Florida authorities earlier this month cited marijuana multistate operator (MSO) Trulieve Cannabis Corp. for multiple alleged environmental violations at the company’s massive cultivation facility in Jefferson County.
The Suwannee River Water Management District issued a notice of “apparent violations,” and requested Trulieve create a plan for corrective action by April 24 or face unspecified fines, The Tallahassee Democrat reported.
The violations cited in an April 17 letter, identified during inspections earlier this month, include:
- Standing water in stormwater ponds
- Erosion caused by prolonged water discharge
Tests also found excessive pollutants leaving the site during a pumping event.
Is cannabis MSO Trulieve polluting Florida?
According to Trulieve, the company is taking the alleged noncompliance “very seriously.”
“Trulieve is investigating all of the concerns raised in the letter and is committed to developing appropriate solutions and corrective action as necessary,” a company spokesman told the Democrat.
Meanwhile, the findings have raised concerns among residents, who have reported declining water quality and persistent odors they blame on runoff from the facility.
State Rep. Allison Tant has been vocal about the need for stricter oversight, calling for additional water testing to ensure public safety.
“I need to know the water is safe and clean and able to be consumed,” Tant told the Tallahassee Democrat.
How much cannabis is Trulieve growing at its biggest cultivation site?
Located on 80 acres and with one million square feet spread over 11 buildings, Trulieve’s Jefferson County cultivation facility is one of the largest of its kind.
In an interview with Forbes, Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers said the grow, which she called “Megatron,” is a “testing ground.”
State agencies are expected to continue monitoring the grow.
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Meanwhile, residents and environmental advocates are calling for more stringent regulations to prevent similar issues in the future.
Tallahassee-based Trulieve, among the leading U.S. cannabis producers, has the most retail stores in Florida with 168, according to state data.
Trulieve also produced three times as much cannabis as the next-largest producer, according to the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use.
The company reported $1.2 billion in revenue last year, with 94% derived from retail sales.
