(In late March, officials reported that a nearly month-long investigation of the Wellness Connection of Maine, which operates a medical marijuana dispensary in Portland, revealed the use of pesticides in the growing of medical marijuana, lack of proper security and the production and sale of an illegal form of marijuana — among more than 20 violations of state rules, the Maine Division of Licensing and Regulatory Services reported. Now, patient advocates and union officials plan an 11 a.m. rally at 685 Congress St. Saturday to protest Wellness Connection.)

Editor,
After DLRS held its month-long investigation into the practices and procedures of Wellness Connection of Maine, the state's largest dispensary operator, numerous articles have been written about the company. Some of these articles explained that a "majority" of the employees at Wellness Connection of Maine had banded together and officially formed a labor union. The purpose of writing this Op-Ed is to give a voice to those in the company who have absolutely no interest in unionizing and to inject some truth into a conversation that has, up to this point, been quite one-sided and shown little regard or attention to anyone unwilling to attack the company.
The employees who have spoken with the media do not speak for all, or even a majority, of current employees at Wellness Connection of Maine. In fact, as of writing this Op-Ed (April 4, 2013), and contrary to numerous media reports, no union has been formed at the company. Reports to the contrary were premature and factually inaccurate and incorrectly take into consideration several "pro-union" employees, who spoke with reporters, who are no longer working at any of our facilities due to their personal decision to terminate the employment relationship with the company.
There are, however, many of us who continue to stand by the company and have no interest in forming a union. It is important to point out that a large number of the employees at Wellness Connection of Maine have very different, and favorable, opinions of the company than what some media outlets may have led their readers to think. With an understanding that this is a difficult process in an industry with little to no federal standards, a large share of Wellness Connection of Maine employees feel they have been given an amazing opportunity. Not only do we get to work in a burgeoning industry, but every day we come to work we know that we are doing something to tangibly help other human beings. This is why we got into the medical marijuana industry; we believe in the healing properties of cannabis and recognize the ability of the medicine to legitimately help those in need.
Like any start-up business, there have been growing pains and bumps in the road, but those of us dedicated to the organization and the leaders behind it feel privileged to be attached to this company. Wellness Connection of Maine voluntarily began to provide, months ago and with no external pressure from labor unions or anyone for that matter, its employees with health insurance benefits, a company-matching 401(k) program, fair pay, and other resources and benefits that many companies do not voluntarily offer their employees.
We are not just members of the marijuana industry, but see ourselves as a loud voice for medical marijuana patients and advocates across the nation. It is encouraged by the company's leaders to do local outreach, get involved in local charities, and provide events for patients at the dispensaries to help establish patient-to-patient support. Our primary and lasting goal is take a full-spectrum approach to improving our clients' health and wellness. We stand behind our company completely in our shared journey toward this end.
Thank you for taking the time to hear from those at Wellness Connection of Maine who have not yet had a voice in the press. It should be noted that this document has not been vetted by upper management and that opinions expressed in this document are meant to represent only those who have attached their name to it; this should not be considered, nor is it by any means, an official press release from the operators of Wellness Connection of Maine. Please feel free to contact any of the following employees if you would like to speak further on the subject:

Kate Tozier, Portland Dispensary, Manager
Tori Staples, Portland Dispensary, Client Services Generalist
Garret McAlpine, Portland Dispensary, Client Services Generalist
Paul Gervais, Brewer Dispensary, Manager
Chris Blush, Brewer Dispensary, Client Services Generalist
Kim Gondeck, Brewer Dispensary, Client Services Generalist
Sonia Boissonneault, Brewer Dispensary, Client Services Generalist
Tracey Engdahl, Auburn, Processing Assistant
Vicki Denbow, Auburn, Security
Christine Bixby, Auburn, Processing Assistant
Janna Schulz, Auburn, Processing Assistant
Denis Durant, Auburn, Logics Technician
Jessica Harrison, Auburn, Packaging Manager

