What a Long Strange Trip It’s Been.
Introduction
If you’re reading this, you could have a few different reasons for it. Maybe you’re just looking for the answer to the question: what do you know about 420? Maybe you’ve heard of 4/20 but don’t know anything about it. Or maybe you’re just curious about why people celebrate this particular date. Well, we’ve got all the answers here!
The origins of 420
The origins of 420 are not clear. The first documented use of 420 was in 1971, when a group of five high school students from San Rafael, California used it as code to get high on pot after school. They would meet up at 4:20 p.m., look for a place where they could smoke without getting caught and then head back home before their parents got home from work. They were also known as “Waldos” due to the wall they congregated at.
The term became popularized by The Grateful Dead–a rock band that was known for its advocacy for marijuana use–and has since been widely used as a synonym for marijuana.
The 4/20 holiday
4/20 is an unofficial holiday celebrated by marijuana enthusiasts on April 20 each year.
It’s also known as “Weed Day” and has its roots in a Bay Area get-together of high school students at 4:20 p.m., before heading out for a smoke session. The date was chosen because it’s a code term used by smokers to refer to cannabis (the plant species).
In recent years, 4/20 has become more popular across North America–and it’s celebrated with public gatherings that include concerts, rallies and festivals where people can buy or share marijuana products openly without fear of prosecution under state laws that allow medical or recreational use of the drug (though federal law still prohibits all forms).
Urban legends about 420
420 is a code for marijuana use, but where did it come from?
The origins of 420 are a bit hazy. Some say it’s from a Bob Dylan song, others say it came from a police code for marijuana use. But the most popular story is that in 1971 at San Rafael High School in California, some students used to meet up at 4:20 p.m. after school to smoke weed together (and maybe eat pizza). They would then go on to create an organization called “The Waldos” who would continue this tradition by meeting every April 20th at 4:20 p.m., hence creating an unofficial holiday known as “420.”
Why is 420 so significant?
The number 420 has a long history of use in cannabis culture. The term “420” was coined by a group of teenagers who would meet up at 4:20 p.m. to search for an abandoned cannabis crop near Point Reyes National Seashore in California, according to High Times magazine.
The teens would say “4:20” when asking each other if they had any marijuana left and eventually began using the phrase as code to identify themselves as cannabis consumers, according to the magazine.
420 is an important social occasion for marijuana users.
420 is an important social occasion for marijuana users. It’s a chance to celebrate and socialize, but it can also be a positive experience for some people. Times have evolved though, no more hiding from “the man” as many states have legalized recreational use. If you live in a state that has not legalized marijuana or even de-criminalized it, the 2018 Farm Bill has made cannabinoids from the Hemp plant legal. If your THC is Hemp derived and in a quantity of less than .3% by dry weight, it’s federally legal. This means you can buy a gummy from a reputable company like Nukana and get a 6 gram gummy with 10mg of natural Delta 9 THC. No more smelling like weed, or having to burn incense to mask the smoke in your apartment, just eat a gummy and enjoy hours of chill with no hangover.
Conclusion
Have a happy 4/20. You now know a lot more about 420. You can use this knowledge to impress your friends and family, or maybe even someone special!