Where did 420 come from? The blunt truth about the marijuana-themed holiday

Haadiza Ogwude and Anna Kaufman, Cincinnati Enquirer
Updated ·2 min read

Smoke it if you got it! The popular holiday for marijuana enthusiasts, known colloquially as 420, is this weekend.

The recreational and medicinal substance is celebrated annually April 20 by smokers around the world. Although it's not an official holiday, many still make sure to spark up on this herb-loving day.

But how did a random day in April become an international celebration for marijuana enthusiasts? Here's everything to know about the hazy lore behind 420.

What is 420?

April 20, or 420, is a holiday celebrated by many marijuana smokers both in the United States and around the globe.
April 20, or 420, is a holiday celebrated by many marijuana smokers both in the United States and around the globe.

According to USA TODAY, April 20, or 4/20, is a holiday celebrated by many marijuana smokers both in the United States and around the globe. In states where marijuana is legalized, smokers celebrate their love of the plant through public and private events, including festivals, special film screenings, pipe-making classes and more.

In the U.S., where marijuana is not federally legal, April 20 also serves as a rallying date for advocates of legalization.

Some businesses, including head shops and dispensaries, also offer discounts on the day.

When is 420?

The quasi-holiday known as 420 occurs annually on April 20, a Saturday this year.

Where does 420 come from? Why is it associated with marijuana?

In states where marijuana is legalized, smokers will celebrate their love of the plant through public and private events.
In states where marijuana is legalized, smokers will celebrate their love of the plant through public and private events.

According to popular lore, 420 was started in the early 1970s by a group of students at Northern California's San Rafael High School. The group, which dubbed itself the Waldos, used to gather after school at 4:20 p.m. to smoke because it was the only time everyone was free to meet.

The timestamp, which became the code for smoking marijuana, eventually spread throughout the country. But psychedelic rock band The Grateful Dead popularized the term.

Dave Reddix, a member of the Waldos, told Time magazine in 2017 that he worked as a roadie for the band's bassist Phil Lesh. Time reports that during a December show in 1990, some Deadheads in Oakland distributed flyers inviting people to smoke 420 at 4:20 p.m. on April 20.

One of the recipients of the flyer was Steven Bloom, a reporter at The High Times. The popular cannabis publication printed that flyer, and a new observance was born.

However, the truth surrounding the holiday's origin remains a bit hazy.

Other theories exist about the origins of 420, including references to a California police code and a Bob Dylan song, but the Waldos have remained adamant they are the true architects of the holiday.

420 palindrome explained

This year, April 20 is a palindrome, falling on 4/20/2024.
This year, April 20 is a palindrome, falling on 4/20/2024.

420 has become a highly anticipated day for marijuana users. But this year is extra special.

The holiday falls on April 20, 2024, or 4/20/2024, making it a palindrome.

A palindrome is a word or phrase that reads the same backward as it does frontward, with common examples being "racecar" and "madam." This occurrence takes place only once every millennium, with the next falling on 4/20/3024.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Where did the 4/20 holiday come from? Why it's celebrated and more