Editing Emerald Triangle (section)

{{short description|Cannabis-growing region of northern California, USA}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Emerald Triangle
|settlement_type = [[List of regions of the United States|Region]] of [[California]]
|image_map = Emerald Triangle.png
|map_caption = Map of the Emerald Triangle
|coordinates = {{coord|40.0|-123.5|type:landmark_region:US-CA_dim:300000|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = California
|subdivision_type2 = Counties
|subdivision_name2 = [[Mendocino County, California|Mendocino County]], [[Humboldt County, California|Humboldt County]], [[Trinity County, California|Trinity County]]
|parts_type = Largest city
|parts = Eureka
| unit_pref = US
| area_land_sq_mi = 10253.58
| population_as_of = [[2010 United States Census|April 1, 2010]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2016">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2016 Estimates|access-date=April 27, 2017}}</ref>
| population_total = 236250
| pop_est_as_of = 2019
| pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2018">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2018.html|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|access-date=December 3, 2019}}</ref>
| population_est = 234592
| population_density_sq_mi = 23
}}

The '''Emerald Triangle''' is a region in [[Northern California]] that derives its name from being the largest [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]]-producing region in the United States. The region includes three counties in an upside-down triangular configuration: 
*[[Humboldt County, California|Humboldt County]], on the coast
*[[Trinity County, California|Trinity County]], inland
*[[Mendocino County, California|Mendocino County]], to the south

Growers have been cultivating [[cannabis|''Cannabis'' plant]]s in this region since the 1960s, during [[San Francisco]]'s [[Summer of Love]]. Growing cannabis in the Emerald Triangle is considered a way of life, and the locals believe that everyone living in this region is either directly or indirectly reliant on the cannabis industry.<ref name="ABC_2010">{{cite web|last=Ferran|first=Lee|title=Legal Pot: Death of the Emerald Triangle? |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/TheLaw/emerald-triangle-marijuana-legalization-destroy-americas-cannabis-capital/story?id=11302182 |publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=August 1, 2010}}</ref> The industry exploded in the region with the passage of [[California Proposition 215 (1996)]], which legalized the use of [[medical cannabis|cannabis for medicinal purposes]] in California.<ref>{{cite web|last=Regan|first=Trish|title=Pot growers thrive in Northern California|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/28354324/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203130327/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/28354324 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 3, 2013 |publisher=CNBC |date=January 22, 2009}}</ref> The passage of [[Adult Use of Marijuana Act|Proposition 64]] in 2016 legalized the general sale and distribution of cannabis.