Waukeenah, Florida, once known for watermelon farms and cattle pastures, is now recognized for the marijuana operation by Trulieve. This cannabis industry leader’s presence has become a point of contention for local residents.
Neighbors have voiced dissatisfaction regarding the strong odor of marijuana, persistent machinery noise, and intrusive bright lights, which have been prevalent since Trulieve began harvesting in 2020. However, these complaints were largely ignored in the rural setting of Jefferson County, located near Tallahassee.
The situation escalated after a Facebook video emerged, depicting green-tinted water flowing from Trulieve’s property onto land owned by Felicia and James Lamb. This video, shared by a relative, rallied the local community against Trulieve. This development was particularly notable as Trulieve’s CEO had previously influenced President Trump to reclassify medical marijuana as a less hazardous substance.
Felicia Lamb remarked, “It was shocking to people. People had heard about the runoff, but it’s another thing for them to see it.”
The video prompted residents to attend Jefferson County commission meetings in larger numbers, voicing concerns about the odor and potential soil contamination from the million-square-foot cannabis facility, one of the largest in the country. Trulieve representatives have asserted that the water is harmless and constitutes normal runoff that has flowed onto Lamb’s property even before their operations began.
Additionally, James and Felicia Lamb highlighted a privacy wall erected by Trulieve, marking the boundary between their land and the facility.
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