AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s top state medical marijuana regulator confirmed Monday evening that he has been fired by the state Department of Health and Human Services.
John Thiele, who headed up the Division of Licensing and Regulatory Services for DHHS, received a letter last month from the department’s human resources office stating that he was terminated as of Oct. 19. Before that, he had been placed on administrative leave for 10 days, he said.
Thiele declined to comment any further on why he was let go, citing his intention to pursue an appeal.
He said the Maine State Employees Association filed a grievance on his behalf with DHHS by the Maine State Employees Association, and he expects to meet this week with a union representative.
“I’ve been asked not to [comment],” he said.
Paul McCarrier, legislative liaison for the Medical Marijuana Caregivers of Maine, said he has talked to people who are close to the division of DHHS that Thiele oversaw and summarized their view of what happened.
In the eyes of the department, “Basically, he was acting too much like a social worker” and not a regulator, said McCarrier.
Thiele was scheduled to speak at the caregivers’ trade show on Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Holiday Inn By The Bay in Portland. Thiele was listed as the former director on the agenda.
Attempts to reach DHHS Commissioner Mary Mayhew and a spokeswoman for Gov. Paul LePage were not successful Monday.
McCarrier feared the medical marijuana program would not function as well in Thiele’s absence.
“He was really good at taking care of all the moving parts,” he said.
Recently, according to McCarrier, law enforcement officers have been seeking and having courts grant search warrants that have been used to allow them to search growing operations that were licensed by the state. He said Thiele was skilled at taking care of such concerns.
The state maintains a list of licensed growers that law enforcement should be able to check before searching a property, he said.
McCarrier said Denise Guay of the licensing and regulatory division is expected to take over the day-to-day operations.
…….
From a better story on this subject from the KJ: Chris Kenoyer a licensed caregiver who attended the meeting said the reason Thiele gave for his dismissal on Friday was that he had become “too friendly with patients and caregivers.” Then when I read that his boss was Mary Mayhew it all fell into place. We can’t actually have competent people in government acting all friendly with those whom they do business for or with now can we?
This is what happens when you have ‘at will’ employment and no civil service protection’s. Is it a wonder why Walker, Kasich and, here in Maine, LePage are so dead set against any type of collective barginning that provides anyone protections from political interference and corrupt influences ? Wisconsin is going to have their General Election’s in 2014 when we do here. Maine labor is strong enough to stop LePage here since he knows that Maine, of all places, is the one State that’s not going to put up with his keester grabbing. Wisconsin still has Walker because of the Koch Brothers and their Wisconsin money. Given this nonsense, and LePage’s constant whining, crying and repeatedly destructive attitudes toward Maine school’s, and both his and Bowen’s call for ‘for profit’ education at the expense of the whole of the kid’s education, the upcoming General Election’s are going to get real interesting. And that time starts now since the Legislature is now both coming into session and has already made it’s position’s VERY clear as far as how far, and much, they are gonna let LePage get away with.
Last Year’s Budget Reconcilliation was a very mild example of just how much of LePage’s political threat’s, abuse’s and manipulations of process and media ‘guff’ they’re prepared to put up with before the State House says ‘enough’ and ‘fannysmack’ed Paulie. And that was with the State House being GOP. Now it’s completely opposite, and the Maine GOP’s Chairman has declared ‘enough’ and jumped ship. It’s time that the State Legislature finally, and once and for all, dumped this ‘at will’ nonsense and get these people who are looking out for the people of Maine under some kind of civil service to protect them from political abuse’s and manipulation just so some politician can advance some wacko personal agenda. Missouri, Indiana and Illinois all showed the Country’s voter’s just how much of that political and personal agenda ‘stuff’ their State’s voter’s are going to stand for. Regretablly Texas wasn’t that smart, and is going to wind up paying for it for the next 4 year’s with Cruz gaining a seat. But even McConnell now knows he has to work with Obama, TP be dammed. So does Boehner. Political reality, and turning a blind eye to it, has finally caught up with the GOP. The only remaining question is will Maine take ‘The Stand’ and grow up as well. Time, political maturity and practicality are now what Maine need’s, not more media ‘guff’ on the news…………..
Republicans across the country want to break all unions. They want the rich, richer and the middle class poor. Also the poor living in the woods. Wait till the people of Wal-marts get organized. Big time unions coming there.
LOL….the unions and other organized, centralized power centers are PRECISELY what allows the transfer of wealth from the middle class to the upper class to begin with…….what else do you think is going to provide them cover?
The only way they could ever actually get away with it (which they ARE) is if/when they have dopes like you potty-trained to defend them at every turn in the road, which certainly begs the question, what pitiful reward you are on the take for to provide such political cover in the first place, and at the expense of how many of our downtrodden?
I believe that the countless hateful personal attacks by conservatives upon the general public (like this) are why the GOP/Tea Party just took a butt kicking at the poles. Please keep this stuff coming. 2014 will be here before you know it and as you folks like to say, we liberals are always willing to take as much help as possible.
