The Origins of 4:20

One of the most celebrated yet misunderstood holidays of the year is April 20th. Every year, thousands, if not millions of individuals indulge in cannabis with family and friends. Tons of buds and gallons of concentrates get consumed on 4/20. However, if you ask most of the participants about the origins of 4/20, most of them will be unable to provide you with the lore. So what exactly is 4/20?

What is 4/20?

April 20th, commonly known as 4/20 is a holiday meant for the indulgence of cannabis. It is sometimes referred to as ‘Weed Day.’ 4/20 has been celebrated since the 1970s. This would align with a time that Americans were becoming more socially and politically sound. Today,  4/20 is still celebrated by cannabis consumers. Additionally, companies have taken advantage of this social holiday. In recent years, companies have turned the holiday into ‘Green Friday.’ Coupons and deals such as ‘20% off of 4 items’ as well as other similar gimmicks. Who doesn’t love a good deal on cannabis and unique cannabis accessories?

Early Renditions of 4/20

Contrary to popular belief, Weed Day has absolutely nothing to do with Adolf Hitler. Outside of sharing a birthday with the most villainous man in history, Weed Day has no relation. The true origins of 4/20 are credited to a bunch of kids in California in 1971. According to the lore, five students belonging to San Rafael High School located in Marin County, CA, would synchronize their watches to meet up and smoke some cannabis. The group of kids, known as the Waldos, included: Steve Capper, Larry Schwartz, Dave Reddix, Mark Gravich, and Jeffery Noel. The time they agreed upon was 20 minutes after 4 p.m.

Additionally, the Waldos would pass notes labeled '420' along to each other outside of the agreed-upon time when they wanted to smoke cannabis early. This would lead to 420 being utilized around the globe and why Weed Day is celebrated on April 20th.

How Cannabis Magazines Advanced 4/20

During the 1970s, the stars were aligning in favor of cannabis and its future holiday celebrations. The Waldo's lingo surrounding 420 was quickly picked up by smoke-friendly peers. This word of mouth would eventually make its way to HighTimes Magazine. High Times is an authority on cannabis culture and has been for almost five decades. In the 1990s, High Times Magazine, at the height of its popularity, would publish a flyer in their magazine utilizing the green slang term '420'. For some reason, it grew on readers, and the rest was history.

Music Solidifies 4/20 as a Holiday

High Times' inclusion of the term '420' for all fellow cannabis consumers to see would spark the proverbial joint on the advancement of cannabis and the holiday associated with the plant. Also, in the 1990s, hip-hop and rap were at an all-time high. Rappers such as Ice Cube, Doctor Dre, Bone Thugz-n-Harmony, Tupac Shakur, Jay-Z, Master P, TLC, and The Notorious B.I.G. were giving away free publicity in regards to the benefits of cannabis. These lyrics may have angered some, but the presence of cannabis was undeniable in their music.

Moreover, all of the artists mentioned above have lyricized about celebrating 4/20 in the 1990s. One of the most significant examples of this can be found in the group Luniz's breakout hit 'I Got 5 On It' which is an ode to cannabis and enjoying it with your friends. That is still what 4/20 is all about.