DOH HEAD DOMINIC ZURLO HAS TENDERED RESIGNATION

[Larsen E Whipsnade]

His last day will be Nov. 30, 2011.

[CFO]

His last day will be Nov. 30, 2011.
Why????

[alfonso2002]

Why????
Intresting timing seems a little ??? The end of the year producers fees??? something don't smell right. Andrea will take his place just don't add up.Don't think he wanted to play??? time will tell

[ScaredasHell]

Good Riddance.

[CFO]

Good Riddance.
Get a clue! Dominick has done more for this program than any other one person. Melissa Milam bailed on the program. There is only so much that one person can do. He has been attacked for doing his job. Too many patients and producers want to turn the NM program into CA or CO. Read the article in the Santa Fe Reporter....the Feds have pretty much left us alone and that is primarily because Dominick would not cow to the DEA or the Feds. The statute gets reopened to have the LNPP fees go directly to the DOH (instead of general funds) in January and we could face some further issues. Currently, the only people getting busted are the patients who are caught NOT following the rules of the program. You may not have liked him....but I would rather have a known factor than an unknown. You think he was tough because he followed the rules of the program? What is going to happen with someone new? I am "scaredashell" now.

[CFO]

Intresting timing seems a little ??? The end of the year producers fees??? something don't smell right. Andrea will take his place just don't add up.Don't think he wanted to play??? time will tell
Where do you get your information? Why would Andrea and not Donna take his place? Or is Donna gone already too? If he is leaving by his own decision, I think he just got tired of all of the attacks. And, no, I have not spoken with him. This is all a shock to me. Why would the LNPP fees have anything to do with his resignation? He didn't set the fees. We are all going to find that we have left the frying pan and are in the fire very soon!

[alfonso2002]

Where do you get your information? Why would Andrea and not Donna take his place? Or is Donna gone already too? If he is leaving by his own decision, I think he just got tired of all of the attacks. And, no, I have not spoken with him. This is all a shock to me. Why would the LNPP fees have anything to do with his resignation? He didn't set the fees. We are all going to find that we have left the frying pan and are in the fire very soon!

CFO I have a few contacts and thats the word.Don't know why Andrea and not Donna but my thinking is a scape goat. Yea they are opening up the statute again My thinking is that they are opening up a can of worms. Dominick was good for the program and your right we have no Idea what is going to happen but it must not be good if Dominick could not stand the heat.Hoping that the producers have there shit together.

[Larsen E Whipsnade]

I hope like hell Donna does not get the job! All I have heard about her is how bad she treated and badly she spoke to patients. DONNA WOULD BE A DISASTER! No compassion at all.

[alfonso2002]

Well if she is that bad then it might be for the best that she gets the job.P.S. the next person in that position has a long road to hoe .

[Larsen E Whipsnade]

I don't get it, why Alfonso would you want her there?

[alfonso2002]

Because the next person in that position is going to be a scape goat for things to come. Maybe that is why Andrea is getting it.

[CFO]

I hope like hell Donna does not get the job! All I have heard about her is how bad she treated and badly she spoke to patients. DONNA WOULD BE A DISASTER! No compassion at all.
I guess I have been lucky...I haven't dealt with anyone accept Dominick. I just figured based on their titles that Donna would be next in line. We need someone who is both tough and compassionate. Tough to stand up for the program and compassionate for the patients. I don't doubt that the producers have their acts together...it is the patients that continue to be busted for breaking the rules that has me scared. Too many keep hitting the news and the lawsuit(s) don't help the public image.

I know that Dominick was going to school, too. Maybe he decided he couldn't keep up the grueling schedule any longer. I wish him nothing but the best.

[alfonso2002]

Me Too P.S. ...it is the patients that continue to be busted for breaking the rules that has me scared. Too many keep hitting the news
what news are you talking about? my paper and tv news programs don't say much.

[CFO]

Me Too P.S. ...it is the patients that continue to be busted for breaking the rules that has me scared. Too many keep hitting the news
what news are you talking about? my paper and tv news programs don't say much.
My information always seems to come after everyone else has already heard. Most of the busts that I have heard about have been in the northern part of the state. So far I haven't heard of any in the southern part. That may be because law enforcement is more concerned with the cartels and not the medical program. Plus our news comes from El Paso. I rely more on the Internet than the local news. I just hope there will be a smooth transition.

