The small town of Waukeenah, Florida, once known for its watermelon farms and cattle pastures, has gained a new reputation. The town is now associated with the strong odor of marijuana from a large-scale grow operation managed by Trulieve, a leading company in the cannabis industry.
Since Trulieve began cultivating marijuana in the area in 2020, residents have expressed dissatisfaction. They have raised concerns about the pervasive smell, the noise from machinery, and the bright lights that illuminate the night sky. These grievances were initially overlooked in rural Jefferson County, close to Tallahassee.
The catalyst for change came in the form of a Facebook video, posted in the spring. It showed green water originating from the Trulieve facility, flooding into the neighboring property owned by Felicia and James Lamb. This footage, shared by a relative, mobilized local residents against Trulieve.
The company’s CEO, who has political connections, previously influenced President Trump to reclassify medical marijuana as a less harmful substance in April. For Felicia Lamb, the video was a turning point. She noted, “It was shocking to people. People had heard about the runoff, but it’s another thing for them to see it.”
Community members filled Jefferson County commission meetings, demanding action on the odors and voicing worries that the water from Trulieve’s vast one-million-square-foot indoor facility, one of the largest in the country, could be polluting the land.
Trulieve representatives have maintained that the water is harmless, characterizing it as typical runoff which had flowed onto the Lamb property long before the facility, referred to as a “cultivation campus,” was established. A privacy wall has been constructed by Trulieve along the border of the Lambs’ property, adding to the ongoing tension.