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Sometimes you just have to stop and think about the fact that we discovered cannabis. Or that we all use it together. Whether you do it daily or annually, 420 is the day or time when we celebrate cannabis together. April 20 or 4:30 p.m. is the time to whip out that bong, jonko, dabs or vaporizer and celebrate 420.
420 meaning
420 is the day of the year and/or time of day when we all knock joints together and celebrate the use of cannabis together. 420, 4:20 or 4/20 is pronounced as four-twenty. In cannabis culture, you see the number everywhere. It even seeps into mainstream culture, with movies, clothing and Elon Musk on Twitter emphasizing the importance of the day. It's about time to find out where the number comes from and its relationship to cannabis use.
The origin of 420
Time Magazine published an article in 2016 [1] in which journalists detailed a solid history of 420. According to Time, it began in 1971, when five American high school students under the name the Waldo's hatched a plan to search for an abandoned cannabis plantation with a treasure map created by the original grower. They met frequently at a statue of Louis Pasteur, which stands in the schoolyard of their school in San Rafael, California. At four twenty in the afternoon (4:20 PM).
The five Waldos named their plan "4:20 Louis," but had never found the treasure together. Eventually they shortened the name of the plan to 4:20 to enjoy smoking a stickie together at that time of day.
High Times Popularity
Twenty years later, this story caught on when the popular cannabis magazine High Times published an article about the treasure-hunting Waldo's. In 1991, April 20 and 4:20 p.m. were first mentioned by this magazine as the date and time to celebrate cannabis use. The author of the article cited as one of the reasons for 420's popularity that one of the 5 Waldo's later became a roadie for The Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh. The Grateful Dead are known for their songs, lyrics and shows dedicated to freedom around the use of drugs.
The Tesla 420 case
When Tesla CEO Elon Musk sent a tweet out into the world in 2018 that he would take Tesla off the market at exactly $420 per share, a connection to the use of weed was once again made in the mainstream media. Could the billionaire secretly be a stoner? A lawsuit against Musk over misleading shareholders in 2023 ruled that the use of 420 was all coincidence. Still, Elon is known to love a joke. And a joint on occasion.
Link to Albert Hofmann’s Bicycle Day
In an earlier article, we wrote about the discovery of LSD by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann. Hofmann got on his bicycle home after work on April 19, 1943, with the still unknown psychedelic substance. He became overwhelmed with the effects of LSD during his bike ride, thereby becoming the discoverer of its psychedelic effects. A day before we celebrate 420, another drug-related holiday is therefore recognized and celebrated: Bicycle Day.
Other Theories About the Origin of 420
April 20 would be an ideal time in the northern hemisphere to plant your weed seeds. It could be, but it does depend heavily on the weather whether that's a good idea. In any case, make sure your weed plants don't go outside until no more frost is predicted. Icing, or the second week of May is a better indicator.
Also, 420 would be a reference to the total amount of substances in cannabis. But the counter is already well over 500. Nonsense, as far as we're concerned.
There is also the U.S. police code 420. But that has nothing to do with a drug use crime, because it is the code for murder.
Finally, there are the Bebe's; another American group of friends who claim to be the "inventors" of 420 because they got together after school to smoke joints together. It could be that they were ahead of the Waldo's, but we think the well-documented story of the Waldo's is more plausible as an origin story.
What can you do on April 20 (420)?
Today, 420 is so well known that entire events are organized on the day. Around the world, April 20 is unofficially celebrated by smoking weed together, but wherever weed is even slightly legal in use, there is something to do. In our homeland, for example, there are music festivals. Search online for "420 event" or "420 festival." Each year is celebrated more lavishly than the year before. And since the time of the coronavirus, more and more events are additionally held on the Internet.
There are also often queues in front of coffee shops and (online) seed and head shops are offering discounts. Even at Dutch Headshop we celebrate 420 with great discounts. So subscribe yourself to our newsletter after you order to be informed of 420 deals, but also for promotions on other special days throughout the year.
420 in our culture
With 420 comes a cool playlist. Chill music that welcomes cannabis can be found on all popular streaming services:
Looking for a cool stoner movie to celebrate 420? Check out our recommendations! And get yourself a cool 420-style cap, bong or ashtray in our cannabis lifestyle section.
But why wait until April 20? Every day by the end of the workday it's 420! Or at least every day on the weekend. Celebrate cannabis use with a nice pre-dinner aperitif to stimulate the munchies at 4:20 p.m.