Editor,
(This letter was to be read on March 25 in Augusta when state officials met about the future of Baxter Academy in Portland. It was submitted to The Portland Daily Sun prior to the meeting.)
To whom it may concern,
My name is Chris Jones and I am listed as a founder of Baxter Academy for Technology and Science. I was a part of the Advisory Board for almost 2 years until just recently. I volunteered for Baxter Academy and had a vision of it being a role model charter school for other charter schools to look up to. With myself and the other Advisory Board members, we had many wonderful plans for the school, but in the last month, all of these plans have been destroyed.
Now I cannot speak for the entire Advisory Board but I can speak about what we went through during the whole process of the Board of Directors removing John Jaques as Executive Director of Baxter Academy. The Board of Directors have crafted a wonderful story as to why they have removed John, but quite frankly the Board of Directors were purchased from an outside source. All of the Advisory Board members including myself worked very closely with John in order to make this school possible and after two weeks of debating, we were shocked the board had actually decided to take the money and remove John Jaques as Executive Director. We were even more shocked to hear their version as to why they removed him. The John Jaques that we know is nothing like what the board has described him and there was most certainly no "mismanagement" going on.
I write this letter today because I'm worried about the parents and students interested in Baxter Academy. I write this letter today because I'm worried about who is running Baxter Academy. What the Board of Directors has told the press, and what actually happened are two different stories, and the fact that they have since gotten away with it scares me. Why is it that almost the entire Advisory Board resigned over night? Why is it that as soon as John Jaques was removed for "mismanagement" there was a $250,000 donation to Baxter Academy? Things don't add up. The Board of Directors will refute everything that I am saying, I can almost guarantee it. The problem though is that there are plenty of former Advisory Board members who saw the truth, and I want the truth to be heard for the sake of the potential students and parents. The fact that the boards decision was persuaded so easily with money makes me nervous about future decisions that they may make. They may say the students education is their first priority, but frankly if they're given enough money they'll say anything that pleases the majority.
Take a look at Baxter Academy. Since it's inception, the founders all had the same idea, the same dream, the same passion. They strived to make a charter school where students could excel and go beyond what was expected of them. The students and their education were the founders first priority. Now, looking at Baxter in the present time, most of the founders are all gone; too ashamed to work with a school that has become corrupt. The only people left at the school are the Board of Directors. The very people who were bought out and told to remove John Jaques. As the first charter school in Maine, is this what we want to represent our state? Is this the shining beacon, the charter school that was suppose to be looked up to by other charter schools? When the school was founded, that was the goal, that was it's vision, but now, there is no vision, and from what I can see, there is no hope. The vision that the school has now is shrouded in lies and money. The team that Baxter Academy once had is no more, and the group of individuals who strived the create this school are now all gone. All that remain are the 5 Board of Directors, and that's it.
To the parents and students interested in Baxter Academy, please be cautious. The same Board of Directors who are telling you all of the wonderful things that will be happening at Baxter Academy were also the same people whose decision was persuaded for $250,000. Sometimes things are too good to be true, and in this case, the new Baxter Academy is one of them.
The Board of Directors will most likely deny everything that I have said; it makes them look bad, but to be honest, they were the ones who made the final decision. The Advisory Board had put their trust in them, and they turned their backs to us. Focusing not on the students and the education, but on the money. It saddens me to say that Baxter Academy had so much potential, but now, being run by a corrupt system, I can't help but wonder what will happen to the students who end up attending Baxter Academy. Parents and students may have already been convinced by the Board of Directors that nothing bad will become of Baxter, but there's a difference between their story and mine. I'm telling the truth out of fear for the students and their education, my only motivation is to see the truth exposed, and the facts be known. One of the boards biggest motivations is money, so whatever statements they may say, whatever arguments they may have about the truths that I have stated, just remember, money can persuade people to say what the majority wants to hear.
Sincerely,
Chris Jones
Advisory Board member for Baxter Academy

Editor,
Generally if you let someone go on too long, they will eventually be tripped up by their own flat facts. Such was the case with John Quinn of the New England Petroleum Council at the March 20 Transportation, Energy and Sustainability meeting. Mr. Quinn repeatedly referenced the recent State Department Keystone XL report as reason to allay any public concern re tar sands being piped through Maine and shipped out of Portland Harbor. Unfortunately, that report's impartial risk analysis is now being seriously questioned since it has come to light that the independent consulting firm(Environment Resources Management)hired by the State Department to author a bulk of the report also has worked numerous times for TransCanada, the company looking to build the pipeline. Perhaps this is normal State Department procedure but if so why were the work biographies of the experts involved redacted from public scrutiny? Maybe the fox being hired to write a report on security protocols for a new henhouse just wouldn't look right in the public eye.

Then we have Mr. Quinn's statement that tar sands extraction does not contribute significantly to global warming. Let's see, first to extract a barrel of oil from a surface mine, you first cut down a forest, then you must remove an average of 2 tons of peat and dirt above the oil sands layer, strip the tarry bitumen from the sand with hot water and caustic soda discharging the now contaminated water into tailings ponds. Then, at the upgrader, the product gets heated again to about 900 degrees to crack the tarry bitumen. And if you want the use the au courant, in situ extraction, you use twice the energy because it requires copious amounts of steam to melt the bitumen so it can be pumped to the surface. All of this "clawing and cooking" emits as much as three times more CO2 for a barrel of oil sands crude as does one gush of oil from a rig. For a more detailed explanation of the above, check out that notoriously left-wing rag, The National Geographic on-line .

Sincerely,

Nicole d'Entremont
Peaks Island

Editor,
Following is a letter to Portland Mayor Michael Brennan.
Dear Mayor Brennan:
As chair of Baxter Academy's Board of Directors, and on behalf of 160 prospective students and their families, | am writing to invite you to sit down with representatives of our school. We acknowledge that Baxter Academy has been undergoing important change and that the school itself is emblematic of a transformation in education statewide. We believe these changes represent progress.
One important thing for us to clarify here and now is this: Our actions to replace our former executive director had a single financial catalyst but were based largely on concerns about mismanagement of human resources. Productive energy was not channeling out to the growing tips of the enterprise. To thrive, we believe Baxter Academy must nurture community partnerships. Ail of the research clearly shows the value of STEM education to the viability of an economy. We are here to serve students, and in doing so, will serve the
future ofthe city. Let's Work together. We Want Baxter Academy to participate in its community.
Baxter Academy is about 160 students who want this public option for a STElVl education. Only 22 of them live in Portland; the rest will come from outlying areas to be a daily part ofthe pulse of the city. We hope you can join us in Augusta Monday to meet some of these students and their families, as well as to hear about the progress the school is making.
We want to be a source of growth for Portland. After the hearing, we would welcome the chance to have a conversation about the way forward: lt is our belief Portland has much to gain from Baxter Academy thriving at 54 York Street.

Sincerely yours,

Kelli Pryor
Chair
Board of Directors
Baxter Academy for Technology & Science
54 York St., Portland