April 20th, or 4/20, has become an internationally recognized day for cannabis culture. Across the globe, from music festivals filled with hazy clouds of smoke to local gatherings and even online communities, people come together to celebrate, advocate, and partake in cannabis. This day is marked by special events, discounts at dispensaries in regions where cannabis is legal, and a general atmosphere of camaraderie among cannabis enthusiasts. But why this seemingly arbitrary date? What’s the story behind 4/20 and its association with weed?
The origins of 4/20, and the term itself, were once shrouded in mystery, leading to a variety of colorful, yet mostly inaccurate, theories. Some popular myths suggested it was a police code for marijuana possession, adding an edgy, rebellious flavor to the number. Another theory linked it to Bob Dylan’s song “Rainy Day Women No. 12 & 35,” with the multiplication of 12 and 35 supposedly equaling 420, connecting it to the lyric “Everybody must get stoned.” However, the real story is far less conspiratorial and much more grounded in the experiences of a group of California high schoolers.
The Waldos: High School Pranksters Who Inadvertently Created a Holiday
The generally accepted origin story of 4/20 traces back to a group of friends in San Rafael High School, California, in 1971. These self-proclaimed “Waldos,” named for their usual hangout spot by a wall, stumbled upon the beginning of a cultural phenomenon. The tale begins with a map, purportedly leading to an abandoned cannabis crop in the Point Reyes forest, grown by a friend’s brother who feared detection.
Alt text: Waldos group members in 1970s style clothing, possibly reenacting their search for the cannabis patch, in a sunny wooded area.
Driven by youthful curiosity and the allure of free cannabis, the Waldos devised a plan. They would meet at 4:20 p.m. – right after classes and football practice – at the statue of Louis Pasteur on their school grounds. After lighting up a joint, they would embark on their treasure hunt for the hidden weed patch. “4:20 Louie” became their code for the mission, later shortened simply to “420.” While they never actually found the elusive cannabis crop, “420” took on a new, more significant meaning within their group, becoming a discreet term for cannabis consumption.
To solidify their claim as originators, the Waldos diligently kept evidence, preserving postmarked letters and other artifacts from the 1970s that used the term “420.” This dedication to documentation proved valuable when the Oxford English Dictionary officially added “420” to its lexicon in 2017, citing some of these very documents as the earliest recorded uses of the term in relation to cannabis.
From Local Slang to Global Celebration: How 420 Spread
The leap from a small group of friends’ inside joke to a global phenomenon is an interesting journey in itself. The connection to the Grateful Dead played a pivotal role in the spread of “420.” One of the Waldos had a brother who was friends with Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh. As the Waldos started spending time within the Grateful Dead’s social circle, the slang term “420” began to circulate more widely.
The real catalyst for 4/20’s global spread came in the early 1990s, thanks to High Times magazine, a prominent publication in cannabis culture. Steve Bloom, a reporter for High Times, received a flyer at a Grateful Dead concert. This flyer invited people to “meet at 4:20 on 4/20 for 420-ing in Marin County at the Bolinas Ridge sunset spot on Mt. Tamalpais.” High Times published this flyer, inadvertently broadcasting the 4/20 concept to a much larger audience.
Alt text: A vintage flyer with text promoting a 420 gathering at Bolinas Ridge, highlighting the call to action for cannabis enthusiasts.
This marked a turning point. The flyer, and High Times’ role in disseminating it, effectively transformed “420” from a piece of slang into a date and an event. It provided a time and date for cannabis enthusiasts to collectively celebrate their shared interest. As Waldo Steve Capper himself noted, the longevity of 4/20 as a cultural phenomenon is remarkable, far exceeding the typical lifespan of most trends and slang terms.
Celebrating 4/20: More Than Just Smoking Weed
Today, 4/20 celebrations take many forms, ranging from low-key personal observances to large-scale public events. Unsurprisingly, cannabis is central to most celebrations. San Francisco’s Hippie Hill in Golden Gate Park is a well-known gathering spot, attracting thousands for a massive public smoke-out. Cities with legal cannabis often see dispensaries offering special 4/20 discounts and promotions, mirroring holiday sales in mainstream retail.
Creative celebrations also abound. Movie theaters host cannabis-themed film screenings, like “dank double features” of stoner classics. Pottery parties offer a chance to craft personalized pipes, and breweries release special 4/20-themed beers, tapping into the festive spirit. Music festivals, often centered around cannabis culture, are also common around 4/20, creating immersive experiences for enthusiasts.
Alt text: A large crowd of people gathered in a park, with visible smoke in the air, indicating a public 420 celebration in a park setting.
Beyond the celebrations, 4/20 also serves as a moment for reflection and activism within the cannabis community. It’s an opportunity to acknowledge the progress made in cannabis legalization and to advocate for further reforms. With recreational cannabis now legal in numerous states and medicinal cannabis even more widespread, 4/20 underscores how far the movement has come.
4/20 and the Politics of Cannabis
The date also carries political weight. For activists, 4/20 is a platform to highlight the ongoing need for federal cannabis legalization in the United States and globally. While state-level legalization has seen significant advancements, federal laws still lag behind, creating complexities for the cannabis industry and individuals. The slow pace of federal reform, despite growing public support for legalization, is a key point of discussion and advocacy on 4/20.
Political actions, such as President Biden’s pardons for federal marijuana possession offenses and the Justice Department’s review of federal cannabis policy, are often highlighted and debated in the context of 4/20. Activists continue to push for more comprehensive changes, including removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and addressing the historical harms of the war on drugs, particularly on communities of color.
In conclusion, 4/20 is celebrated for weed for a multitude of reasons that have evolved over time. Starting as a coded term among a small group of friends, it blossomed into a global day of celebration, community, and activism within cannabis culture. It’s a day to enjoy cannabis, acknowledge the progress of legalization, and continue advocating for a future where cannabis is legally and socially accepted worldwide. More than just a date on the calendar, 4/20 represents a cultural movement with deep roots and ongoing momentum.
