Controversial mural removed from Wellstone dispensary

A layer of gray paint now covers a mural that displayed images of the Cookie Monster and Girl Scout cookies on an outer wall of a medical marijuana dispensary in west Colorado Springs.

Peter Shuldiner, general manager of the Wellstone dispensary at 16th Street and Colorado Avenue, said workers painted over the artwork Sunday after complaints that it enticed children.

“It’s been blown out of proportion,” he said. “We just wanted to beautify the neighborhood. It was playful art, not advertising.”

Shuldiner said he apologizes to anyone who was bothered by the mural.

“We don’t expect that putting food on the side of the (wall) is going to entice children to walk into this establishment and order food from us,” he said. “And in the event they tried to, never was anyone intending to sell them edible marijuana-infused products, or even let them past the buzzer door.”

Shuldiner declined to comment on being investigated by the city for possible violations of city and state codes.

“I’ll let our attorneys handle that,” he said.

Shuldiner said he will accept suggestions from anyone about the kind of mural his shop should have.