The History and Evolution of 420: From Secret High School Meetups to Global Celebration
You've probably heard the code '420' or seen it mentioned in pop culture, from Netflix shows like Weed the People to stoner action comedy films like Pineapple Express.
Not only contemporary pop culture is rife with references to this mystical number as a code for cannabis consumption, but it has also become synonymous with cannabis culture for half a century.
But where did 420 come from? Why is 420 associated with marijuana?
Who invented this numerical code for cannabis users—one that has now grown into the ultimate "high holiday"?
Read on as we dive into the history behind this number and how it has evolved from the counterculture into a global phenomenon!
History of 420- From secret code to a global phenomenon
The Waldos- inventors of "420"
There are plenty of myths about the origin of 420, ranging from San Francisco's police code for marijuana possession to Adolf Hitler's birthday.
Contrary to these popular myths, the true origin of the term 420 lies in a teenage treasure hunt. The most credible explanation and widely accepted story is that it all starts in 1971 with five high school friends in Marin County, California, calling themselves "The Waldos."
They got word of a member of the U.S. Coast Guard who was afraid of getting busted for a plot of cannabis plants he was growing in the woods at Point Reyes.
He drew a map and told the boys it was theirs for the picking as he tried to dispose of it before his bosses found out.
They huddled around the school's statue of Louis Pasteur at 4:20 pm. They studied the map while smoking joints and headed out to search for the weed patch.
Their first attempt to search for the hidden weed patch was unsuccessful, but they kept looking for it week after week.
They would say, "See you at 4.20, Louie," when passing each other in the hallway. It became a secret code to meet at the Louis Pasteur statue, smoke weed, and find the patch.
Later, they dropped the "Louie," and their private lexicon simply became "420."
The Grateful Dead Connection- How did 420 spread?
Though the Waldos never found that hidden weed patch, they continued using 420 as their code for cannabis.
One of the Waldos, Dave Reddix, later started working with The Grateful Dead — a legendary rock band from the 60s—while they were on a summer tour.
Dave and his older brother, who managed a Dead sideband, used to smoke with bassist Phil Lesh. The Waldos also had access to the band's rehearsals, where they'd used the phrase "Hey, 420" when someone passed a joint, while running around backstage or on stage.
The Grateful Dead is said to have helped spread the term during their concert tours. Even a group of Grateful Dead fans handed out flyers inviting people to meet at 4:20 pm on 4/20 for 420-ing.
By the 1990s, '420' had gone global as the universal code for marijuana.
Mainstreaming 420
In 1991, High Times magazine not only printed the flyer that their reporter, Steve Bloom, was given at the Grateful Dead show, which told the story of this secret code, but also continued to reference this number in their campaign advocating for the legalization of marijuana use.
The outlet also acknowledged that these five high school teenagers who call themselves the Waldos are the inventors of this term. Soon, 420 became a full-blown global phenomenon.
Though the Waldos coined the term "420" in 1970, Steve Bloom credited the group of Deadheads who wrote the flyer for the date's reputation as an annual gathering of stoners, which later became marijuana's high holiday.
420 Global Celebrations- How it is celebrated
Over the decades, 420 evolved from high school's hang-out secret code into a global phenomenon. The 4/20 celebrations have also transitioned from small gatherings to massive events, protests, and 420 festivals around the world.
Its celebrations were initially begun as covert gatherings where cannabis users enjoy smoking pot together.
As the term "420" caught on, those once-covert meetups became less hidden and turned into full-blown public events, especially in states where adult use of marijuana is legalized.
Today, 4/20 or April 20, is celebrated across different communities and cultures and serves as a cannabis holiday where cannabis enthusiasts gather in public spaces to celebrate and consume cannabis openly.
April 20 has also emerged as a day of activism for cannabis enthusiasts as legalization efforts have gained momentum.
Now, it's not just a number—it has become a symbol of cannabis culture, celebrated with events, music festivals, and peaceful protests advocating for cannabis legalization.
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