Board for FK marijuana distributer includes political leader, nurse, soil scientist

FORT KENT - Leo Trudel of Fort Kent said Monday that there is a board of Maine citizens assisting him in his efforts to launch a medical marijuana distribution center.  The board includes current Maine State Representative, MSAD 27 school board member and former Maine State Senator John Martin.  It will also include University of Maine at Fort Kent nursing instructor Diana White and Jean English, a doctor with a PhD in soil science who teaches at Unity College.

Trudel said in an interview on Monday, "I want to see it help the citizens of Maine."

As a local entrepreneur and associate professor of business at UMFK, Trudel said he has the background in business, law enforcement, organic farming and alcohol and drug related services to start a successful operation.  He said, "It's an area that someone needed to step in to take a lead..."

He added, "I think the board members have an awful lot to offer."

In April, the state legislature passed the medical marijuana dispensary bill.

Last week, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services announced that the state had awarded six licenses to distribute medical marijuana.

Trudel received the only license in Aroostook County.

Calling his distribution operation Safe Alternatives, Trudel says the organization will grow and distribute marijuana to persons in Aroostook County who have a prescription for the medicine meant to treat wasting diseases, chemotherapy, AIDs, glaucoma and chronic pain.  He said that, rather than having patients travel to Fort Kent to fill a prescription, plans are to fill a person's prescriptions by delivering the organic medicine to the residence of the patient.  He said, "We will grow it, and we will distribute it."

He said the reason for the door-to-door service is to help patients who are unable to travel because of their ailments.  He said, "The idea is to serve the patient."

Trudel acknowledged controversy and stigma associated with the use of medical marijuana and said Safe Alternatives will field the issues with efforts in public education, highlighting security, and explaining the benefits it will bring to the community.

Trudel said Safe Alternatives will bring in some jobs, increase the tax base, and provide opportunities for experiential learning through the University of Maine at Fort Kent for students of nursing, business, criminal justice, public safety, behavioral science, and education.

In the near future, Trudel said he is hosting a forum in several communities so individuals who are concerned about the new business can ask questions, and Safe Alternatives can address their concerns.  He also said the company will launch a website in a few weeks to "show primary areas of focus."

During the interview, Trudel repeatedly stressed the stringent DHHS guidelines regarding both security of the drug and patient confidentiality.  There are no definite numbers, but from data gathered in other states, he says about one half of one percent of The County's population will have a need for the services Safe Alternatives will offer.

He said, "It's a matter of taking care of the patients first."