[alfonso2002]

Time will tell

[InsuranceGuy]

I hope like hell Donna does not get the job! All I have heard about her is how bad she treated and badly she spoke to patients. DONNA WOULD BE A DISASTER! No compassion at all.

Well I for one liked Donna. I spoke with her regularly while I was waiting for my card to come. She was always very nice and she was the only one to answer questions. Now with that being said, I went to SF to conduct some business and stopped into the DOH office to check on my card. Andrea was who I spoke with, 3 of us were checking on cards, and Andrea pulled all our files and said they would be printed monday and they were.
I have no issues with either being incharge. I heard that you needed to grease palms with Dominick.... Maybe the lawsuit hit too close to home for him...

[CFO]

I heard that you needed to grease palms with Dominick.... Maybe the lawsuit hit too close to home for him...
I don't know from whom you heard such a thing. As much as I have spoken directly with him, he NEVER answered any questions that weren't appropriate for him to answer. People have suggested that those applicants that wanted to get approval needed to "pay to play" and I can tell you that the producers with whom I have worked didn't need to "grease palms" to get their licenses.

[ManOBuds]

Melissa didn't bail,she was forced out.

[CFO]

Melissa didn't bail,she was forced out.
Not to my recollection. She went on maternity leave and never came back. There were a few months without anyone in her position. No program manager until Dominick. In fact, there was an article in the SantaFe Reporter that gave a little more information. She said she could do more for the patients on the "other side" and was going to go to Israel to learn growing. Something like that. You can do a search on their website for the article.

[ManOBuds]

Already read that article.Still believe she was forced out.

[InsuranceGuy]

Ok so now we know why Donna didn't take over as head of the program... She resigned too.
Another top Medical Cannabis Program official resigns (http://www.sfreporter.com/santafe/blog-3171-another-top-medical-cannabis-program-official-resi.html)

[CFO]

Already read that article.Still believe she was forced out.
of course you have the right to think that, but the article quotes her as saying that she feels she can do more for the patients as a producer than within the department.

[CFO]

Ok so now we know why Donna didn't take over as head of the program... She resigned too.
Another top Medical Cannabis Program official resigns (http://www.sfreporter.com/santafe/blog-3171-another-top-medical-cannabis-program-official-resi.html)

I just heard this news about an hour ago. Unreal. No one can expect them to take being constantly yelled at, of course. All of the "in your face" tactics did nothing but force good people to leave. IMHO

[CFO]

Already read that article.Still believe she was forced out.

Since I can never get the links to print, here is part of the article:

"Milan cites the recent birth of her daughter as one reason for leaving her position. Another is she hopes to form a nonprofit to produce and dispense medical cannabis.

Last year, the Department of Health approved rules that allow patients suffering from certain conditions to possess and grow marijuana. The rules also allow for licensure of nonprofit organizations to grow and distribute marijuana to patients.

So far, 540 patients have received licenses, but only one nonprofit—Santa Fe Institute for Natural Medicine—has been approved. As a result, the majority of patients can only acquire cannabis through illicit means.

This is part of Milan’s motivation to form a nonprofit.

“The program has been slammed so hard, but I really am proud of it,” Milam tells SFR. “I want to make it better and that’s why I’m interested in taking care of patients on the nonprofit side. I feel like I’ve done all I can do for them on the government side.” "

[Larsen E Whipsnade]

The best thing that has happened in this mess is Donna is gone! Halle fn luiah!

[InsuranceGuy]

The best thing that has happened in this mess is Donna is gone! Halle fn luiah!

Why so down on Donna? She was always real nice when I spoke with her. She is the only person I could ever get a real answer from. She was very sweet to me every time I called. Then again I was very nice to her cause I wanted her to get my license to me. Now I met Andrea and she also was sweet and helpfull and I got my card 5 days after speaking to her. Think she will do a great job!

[alfonso2002]

Donna is also gone she quit Last day is nov.30th.

