One of El Paso County’s newest industries is breathing life into a business park north of Peterson Air Force Base.

About 35 medical marijuana facilities, including warehouses that house grow operations, as well as dispensaries and manufacturers, have sought to locate in Claremont Business Park, county maps and records show.

The park, developed by businessman Steve Hammers and his partners, is in one of the four zones approved for medical marijuana facilities last December when the county adopted temporary land use regulations.

Now, Hammers and dozens of others who have invested thousands of dollars in medical marijuana facilities throughout unincorporated El Paso County could become big winners – or big losers – as county officials grapple with a permanent solution.

“There’s no business out there,” said Hammers in an interview. “I had no choice but to rent to medical marijuana people.”

On Thursday, the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners is scheduled to debate once more whether dispensaries, grow operations and manufacturers of marijuana-related medical products should be allowed to operate in unincorporated areas of the county. The board discussed the issue at its Aug. 12 meeting and postponed a decision until today.

The five commissioners, all Republicans who often work out their differences amicably, are divided on whether to refer the  measure to the ballot, decide the issue for themselves, or to “grandfather in” existing businesses, such as those that have sprung up in Claremont Business Park.

Any action, including a possible ban, would not preclude the use of medical marijuana by patients because of Amendment 20, approved by voters in 2000.

Amy Lathen, who represents eastern El Paso County, wants the measure put on the ballot.

“This is a major issue and it should be decided by the people of the county,” she said.

Lathen is opposed to grandfathering in existing businesses because it would essentially result in a government-created monopoly. “You’re picking the winners and the losers. And I don’t believe that’s the job of government,” she said. “We made it clear from the beginning there were no guarantees.”

Commissioner Jim Bensberg, who represents central part of the city, thinks the board should decide the issue.

“We were elected to make decisions on behalf of the people,” he said. “If someone can convince me to put it on the ballot, I would be happy to listen to that, but thus far I haven’t heard anything that leads me to believe that we should place the issue before the electors of El Paso County.”

Bensberg is leaning toward grandfathering in existing businesses. The medical marijuana businesses have abided by the county’s regulations, he said. “I’m not aware of anyone in the unincorporated part of the county who has run afoul of the rules.”

Commissioner Sallie Clark favors a grandfathering clause. Clark said she is worried that an outright ban of the medical marijuana facilities could drive them underground and possibly into neighborhoods. “Pandora’s box is open. Medical marijuana is here to stay,” she said.

Dennis Hisey, chairman of the board, said he had a lot of sympathy toward people such as Hammers, who invested in the medical marijuana industry. “He would be one of the hardest hit.”

Hisey anticipates the board will restrict the growth of medical marijuana facilities somehow, but it’s not yet clear how that will be done.

“This is one of those topics where you kind of know where you’re going, but the discussion might make you change course a few degrees.”

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