The Emerald Triangle: season two of hit podcast Crooked City launches

This is a shocking tale of cannabis, greed, survival and murder in Northern California.

Hosted by journalist Sam R. Anderson, Crooked City: The Emerald Triangle examines the complex story behind a grisly murder in an area of Northern California known as The Emerald Triangle, home to the nation’s outlaw culture of marijuana growing.

After moving back to his family home in the suburb of Ringwood, New Jersey, Sam learns that one of his high school classmates has been arrested for murder in The Emerald Triangle. It’s well-known for where most of the marijuana grown in the US comes from.

Following in his classmate’s footsteps, Sam travels West to the small town of Laytonville where the murder took place. He discovers a treasure trove of police tapes that reveal what really happened to his high school classmate.

Desperation, greed and a seemingly never-ending acid trip created a perfect storm of paranoia that the locals refer to as “hill crazy,” culminating in a moment of unspeakable violence. He learns that the promise of freedom comes at a very high price. 

The series includes original law enforcement audio tapes surrounding the murder investigation, allowing listeners to step inside the interrogation room and hear the detectives as they solve the mystery.

Sam Anderson said: “When I first started reporting this story, I thought it was going to be about proving the innocence of a high school classmate. But the truth about what happened on this pot farm is stranger than anything I could have imagined.

“While marijuana is increasingly accepted in our society, the stories of the people who grow it illegally and the laborers they rely on have been largely untold. As we approach a new era of legalization, I hope this investigation sheds light on the human cost of growing and harvesting marijuana under prohibition.”

Crooked City: The Emerald Triangle is availableon all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher.