WAUKEENAH, Fla. — The rural community of Waukeenah in Jefferson County, Florida, has become the center of controversy due to concerns about environmental and sensory impacts linked to a large cannabis cultivation facility operated by Trulieve, a major player in the state’s medical marijuana industry.
Since beginning operations in 2020, Trulieve’s one-million-square-foot indoor growing complex has generated complaints from neighbors over persistent odors resembling skunk, constant machinery noise, and bright nighttime lighting. Although residents voiced grievances initially with limited response, a viral social media video this spring intensified scrutiny. The clip showed green-tinted water flowing from Trulieve’s property onto adjacent land owned by Felicia and James Lamb, sparking fears of possible water contamination.
The Lambs had raised concerns privately for several years about runoff affecting their property, prompting Trulieve to engage with them. However, escalating community concern led to packed meetings of the Jefferson County Commission where residents expressed worries not only about the pungent smell but also potential environmental hazards. The controversy coincides with the region’s adjustment to the cannabis industry’s growing footprint, which now employs nearly 300 local workers.
Trulieve officials have maintained that the water flowing from their stormwater pond is safe and consistent with previous runoff that predates the cultivation center’s opening. They emphasize that no independent agency has detected harmful contaminants. The company also reports steps taken to reduce odor nuisances, including ceasing on-site marijuana composting and installing enhanced filtration systems.
In response to public outcry, multiple state agencies have launched investigations. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s water tests at the Trulieve site reportedly showed no contaminants, though the agency confirmed its probe was ongoing. The Florida Department of Health distributed free water testing kits in the area; its findings, as conveyed by State Representative Allison Tant, revealed no contaminants in local wells. Conversely, the Lambs presented a March water test indicating elevated nitrates, commonly associated with fertilizer, raising alarms about groundwater impact. Environmental group Blue Shirt Justice League reported only low nitrate levels in samples from the Lambs’ land but acknowledged recent rain may have affected results.
Community reaction remains divided. Some residents, such as Nancy Gebhart, a lifelong local, say the smell and environmental concerns have diminished their quality of life and complicated efforts to sell homes near the facility. Others recognize Trulieve as an important employer and economic contributor in a county with limited job opportunities. Opinions about cannabis are also mixed in Jefferson County, reflecting the narrow margin by which a 2024 marijuana legalization ballot measure failed locally despite Florida’s current restriction to medical use.
The Trulieve cultivation campus includes 11 buildings where employees manage the growth cycle of medical marijuana strains under controlled environmental conditions, irrigating plants with recycled water and harvesting them by hand before processing at separate facilities. Workers like Jefferson County resident Jerry Loudermilk, who transitioned from retail employment to a cleaning role at Trulieve, describe their jobs positively despite local tensions.
As investigations continue, the community of Waukeenah remains in flux, balancing the economic benefits of the burgeoning cannabis industry against ongoing concerns about environmental stewardship and quality of life in this quiet corner of north-central Florida.