You’ve heard of the Bermuda Triangle but have you heard of the Emerald Triangle? Famous for its lush climate, fertile soil and the best growing conditions in the world, the Emerald Triangle is a region located in California that’s renowned the world over for its phenomenal weed production. Birthplace of the Mendocino Purps strain, which came out of Mendocino County within the Emerald Triangle, this Nor-Cal region is still American’s #1 spot for premium kush, despite the legalization of weed by more and more states.
However, is the Emerald Triangle better than Canada’s weed scene? America might have their Emerald Triangle but Canada’s still got their BC craft cannabis bud scene. Here’s how the two regions compare against each other and which one you should look out for when you’re buying your weed!
What is the Emerald Triangle?
Often touted as the “Napa Valley of cannabis”, the Emerald Triangle is an area of northern California known for producing the most pot of anywhere in the United States. Comprised of three counties—Humboldt, Mendocino, and Trinity—this region not only produces an abundant amount of cannabis but it’s also considered to be some of the best bud in the world.
So, what is it about this area that has made it such a mecca for marijuana enthusiasts?
History of the Emerald Triangle
The history of the Emerald Triangle goes back to 1967, the infamous Summer of Love brought thousands upon thousands of “flower children” to San Francisco. These peace-and-love-professing hippies spent their summer protesting against war and indulging in music, drugs, and free love.
As the Summer of Love drew to a close, some flower children abandoned Haight-Ashbury and headed north to start a more rural lifestyle where they could grow their own crops and live within a like-minded community.
The late 60’s also brought about the so-called “war on drugs”, and people wanted to create a safe space where substances such as cannabis could be used without prejudice.
The “back-to-the-land” movement that brought settlers up to northern California thrived in Mendocino County and its surrounding areas. It just so happened that the area they settled in provided an ideal climate for growing cannabis crops. The microclimate around the Emerald Triangle mimics that of the Mediterranean—dry summers and wet but temperate winters. This terrain is fertile and ideal for outdoor cannabis production, so much so that some crops grow to such a size (15+ feet) that they are called “weed trees.”
As cannabis crops flourished in Humboldt, Mendocino, and Trinity counties, they brought income and stability to the individuals and families who had taken up residence there.
Over the last 40+ years, the Emerald Triangle has become renowned for producing abundant, high-quality cannabis.
As the community has grown, the area itself has developed its own culture and lingo. Residents refer to the month of October as “Croptober” as that’s when the majority of harvesting occurs.
When Croptober rolls around, an influx of “trimmigrants” arrive in the Emerald Triangle to participate in the harvest and preparation of cannabis crops.
Despite the Emerald Triangle’s reputation as a stoner’s paradise, Humboldt County legislators have pushed back against cannabis legalization.
The regulations around legal cannabis production have made it difficult for small-scale cannabis farmers to afford the cost of upgrading their growing facilities. With cheap, industrially-produced weed flooding the market, many independent cannabis growers have been unable to compete in both supply and pricing.
So, while the cannabis industry throughout the state of California is thriving, the future of the Emerald Triangle remains to be seen.
California vs BC Bud — Which is Better?
We’re not here to start any West Coast weed wars, but let’s break how California green compares to BC bud.
The origins of BC bud are similar to the Emerald Triangle. In the late 60s, thousands of Americans fleeing the Vietnam War draft sought refuge in Canada’s West Coast. As they sowed their seeds in BC soil, they discovered that cannabis crops flourished in the rainforest climate.
While the Emerald Triangle’s climate isn’t vastly different from BC’s, BC’s cooler temperatures, heavy rainfall, and fertile soil create an especially ideal environment for cannabis cultivation. Plus, BC’s hydroelectric power, which is essential for cannabis growing operations, is far more affordable than in California.
While technically cannabis has only been legal in BC for a few years, it was decriminalized long ago and law enforcement has mostly turned blind eye to black-market weed for decades.
The lax regulations and overall social acceptance of pot meant it became abundantly available in BC well before the era of dispensaries.
This quasi-legitimization of weed from the provincial government meant that growers within BC could focus on their craft without having to worry about the feds’ breathing down their backs. Slowly over time, communities across the province cropped up to cultivate, grow and sell weed to British Columbians.
These so-called “craft cannabis” growers mastered the craft over time, innovating their own unique genetics and strains that are uniquely suited to BC’s temperate rainforest environment.
Cannabis was legalized across Canada in October 2018. A 2020 survey reported that 27% of Canadians had used cannabis products (including medical marijuana) within the past 12 months (up from 25% in 2019).
Yep, that’s right—one in every four Canadian adults uses cannabis on a semi-regular basis!
BC residents are truly cannabis connoisseurs, and that is reflected in the quality of pot produced in BC.
While we mean no shade to our friends south of the border, we think if they came up here to smoke with us, they’d agree that BC bud is the best cannabis in the world.
More Than Just a Name
Home to some of the world’s best weed and weed-growers, the Emerald Triangle is more than just an urban myth like the Bermuda triangle is. The history, legitimacy and community that the emerald triangle has provided to its growers and the larger American cannabis space as a whole are more than what the Bermuda Triangle can say it’s done for tourism in its area.
While the American region is undoubtedly important for the cannabis space, we personally think BC Bud still reigns supreme. Call us biased but if you take the time to sample some of the Craft Cannabis strains BC has available, you wouldn’t think twice!
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