AUBURN — A medical marijuana company on Friday responded to a recent spate of complaints from employees and state regulators about their operations.

Wellness Connection of Maine released a memo that outlines its views on each of the complaints leveled against it. Chief Operating Officer Patricia Rosi described the recent trouble as “growing pains” that come with any new business.

“We’re pioneers; we’re trailblazers,” she said. “We just have to be committed and flexible … We’re learning as we go.”

After weeks of investigation, the state found 20 violations at the medical marijuana company with a cultivation operation in Auburn.

The Division of Licensing and Regulatory Services considered the most serious violation to be the company’s use of pesticides in its growing operation. Because pesticide use has not been well-studied with medical marijuana and officials are concerned about its health effects, state law expressly prohibits medical marijuana growers from using pesticides.

In response, Wellness wrote in its memo: “Pest control is a major concern for every facility that grows therapeutic cannabis, or medical marijuana, not just for Wellness Connection of Maine. In February, we suspended the use of any pest-control substances. Prior to that time, we used materials commonly applied in the industry.”

While state officials say pesticides are a concern and Wellness Connection of Maine must immediately stop using them on its plants, the state is allowing the company to sell to patients, with notice, its remaining marijuana stock that has been treated with pesticides.

Wellness Connection operates four dispensaries, one each in Portland, Hallowell, Brewer and Thomaston. It runs a growing operating at 33 Omni Circle in Auburn, near the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport.

The state investigation began March 4 at the Auburn facility after a complaint from an employee, but it soon included all of the company’s facilities.

Wellness Connection has 40 to 60 employees after beginning with only five in 2011. The group has 2,000 clients. Rosi said the company is working willingly with state and federal agencies, because it wants to continually improve quality of life for its clients.

“It’s all about our patients,” Rosi said. “There’s a lot of passion and pride.”

State officials said they received 22 complaints from employees.

A handful of people claiming to be Wellness Connection employees called the Sun Journal in March to talk about the situation there. They described an unsanitary, bug-infested growing operation that had mold and fungus on or near the plants. They said the facility was often open to bugs and the elements as repair or construction workers propped open doors and deliveries came through.

They said plants commonly were treated with pesticides and fungicides in an effort to control the problem.

They said Auburn employees staged a one-day walkout in February over the issues. They said management promised to make changes but little was done.

In its memo, Wellness Connection responded to reports of dissatisfaction among its employees:

“We are always happy to engage in conversations with our employees. (Wellness Connection of Maine) believes that clear and regular communication at all levels is essential to the success of any business.

“Our employees,” the memo continued, “are welcome to engage in conversations with unions and any other industry groups.”

The Division of Licensing and Regulatory Services in March said Wellness had a “laundry list” of violations, including selling an illegal form of marijuana, lacking proper security, allowing unlicensed workers on site and failing to properly inventory stock, which led investigators to discover 2 ounces of marijuana unaccounted for at the Hallowell dispensary.

State inspectors said they were ready to suspend Wellness Connection’s license if its leaders did not sign a consent agreement with the state. Those officials did, agreeing to, among other things, cease the use of pesticides, notify patients that Wellness Connection used pesticides, cease sale of kief or kiefer, an extra-potent, illegal form of marijuana and submit to frequent inspections by the state.

Rosi said Friday the company was not resisting the input of the agencies or their inspections.

“We welcome them,” she said. “This shows we’ve become a mainstream industry. This makes us better.”

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Wellness Connection of Maine Background Memo

SAFETY & PEST CONTROL

* Pest control is a major concern for every facility that grows therapeutic cannabis, or medical marijuana, not just for Wellness Connection of Maine (WCM).

* In February, we suspended the use of any pest control substances. Prior to that time, we used materials commonly applied in the industry.

EMPLOYEES

* We are always happy to engage in conversations with our employees. WCM believes that clear and regular communication at all levels is essential to the success of any business.

* WCM has sought to create a safe and productive environment, both for our patients and our employees.

* Since 2011, we have grown from five to 40 employees. We provide them with comprehensive salary and benefits packages, including a 401(k) plan and an employee assistance program. On average, our employees are paid 43 percent higher than minimum wage.

* Our employees are welcome to engage in conversations with unions and any other industry groups.

COMPLIANCE, MANAGEMENT & ORGANIZATION

* WCM is in compliance with most of the requests from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). If any violation is pointed out, WCM will work with DHHS to come into compliance.

* WCM is working closely with DHHS to come into full compliance but there are challenges we must address together.

* Example: DHHS says WCM must create an “eye wash system.” But WCM cannot allow a plumber or any contractor into dispensaries without a “state card.“ The process to acquire a state card requires a background check that takes one month. So we hope to be in full compliance by next month.

* Example: DHHS issued a security fine because we didn’t have a camera at the entrance. We installed one within 24 hours.

* WCM has appointed a new chief operating officer who will focus on compliance.