While the origins of the term “420” are often debated, people worldwide honor the number by using it to celebrate all things cannabis. Whether it’s smoking a joint at 4:20 p.m. or attending a cannabis festival on April 20, 420 is now synonymous with marijuana.
Most stick to the story of “The Waldos,” in which a group of friends in Northern California, who called themselves “the Waldos,” would congregate around San Rafael High School’s statue of Louis Pasteur at 4:20 p.m., every day, to smoke pot. One day another friend showed up at the figure with a treasure map to a secret pot patch, which supposedly grew somewhere on Point Reyes Peninsula.
The Waldos decided to meet after school and drive to Point Reyes, but since school got out at 3:10 p.m., and some of the Waldos had after-school activities lasting an hour, they chose to meet at precisely 4:20 p.m. at the Louis Pasteur statue.
On the day of the treasure hunt, The Waldos continued to remind one another about the meeting throughout the day by saluting each other in the halls and saying “420 Louie.” After tossing around the phrase 420 all day, the number permanently entered their lexicon. They began using it in everyday speech to discuss getting high without tipping off parents or teachers covertly.
For the next 10 years, The Waldos went on the most extraordinary safaris and had the most magical adventures, although they sadly never found that patch. But they always sponsored a big pot party on April 20th, where a ceremonial toke would take place at 4:20 p.m. Eventually, they started getting married, having families, and picking up the sacred pipe less frequently.
While there’s no direct evidence, some say it’s likely because of The Grateful Dead. In the ‘70s, the Dead were practicing in San Rafael. An older brother of one of the Waldos was friends with bassist Phil Lesh. The Waldos said they smoked with the band a few times and suspected the term was spread that way.
On December 28, 1990, a group of Deadheads in Oakland handed out flyers that invited people to smoke 420 on April 20 at 4:20 p.m. One ended up with Steve Bloom, a former reporter for High Times magazine, an authority on cannabis culture. The magazine printed the flyer in 1991 and continued to reference the number. Soon, it became known worldwide as code for marijuana. In 1998, the outlet acknowledged that the Waldos were the “inventors” of 420.
Many theories emerged about the number’s origins throughout the years—some claimed it came from a Bob Dylan song (“Rainy Day Women #12 & 35,” multiplying the numbers to equal 420).
Regardless of its humble beginnings, the meaning of 420 and its subsequent holiday in April have become a worldwide celebration.
We hope that some who read this will “get” 420 and consider lifting the ceremony to a higher level – something more meaningful than just an excuse to get intoxicated. Only then can we support a spiritual culture worthy of being handed down to future generations.
We believe that 420 should be used to help ritualize and legitimize cannabis as a sacrament.
If you want to treat cannabis with respect, there is magic. For some who use it without wisdom or become too attached too soon, it’s just a financially draining habit. Suppose you want to have an authentic counterculture ceremony. In that case, everyone must be invited, which means it has to be affordable, plentiful, and it can’t just be about getting high and nothing else.
At ABQ-Live and NM Cann, we aim to support New Mexico’s future events that do just that. Stay tuned for more information on our transition into the vast and wonderful Cannabis Industry.