[CFO]

Donna is also gone she quit Last day is nov.30th.
I understand that someone named "Butch" is taking Dominick's place at least temporarily. Don't know why Donna left, but probably because she didn't want the arduous task of trying to handle two - four jobs at the same time. People either aren't aware or forget that the people who are overseeing the MCP are all actually part of the harm reduction program or other areas within the department of health. At least with Dominick that was the case. He was the "Harm Reduction Manager". Not the MCP "czar". They all did the best they could do given the circumstances. The patients and producers who would call or show up at the offices screaming at them did nothing but show disrespect to these people. As government employees they had to tolerate it to some degree, but eventually they have the right to hang up or have the person removed from the premises. To say they weren't compassionate enough is totally unfair. How many of the patients who are or were employed worked as many hours as Dominick? He was on call 24/7 for law enforcement. How many other government employees do you know work more than their assigned hours? Did the job and went home? I know more in that category than in Dominick's league.

You know the old saying "be careful what you wish for"? Heaven help us all now. I HOPE they can find someone as compassionate as Dominick to fill his shoes.

If Dominick sees this....I wish you all the best in whatever your next endeavor may be. God Bless and thank you for everything you gave to this program.

[ManOBuds]

of course you have the right to think that, but the article quotes her as saying that she feels she can do more for the patients as a producer than within the department.

That doesn't mean she wasn't forced out.

[Larsen E Whipsnade]

I disagree with cfo. Consensus says Donna was a horrible person(the B word was used by many people re: her) and I guess she fooled you. Too many patients were hurt by her and the unconscionable way the DOH handled the enrollment/re-enrollment debacle. I know someone still waiting. Now 120 days and no card. DISASTER!

[alfonso2002]

I disagree with cfo. Consensus says Donna was a horrible person(the B word was used by many people re: her) and I guess she fooled you. Too many patients were hurt by her and the unconscionable way the DOH handled the enrollment/re-enrollment debacle. I know someone still waiting. Now 120 days and no card. DISASTER!

Don't think CFO was talking about Donna.

[alfonso2002]

I understand that someone named "Butch" is taking Dominick's place at least temporarily. Don't know why Donna left, but probably because she didn't want the arduous task of trying to handle two - four jobs at the same time. People either aren't aware or forget that the people who are overseeing the MCP are all actually part of the harm reduction program or other areas within the department of health. At least with Dominick that was the case. He was the "Harm Reduction Manager". Not the MCP "czar". They all did the best they could do given the circumstances. The patients and producers who would call or show up at the offices screaming at them did nothing but show disrespect to these people. As government employees they had to tolerate it to some degree, but eventually they have the right to hang up or have the person removed from the premises. To say they weren't compassionate enough is totally unfair. How many of the patients who are or were employed worked as many hours as Dominick? He was on call 24/7 for law enforcement. How many other government employees do you know work more than their assigned hours? Did the job and went home? I know more in that category than in Dominick's league.

You know the old saying "be careful what you wish for"? Heaven help us all now. I HOPE they can find someone as compassionate as Dominick to fill his shoes.

If Dominick sees this....I wish you all the best in whatever your next endeavor may be. God Bless and thank you for everything you gave to this program.

Not to worry CFO alls good for now .

[CFO]

I disagree with cfo. Consensus says Donna was a horrible person(the B word was used by many people re: her) and I guess she fooled you. Too many patients were hurt by her and the unconscionable way the DOH handled the enrollment/re-enrollment debacle. I know someone still waiting. Now 120 days and no card. DISASTER!. I never had any contact with Donna so I cannot say one way or the other. Regarding someone having waited four months for their card tells me something is wrong. Either the app was incomplete or DOH maybe never received it. It says clearly on the application form that they will hold the app for six months and then consider it cancelled if there is missing info but that DOH will contact the patient once requesting any additional/missing info. I have no suggestions for resolution other than to send the paperwork off again. Hopefully the patient kept copies and if not, can get the doctor to re-sign without charging. Four months sounds about the time of the expo. Heard there were a lot of problems with those applications being incomplete for some reason or another.

[alfonso2002]

. I never had any contact with Donna so I cannot say one way or the other. Regarding someone having waited four months for their card tells me something is wrong. Either the app was incomplete or DOH maybe never received it. It says clearly on the application form that they will hold the app for six months and then consider it cancelled if there is missing info but that DOH will contact the patient once requesting any additional/missing info. I have no suggestions for resolution other than to send the paperwork off again. Hopefully the patient kept copies and if not, can get the doctor to re-sign without charging. Four months sounds about the time of the expo. Heard there were a lot of problems with those applications being incomplete for some reason or another.

