Around the world, many places are known for growing amazing cannabis. Jamaica, British Columbia, and California are just some, to name a few, but have you heard about the Emerald Triangle?
A location steeped in history and mystery, the Emerald Triangle is vastly different from the more popular Bermuda Triangle that you might have seen on television and online. Instead, the Emerald Triangle is a haven for cannabis growers that dates back more than 50 years!
Home to supposedly some of the best cannabis growing conditions globally, the Emerald Triangle has been supplying California, and the rest of Americas, with amazing cannabis for decades.
But what is the Emerald Triangle, and what about it makes it so amazing? How does it compare to the equally famous Canadian equivalent of BC bud?
Here’s everything you need to know about the Emerald Triangle
What is the Emerald Triangle?
Around 112 miles up of San Francisco, in the Pacific Coast, lies a region known as the Emerald Triangle. It comprises three California counties: Mendicino, Trinity, and Humboldt. This region and its surrounding counties are famous worldwide for their cannabis cultivation and culture.
As the origin for many popular strains, including the Mendocino family of strains, the Emerald Triangle’s unique geography, climate and population make it a prime location for growing and cultivating weed. So much so that this region is the largest cannabis-producing region within the continental United States.
However, its chief position in the cannabis world didn’t come from nowhere- the Emerald Triangle has a long history of culture and development which led it to where it is today. Before we dive into its history, let’s explore what makes the Emerald Triangle so sought after for cannabis cultivation.
Geography and Climate,
The Emerald Triangle is a whole new world compared to the rest of California State. It is a hilly region, painted in green, primarily due to the forest area and the vast plantations of the now-legal Cannabis sp. plants. Not many plants would thrive in such an environment, but cannabis surely does.
The hilly geography and the levels of rain, sun, and wind contribute to the area microclimate, which is crucial for cannabis production.
Reports say these plants can grow up to 20 feet, rendering huge profits for their growers. It is with no surprise that the Emerald Triangle is known by popular to be the Napa Valley of cannabis!
Population and Economics
The Emerald Triangle, is home to around 225,000 inhabitants, and most of these are somehow involved in the cannabis business. In an interview provided to ABC News, a radio talk show host resident in the Emerald Triangle says, “if you’re not directly growing pot, then you’re working in the stores that cropped up to cater to the growers’ needs.”
It is indeed true that, in this region, most of the service economies are dependent on marijuana. It is estimated that 60 to 70% of marijuana consumed in the United States is grown in California, from which a very high percentage comes from the Emerald Triangle.
History of the Emerald Triangle
The history records for the Emerald Triangle dates back to the Summer of Love in the 1960s. It all started with a movement of youngsters out of the cities, especially out of San Francisco, and searching for a moral and rural down-to-earth life. The promise of soft soil and a slow-paced life away from the governmental eye motivated growers to leave the main towns and establish in Emerald Triangle counties.
Although illegal by then, cannabis culture started to be one of the primary means of financial support. These growers established themselves and raised a family based on extensive plantations, and most of their descendants embraced this way of living.
Nowadays, the Emerald Triangle is open for visitation, and the number of agencies organizing tours continues to grow. You can choose from daily to multiday tours and even combine weed with wine tastings in the region.
Although cannabis is not illegal anymore, not everything is sunshine and rainbows.
The profitability of cannabis cultivation has attracted more and more people to the region, including criminal cartels. Instead of respecting the law, these opt for illegal cultivation of the plants, thus avoiding paperwork and license fees. It is no surprise that the region has become a hotspot for criminal activity.
Criminality escalated as quickly as cannabis cultivation in the 60s, and we are not only referring to stealing. The murder reports in California are the highest in the United States, and a great deal is due to the crimes that turned Humboldt into a Netflix star. “Murder Mountain” is a crime documentary series from 2018 focusing on the marijuana-related disappearances and murders happening in the area of Humboldt County.
The 6-episodes series documents the disappearance and murder of Garret Rodriguez, a 29-year-old surfer who decides to move to the Emerald Triangle in the search for quick cash by cultivating cannabis. As describing the search for Garret, the series shows the audience the reality of life in Alderpoint, a town from Humboldt county.
California vs BC Bud – What’s Better?
Similar to Mendicino, Trinity, and Humboldt, British Columbia (BC) is also located between the Pacific Ocean and the mountains and offers just the amount of sunlight and rainfall required to be a fantastic place to grow marijuana. With its population reaching almost 25 times that of the Emerald Triangle, BC encompasses two major Canadian cities: Victoria and Vancouver.
Cannabis culture in BC allegedly has its roots in the Vietnam War. In the 1960s, American objectors to the war decided to abandon the United States rather than join the army. More than 30,000 Americans moved to British Columbia, several bringing cannabis seeds along with them. Its hilly and dense forests made BC an ideal place not only to cultivate cannabis but to do it secretly.
Nowadays, with cannabis being legal in BC, cannabis plantations can benefit from the incredible production capacity of hydroelectricity in this region. This technology generates power by harnessing moving or falling water to produce mechanical/electrical energy. BC is known to have 82 dams for energy production, which is an excellent advantage for the agricultural sector.
The Origins of BC Bud
In 1931, Coast Breweries Limited launched a “BC Bud” beer. It was just a plain beer, and it did not contain any cannabis. It was crossed through the frontier to the United States, as alcohol prohibition was still ongoing.
What ended the black market for Canadian beer was the end of prohibition in the United States in 1933. Although BC Bud was marketed as a beer brand, the phrase meant something different…
Why is BC bud better?
BC buds are believed among users to be the best in the world. The fresh and unpolluted air, the daily rain and sun shining, and the agricultural practices used are among the factors that make BC buds so high-quality.
Healthy soil means less need for intensive watering and less use of pesticides. All of this means less soil rush, a phenomenon already being discussed by environmentalists in regards to the soil degradation happening within the Emerald Triangle
It is thought that BC growers still use soil, which makes the preference for most consumers and is theorized to positively impact the weed’s quality, potency, and purity.
Another reason why BC bud is so great is that the province has had a long-standing history of generally being supportive of cannabis and the community. Unlike California, BC
Also, the government and its politics favour marijuana-based industries since they are well aware of its economic importance.
The Emerald Triangle – The Best Cannabis Around?
While the Emerald Triangle has given rise to great strains such as Mendocino Purps and undoubtedly grows great cannabis, we’re obliged to argue that British Columbia still reigns supreme when it comes to cannabis.
Homegrown cannabis grown under the warm Canadian sun with fresh alpine water and crisp mountain air is what we at Hooti Extracts use for all of our cannabis products. We believe that our British Columbian partners and cannabis cultivators help make our products stand out so much. BC bud will always hold a special place in our hearts, but we’re going to visit the Emerald Triangle, too, if we ever find ourselves in California!
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