.success('Account created successfully!');
       return { success: true };
     } catch (error) {
-      const errorMessage = error.response?.data?.message || 'Registration failed. Please try again.';
+      console.error('Registration error:', error);
+      const errorMessage = error.response?.data?.message || error.message || 'Registration failed. Please try again.';
       dispatch({ type: actionTypes.SET_ERROR, payload: errorMessage });
       toast.error(errorMessage);
       return { success: false, error: errorMessage };
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Auth/Register.js b/frontend/src/pages/Auth/Register.js
index 9f6b2f7..8994402 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Auth/Register.js
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Auth/Register.js
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ const Register = () => {
                   message: 'Password must be at least 8 characters',
                 },
                 pattern: {
-                  value: /^(?=.*[a-z])(?=.*[A-Z])(?=.*\d)(?=.*[@$!%*?&])[A-Za-z\d@$!%*?&]/,
+                  value: /^(?=.*[a-z])(?=.*[A-Z])(?=.*\d)(?=.*[@$!%*?&#+])[A-Za-z\d@$!%*?&#+]/,
                   message: 'Password must contain uppercase, lowercase, number, and special character',
                 },
               })}