Have you not noticed that this Administration and I mean the President is creating a class warfare game?
Ah-yup, you can join a Union.
But can you join the 1% ?
The all powerful Unions? Please get an education. All Union funds equal .05% of what Exxon can spend to influence our government. .05%, now who do you think is in control of transferring wealth to the top?
“Centralized power centers”?
You mean like Bank of America?
Hmm, funny how the non-union car builders are self sufficient, while your union buddies have trashed GM. If you need a union to hold your hand throughout your life that’s fine -settle for a life of mediocrity where you don’t stand up for yourself.
How is being the number 1 car maker in the world being “trashed”? P.S. Romney lost.
The only reason GM is currently the numberone car maker in the world is a direct result of the tsunami which destroyed the Japanese auto industry. The other dirty little secret, Mr. “Romney lost”, is that Mitt Romney NEVER advocated for GM to be closed. What he proposed was a managed bankruptcy, which would have allowed the company to re-organize and continue to enjoy a successful future WITHOUT the American taxpayer being forced to pick up the tab. You libs are getting tiresome in your characterizations of Mitt Romney as somehow being the boogy man. The only people who benefited from the government buy-out of GM were the investors who sank millions into the company, only to be kicked aside so the union thugs would be paid, and the car dealers who were ordered to close their doors, despite the fact that they were successful.
Mittbot did NOT advocate for a ‘managed bankruptcy’. That is another lie!
He wanted them to go bankrupt, in which case he would have made even more money Bain-style than he did just manipulating the parts industry, after the bail out.
It’s always about ‘the money’. ALWAYS.
Lol, unions are your example of non-corruption. What a joke, hope you and your buddies enjoy Obamas economy.
They see the collective use of force and coercion via government and government-sanctioned unions as a completely just and righteous enterprise in order to get what they feel is ‘their due’ while extracting the wealth of their neighbors.
It is an immoral and repulsive position.
So in short;
He was politically incorrect to the Kock Bro., smart ALEC backed GOTea Corporatist political elitists because he was concerned with the needs of the ill .
“Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power”
Benito Mussolini
Keep right on calling people names- it puts your ignorance on display.
Who did I call names ?
Whose ignorance is what ?
Brevity, please!
your comment was longer then the article and had nothing to do with the article.
From the story he is covered by both civil service law whether Union or not. He is represented by MSEA as long as he is not a confidential employee. Yes, even if he is not a Union member he will bet representational services from MSEA even if he only pays a fair share fee, 60% of regular dues. That fair share fee guarantees his protection.
His crime seems to be competence and compassion.
I feel that you would prefer that the State Police license marijuana like they do with alcohol?
I also don’t think you understand why there is an ‘unclassified’ class of appointed officials, which long enabled your political party to dominate government policy.
I feel you are ‘blowing smoke’ to keep up the torrent of abuse against LePage, while dreaming of retaking the governorship so you and your cronies can move into the good life, once again. … nice try, but we’ve learned a lot from the Pat Barnes/Dale McCormick/Violette/John Richardson/ad nauseaum scandals.
For the love of god Maine, just legalize weed and tax it to pay for healthcare.
legalize it and tell the boot-licking tax proponents to find another source of plunder (i.e. revenue)
The federal law remains in Place; what’s your solution to that, esp. since Obama got re-elected? Then there are internet sales, smuggling–legal or not?…..it gets messy real fast, so should Sen. elect King sponsor a repeal of the Federal laws restricting marijuana…and wouldn’t that trigger a Federal tax on sales taking away the State’s ‘profit’?
This same thing will happen to ANYONE who can make this program work correctly. They (the State) wants it to fail, so that they don’t have to cower in fear of the feds.
And people turning this into Liberal vs Conservative…PLEASE shut up already. The election is over, please please PLEASE give us some peace from the partisan crybaby stuff.
The BDN should do a story on who has a license and owns the different facilities….it might uncover some intersting information on how these were set up and who got permission..
Then some yahoo will go and try to rob them.
What is the world does it mean to say that the guy was acting too much like a social worker? Don’t we want someone like that overseeing a program designed to work exclusively with people who are sick or dying?
The majority of people on this program are not sick and dying..those people are on medicine designed specifically for people who are sick and dying..This program is designed to move forward the legalization of Marijuana…..Clearly this guy was getting into his ‘act’ a little too much….
I’m glad the state medical marijuana demographer and licensed medical practitioner mrwarldo 2010 chimed in. How foolish we all are to think there might be a sick or dying person benefiting from this program.
Call Ken Altshuler(WGAN) and complain to him since he was one of the architects of the State Program.
Do you think the State Police should ‘help’ heavy drinkers like a ‘social worker’ would or focus on enforcement.?
Do you think that perhaps the State is worried about their revenue from alcohol sales?
Would you transfer you view of marijuana regulation to DEP and their ‘enforcement’ of environmental protections?
Where is your evidence that people in this program aren’t sick (injured) or dying?
