4/20 has become a popular cultural phenomenon associated with cannabis use and advocacy. While the origins of the holiday are somewhat shrouded in mystery, one popular theory suggests that it originated as a secret code among high school students in California in the 1970s.
According to this theory, a group of students at San Rafael High School in Marin County, California would meet at 4:20 PM to smoke cannabis. The students, who called themselves “the Waldos,” allegedly chose this time because it was after their extracurricular activities had ended for the day, but before their parents came home from work.
The Waldos reportedly used “420” as a code word for cannabis use among their group. They would remind each other of their plans to smoke by saying things like “Let’s meet at 4:20” or “Do you have any 420?” Over time, the term “420” spread beyond the Waldos’ circle and became shorthand for cannabis use among young people in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The origins of the term “420” itself are less clear. Some have suggested that it may have been a reference to a Bob Dylan song called “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35,” which includes the lyrics “Everybody must get stoned.” The numbers 12 and 35, when multiplied together, equal 420. However, there is no concrete evidence to support this theory.
Despite lacking a definitive origin story, the term “420” became firmly entrenched in cannabis culture and has been used as a shorthand for cannabis use and advocacy ever since. In the 1990s, the High Times magazine, which has long been a leading voice in the cannabis community, began using “420” as a term of art and a way to signal to readers that a particular article or advertisement was cannabis-related.
Over time, 4/20 has become a significant cultural phenomenon, celebrated by cannabis enthusiasts as a day to gather with friends, smoke cannabis, and advocate for the legalization and decriminalization of the drug. In recent years, there have been increasing efforts to reframe 4/20 as a day of social and political activism, rather than just a day of recreational drug use.
For example, some cannabis activists use 4/20 as an opportunity to lobby their elected officials for cannabis reform. Others use the day to raise awareness about the racial disparities in cannabis enforcement and the need for social equity in the cannabis industry.
Despite its widespread popularity, 4/20 has faced criticism and opposition from some quarters. Some people argue that the holiday promotes drug use and reinforces negative stereotypes about cannabis users. Others worry that the commercialization of 4/20 has diluted its political and social significance.
Despite these concerns, 4/20 shows no signs of losing its status as a cultural touchstone for cannabis enthusiasts around the world. Whether celebrated as a day of relaxation and recreation or a day of activism and advocacy, 4/20 remains an important part of cannabis culture and a symbol of the ongoing struggle for cannabis legalization and social justice.