CFO your right again. The EXPO did do a good job on spreading the word about the program BUT there was a lot of people that were putting in paper work with Albuquerque Integrative Medicine not sure what was being done but I think they were setting them up with doctors for a fee.So not sure if all those people had medical records and what not.So that might have been part of missing info on apps.

[CFO]

According to the Santa Fe Reporter, Andrea has now also resigned. This is so unreal! All the complainers thought things were bad before? OMG. What is going to happen now? Heaven help us all.

[Larsen E Whipsnade]

I wonder how many of the producers got their renewal packet with the $10k fee in on time yesterday. All the licenses expire on 12-31-11. I think we may lose a few of them.

[alfonso2002]

For sure some will not be digging in to there pockets again. But the strong will survive and in my MHO the ones that do will just keep doing what there doing.We will all know after the meeting on the 5th. Things are changing at DOH if you don't believe me just pick up the phone and give them a call you are sure to get a live person to talk to. P.S.CFO don't be so dramatic things are not that bad well I hope not anyway.

[CFO]

For sure some will not be digging in to there pockets again. But the strong will survive and in my MHO the ones that do will just keep doing what there doing.We will all know after the meeting on the 5th. Things are changing at DOH if you don't believe me just pick up the phone and give them a call you are sure to get a live person to talk to. P.S.CFO don't be so dramatic things are not that bad well I hope not anyway.

I am usually an optimist but the latest events have me leaning the other direction! What meeting on the 5th? How do you find out these things?

[alfonso2002]

CFO I am involved with a couple of producers and know a few things about growing and the program.As for the 5th it is a few days after the deadline for renewals and the DOH secretary Dr. Catherine Torres has called a meeting no one is sure on what will be done so it has ALL the producers on edge. I am not sure myself but I don't think it will be changing anything but then again I don't have my life saving riding on it. P.S. last thing I heard is that Andrea is also gone so if that is the case DOH did clean house.

[MimbresValley]

I heard a.rumor that Dominic resigned due to some allegations concerning his roll at the.Doh and his previous (possibly ongoing) work in the gay porn induatey. Sounded crazy to me then i googled some stuff... just curious it anyone else heard that?

[alfonso2002]

hay MV have not heard anything like that but I guess it could be. but one think I do know is we will never know.

[cannarex]

hay MV have not heard anything like that but I guess it could be. but one think I do know is we will never know.

Wow, that's a heavy quote: "One think I do know is we will never know." Know what? Presumably like MV you have a computer?

The facts are widely known, and there was no attempt to hide anything. But not the resignation connection, which would seem to be baseless rumor unless confirmed. Isn't it true that between you and CFO and John Monad you know everything there is to know about the DOH? No? Maybe someone will ask Sec. Torres at the Producers meeting tomorrow (cancelled on Monday, moved to Thurs.) what happened and how the DOH will run the Medical Cannabis Program without any money or staff.

[alfonso2002]

"Isn't it true that between you and CFO and John Monad you know everything there is to know about the DOH? No?" No we don't know all but if it is out there and there is a need to know I would look.Someone should ask those questions alot of money has already been deposited in the general fund at this point.As I see it don't think they should try to reopen the statute because that opens the door for the other side but maybe an amendment to it." Know what?" About the private life of someone else.

[CFO]

Actually, I know nothing about the DOH. All I know is what pertains to the LNPPs for which I do some work. I have supported some of the rules and defended the program and the LNPPs against some of the bashing that has taken place on this forum. I believe as patients we need to give the program time to grow. I expect in the coming years there will be a huge increase in patient numbers just as there has been for the last few years. Whether or not there will be any new producers any time soon, that is to be debated. If there is a saturation of the market with excess meds, I don't see any new producers until that changes. I also don't expect the prices to come down too far either. If the prices get too low there will be the chance that the meds will be resold just as prescription meds are being resold.

Regarding Dominick and his personal life....that is just that....it is his personal life. I had never heard anything about him being a "bear" or what that even meant until MV posted the information here. Since what I found when I googled Dominick's name was mostly MCP news, it took awhile before anything other than that appeared. Since that is pretty well buried, it could have remained that way. But some people have to make things personal and provide salacious details that no one else knows anything about just to create controversy when it should never have been posted in the first place. I work with college students and have several grandchildren who post on facebook. I tell them all the time....watch what you post or gets posted about you....you never know who will see it and it could cost you that prized job. I think, however, if Dominick was forced out due to his activities outside the office, he might have a lawsuit himself.