Patients Say They Aren’t Being Heard on Springs Medical Marijuana Working Group
Confusion over public participation in the process.
Sherry and Doug Szklarski held up their “Quit Making us Criminals” and “Don’t Take My Medicine Away” signs as they stood with dozens of protestors, who gathered in front of the Colorado Springs City Administration Building Wednesday, to protest medical cannabis laws and limited plant counts in the city.
At that same time, in a small room on the second floor of the building, Deputy Chief of Staff Bret Waters began the agenda of the Colorado Springs City Council’s Special Marijuana Working Group meeting. Only one member of the public was in attendance, Jaymen Johnson, a local vape lounge owner.
“We drove in from Calhan, and we heard there was a meeting, but we didn’t know anything about it, so I decided to go up there and see what was going on,” Sherry Szklarski said.
But when she entered the building, and told the security guard she wanted to go the meeting, the guard told her that he didn’t know if the meeting was open to the public. He then sent another officer to the second floor to find out. Szklarski patiently waited.
“The officer came down, after several minutes, and said, ‘You can go in, but you can’t talk, or participate.”
Colorado Springs medical marijuana patients and caregivers have long had a strained relationship with city leaders, who they accuse of shutting them out of any and all discussions on cannabis — a frustration echoed by Bridget Seritt, who sits on the marijuana working group.
“The council brought me in to discuss patients rights and plant counts, but we’ve had three meetings and we haven’t touched that topic,” said Seritt, who heads up the Cannabis Patient Rights Coalition, in Colorado Springs. “I’m probably just a symbolic presence.”
Formed in May of this year, the Marijuana Working Group was created to “study, review, evaluate and develop recommendations related to the regulation of marijuana within the City of Colorado Springs. The working group shall report to City Council, as requested by the President or City Council,” according to the resolution.
While Seritt represents cannabis patients, she argues that the working group would be best served by allowing more public and patient involvement. During today’s meeting, Seritt expressed her concerns.
“The patients are not being allowed into these discussions and the ordinances are being passed, which directly affect them,” she said in the meeting. The comment did not result in further discussion.
“I’ve been in the industry for nine years and it’s very frustrating. It’s always been this way,” Johnson said. “That said, people complain about the results but don’t participate. You can tell people to get involved, but they don’t show up, and when they do, they aren’t heard. It’s very frustrating.”
Johnson originally requested 20 minutes be allowed for public comment during the working group meetings. He said the request was duly noted, but never initiated.
“They are shutting people out,” said Doug Szklarski. “They are listening to doctors and not the patients. We, the ones who use this plant for medicine, need to be active and involved in these meetings. Five years ago I couldn’t make it to my mailbox, now I can dance with my wife. I’m not sure how we can get the city council to understand that.”
Deputy Chief of Staff Bret Waters was unavailable for comment.
Meanwhile Seritt will continue being a presence on the working group, and encourages others to be active participants. “I’m going to keep going, and participating, so I can give people information,” she said.
