The history behind 420

There are many terms associated with marijuana, including one unofficial holiday that is celebrated by pot smokers around the world: 4/20. Whether you observe the day or not, you might know the origin of where the phrase came from, although many are unaware of its true meaning.

Perhaps when you think of the term “420” you think of teenagers crowding in a garage, hotboxing the confined space and jamming out to Bob Marley.

Maybe you think 4/20 or April 20 is a significant date in American history in terms of cannabis laws and legalization, or a code word among police officers for marijuana smoking in progress (Time). Or maybe you thought there was no meaning behind the term, and someone made it up to designate an entire day to smoking the good stuff.

Regardless of what you thought, all the assumptions previously listed are wrong. The truth is, the term dates to the fall of 1971, when five California teens who hung out by a wall outside their San Rafael school – which inspired their nickname, “the Waldos” – invented it (History).

When the Waldos learned of a Coast Guard member who seeded a cannabis plant and could no longer tend to the crop, they were provided with a treasure map that allegedly led to the discarded product. “The group would meet at the Louis Pasteur statue outside their high school at least once a week [to] conduct a search. Their meeting time? 4:20 p.m., after practice – [as] they were all athletes,” said Rob Homer in an article posted by the History network. He continued, “The Waldos would pile into a car, smoke some pot and scour the nearby Point Reyes Forest for the elusive, free herb.”

Steve Capper, one of the original members of the Waldos, shared, “We would open access to their shows. “There was a place called Winterland, and we’d always be backstage running around or on stage and, of course, we’re using those phrases. When somebody passes a joint or something, ‘Hey, 420.’ So, it started spreading through that community,” shared Capper.

So how did the unique phrase spread internationally?

The answer is the Grateful Dead.

Homer said, “While many other illicit tales of the origins of 420 have wafted into the half-baked history books, the Waldos have proof they used the word back in the 1970s. Kept safely tucked remind each other in the hallways [that] we were supposed to meet up at 4:20 [p.m.]. It originally started out [as] 4:20-Louis and we eventually dropped the Louis.” Although the Waldos were never able to secure some free bud for a quick high, they started an everlasting phrase that is still used to this day.

Before it was well known, high schoolers used 420 as a code word to discuss smoking pot without their parents or teachers knowing. So how did the unique phrase spread internationally? The answer is the Grateful Dead (History).

A few members of the Waldos had connections to the Grateful Dead based on previous friendships and business relationships. This allowed the Waldos to have away in a vault in a San Francisco bank is their original 420 tie-dyed flag, a newspaper clipping where one of the members discusses wanting to just say “420” for this high school graduation speech and postmarked letters between the group filled with 420 references.”

This 4/20, when you light up a joint with your friends, be sure to share the facts of this celebrated day to debunk the myths that have lingered for over half a century.

References www.history.com/news/the-hazy-history-of-420 https://time.com/4292844/420-april-20-marijuana-pot-holiday-history/