Ever since California legalized cannabis in 2016, the state's weed market has become a multi-billion dollar industry.

It's estimated to be the largest legal market of its kind in the world.

But whenever you get that much money anywhere, well, you're going to get political corruption.

If you're not in bed with the right people, you're not going to get in.

What's sad is that, you know, they're ruining the whole process that all of us work so hard to make it happen.

So how did an effort to squash lawlessness create more lawlessness?

I'm Gustavariano. You're listening to The Times, essential news from the LA Times.

It's Wednesday, September 21st, 2022.

Today, the Golden State of Ganja? More like the Grifter State.

A multi-part LA Times investigation has found all sorts of shadiness in city halls across the state,

from small forest towns to border cities and everything in between.

Joining me to talk about just some of this is LA Times investigative reporter Adam Elmaric.

Adam, welcome the Times.

It's good to be here.

Man, your investigation into the impacts of legal weed in California revealed all sorts

of shadiness, like public officials that demanded cash from cannabis business owners just to

approve licenses or government officials being threatened with physical violence over pot

regulations, elected officials accepting money from cannabis businesses, both through campaign

donations and not through campaign donations.

But one of the spots that you focused on specifically was a city of Linwood.

Why there and what did you find?

Yeah, Linwood is one of these cities in what's famously known as the corridor of corruption.

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