Trulieve’s Cannabis Operation Raises Concerns in Florida Community

The small town of Waukeenah, Florida, once known for its watermelon farms and cattle pastures, is now associated with a newer industry: a cannabis cultivation facility operated by Trulieve. This facility, run by a major player in the cannabis sector, has become the focus of local attention due to ongoing issues.

Since Trulieve began harvesting marijuana in the area in 2020, residents have voiced concerns about various nuisances. Complaints have centered around the strong odor of marijuana, the continuous noise from machinery, and the bright lights that disrupt the night. However, these grievances initially went largely unnoticed in the rural setting of Jefferson County, located near Tallahassee in north-central Florida.

The situation escalated following a Facebook video posted this spring. The video displayed greenish water flowing from Trulieve’s property onto land owned by local residents Felicia and James Lamb. A relative of the couple uploaded the footage, which quickly mobilized the community against Trulieve. The company’s well-connected chief executive had previously played a role in persuading President Trump to reclassify medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug in April.

“It was shocking to people,” Felicia Lamb stated, regarding the video. While the issue of water runoff had been mentioned before, the visual evidence triggered a stronger reaction from the public.

In response, Jefferson County commission meetings became crowded with residents eager to express their dissatisfaction with the odor and raise environmental concerns. The worry was that water from Trulieve’s sizeable indoor cannabis operation—among the largest in the United States—might be contaminating the surrounding soil.

Trulieve representatives have maintained that the water runoff poses no risk, claiming it is typical runoff that has flowed onto the Lambs’ property even before the establishment of their expansive ‘cultivation campus.’