Well...here is my 2cents on it.
The "Emerald" triangle has been, and prob will be the MECCA for outdoor grows in the USA. Been like that since I was a toker.
Back in da day, you could go up and purchase what you need from very cool folks who have been "farmin;" for years, generations.
What has happened over the last 5 years or so is simple. It's the "Gold rush" that we are all hearing and reading about. The media also plays this same story. Folks are moving to Cali and are able to "make a living" growing herb.
As with Locals, the rest of the country knows that Humbolt is leniant with MJ, and MMJ growing. Prob a worldwide fact.
So, Joe Blow from out of State moves to california and goes right to the "Emerald" triange area to seek thier fortune.
Once they get there, they SOON figure out that they are really not welcome. They also find out that all the Land is sewed up by folks who have had that land for generations, thus leaving NO rural areas to buy.
So, they buy/rent homes in the local towns. They have no recourse but to grow indoors, because the locals will steal/sabotage their outdeezy. Fact.
These folks soon get tied into the "criminal" element because they do not now better and think all californian's are "cool hippy's" without thinking about Cali having the biggest Gang population of all 50 states.
So, thinking that everyone is cool, they get into the wrong circles and learn to blow out whole houses in order to compete with the locals who grow BIG farms. The whole town knows whats up, including "thug types".
The rest is destroyed homes and beat up and tortured folks.
If your thinking of moving to Cali and striking it rich growing herb, take a lesson.