BDN
Waldo – you seem to have confused a strong opinion with factual evidence. Until you can show us a single piece of evidence that supports your assertion that medical marijuana users are not sick, you’re just blowing smoke (and not even the good kind).
Do you have anything meaningful to contribute to this conversation?
LOL
Get him dawg ! LOL
whats your sourse for that statement?
Please show your knowledge. List the conditions necessary to qualify for medical marijuana.
Waiting………….still waiting……………didn’t think so.
So true….
“Recently, according to McCarrier, law enforcement officers have been seeking and having courts grant search warrants that have been used to allow them to search growing operations that were licensed by the state.” – Tom Groening
Police seeking a search warrant for legal growing operations sounds very suspicious. Makes me wonder if police are overstepping their authority on this measure. If there is real suspicion of unlawful activities, then by all means, get a warrant, otherwise leave the growers alone. If they are doing nothing wrong and police get a warrant, then that could be considered harassment.
I would like to know more about why John Thiele was fired and why there are search warrants being requested and issued.
clearly he was stepping outside the bounds of policy and law…
I must have missed something. The article sites” lack of oversight and acting like a social worker” (I am a social worker and I don’t know what it means). There is nothing clear about it …. I suggest we just wait to hear the facts. Sounds like one of the more competent of Mayhew’s employees.
That’s twice you’ve said “clearly” he’s somehow derelict in his duties with no backup.
Pfft.
The cops have to convince a judge that there is probable cause in order to get a search warrant.
Ever hear of lies told by officials? Search warrants are done mostly on suspicion not always factual. Judges are only signing based on belief that all they are told is backed up with fact and it has been proven repeatedly that is not always so.
No, I’ve never heard of cops telling lies. Just kidding. Anyway, that sort of thing can happen in all kinds of cases.
In an agency that to most Mainers appears to not being able to find their butt with either hand the one person who is said by his supervisor to be doing a good job is fired. Welcome to the Bizarro World of The LePage Administration.
anarchists create a hatred and doubt where this no reason…..your fake outrage is duly noted
LePage and his cronies threw the baby out with the bathwater when they decided to clean house and fire all the people who actualy understood the system and evolution of DHHS. There have definitely been problems with the Department for a long time but not holding onto some of these employees was a big mistake …..but that’s how they operate. My way or the highway! 2 years is way too long to have this joker in office but he may be a bit more timid after January.
Thank you Maine – great election!
BDN
Oh No… not Compassion….
Now there’s a surprise … Looks like they are hurrying their agenda before new Legislature seated. This is only November 12th with more to come I am sure before new January session. I am curiously sitting here to see if Governor signs newly voted laws into effect or tries tyranny to try and override the people. Maybe January would be a good time to see if Legislature can impose the the “at will work” and “no civil service protection” to replace a few Augusta tyrants. Guess we will see won’t we….
Lets do what Colorado did.
Rocky Mountain High,Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaby
Retaliation in response to the election. These appointed jobs are being thinned out before the new legislature is seated.
This guy cared for people and his job,,,what more do you wont a computer to it for you.?.. Mr Thiele..please keep on fighting for your job,we need more people like you in the department..!!!
Best of luck Mr Thiele in your appeal. I hope if you were unjustly let go then you deserve your job back and those who are responsible maybe need to go through the process you were subjected to and join the unemployment line. As I stated yesterday the administration is hurriedly trying to rule by tyranny before the next Legislature is seated because looks like maybe some changes are heading to Augusta. At least I hope so because it is time for the people to be heard over the ones trying to set policies that are not working. I figure a couple more elections and the people will take control back in Augusta and DC and get our country heading back in the right direction because the wrong way is an accident waiting to happen again and again and again at all of our expense. I think we all see that this state and country are equally divided on each side of an issue which is why the two party system doesn’t work well. Time to research each issue and vote your conscience even though there are two sides to every story majority wins and it is proven that opinions can be changed with thoughtful courteous discussion based on facts not bullying.
This program should be shut down as everyone knows pot leads to insanity or worse
Not to mention REEFER MADNESS
Which makes violent drunks look passive……..we have to eradicate this menace before it totally destroys our society !
If a friend offers you POT, they are not your friend.
oh my
You must be confucius
People are so misinformed. This guy needs his job back…
He’s not related to LePage……
I didn’t say he was…
John Thiele is one of the best of the good guys. If he is getting kicked around something stinks bad. Reeks,in fact.
He was fired for acting like a social worker and not a regulator?
Acting like a social worker….that to me sounds like he got fired for being too helpful or something.
Name another department where someone would be fired for acting too much like a “social worker?” Where someone would be fired for being too helpful to an industry?
Isnt the Lepage Administration the ones pushing a business friendly environment?
“Open for Business.” And now someone is being fired for being too helpful, or too knowledgeable, or too skilled?
Or is there a biased agenda against the medical marijuana industry? Are there special interest groups pressuring to have the medical marijuana industry regulated so aggressively that they dont succeed?