In Waukeenah, Florida, the landscape has shifted dramatically. Once known for its watermelon farms and cattle pastures, the area is now characterized by the strong smell of marijuana from Trulieve’s expansive cannabis cultivation center.

Since Trulieve began operations here in 2020, residents have voiced concerns about the facility. Complaints include the persistent odor, the continuous noise from machinery, and the bright lights at night. Despite their efforts, the grievances initially garnered little response from authorities in rural Jefferson County, close to Tallahassee.

A turning point occurred with the circulation of a Facebook video. The footage, shared this spring, depicted green-tinted water flooding from Trulieve’s property onto the land of neighbors Felicia and James Lamb. This video, uploaded by a family member, spurred local residents to rally against Trulieve. The chief executive of Trulieve, with political connections, had previously influenced President Trump to reduce the perceived danger classification of medical marijuana in April.

“It was shocking to people. People had heard about the runoff, but it’s another thing for them to see it.” — Felicia Lamb

Following the video’s publication, community members crowded Jefferson County commission meetings. They voiced complaints about the odor and expressed fears that the runoff from Trulieve’s vast one-million-square-foot indoor growing area, one of the largest in the nation, might pollute the land. Trulieve representatives maintain that the runoff is safe and has long been present on the Lamb property, prior to setting up their “cultivation campus.”

Trulieve has even constructed a privacy wall along the Lamb’s property line in an attempt to mitigate disputes. The controversy continues as the company defends the safety and normalcy of their operations, facing ongoing scrutiny from the local community.