Happy 4/20: The Real History Behind Cannabis's Favorite Holiday
Jamie
Head Cultivator
4/20 originated in 1971 when five students at San Rafael High School in California — self-named "the Waldos" — used "4:20" as their code word for meeting at 4:20 PM to search for an abandoned cannabis crop rumored to be growing near the Point Reyes Peninsula. They never found the crop. But the code stuck, spread through the Grateful Dead touring community, and became the universal signal for cannabis culture worldwide.
That's the real story. Not a police code. Not Bob Marley's birthday. Not a California penal code. Five kids with a treasure map and a meeting time.
The Full Origin Story #
The Waldos #
The five students — Steve Capper, Dave Reddix, Jeffrey Noel, Larry Schwartz, and Mark Gravitch — called themselves the Waldos because they hung out by a wall outside their school. In the fall of 1971, they obtained a hand-drawn map from a Coast Guard member whose brother-in-law had planted cannabis near the Point Reyes lighthouse but could no longer tend it.
The plan was simple: meet at the Louis Pasteur statue on campus at 4:20 PM (after sports practice), pile into a car, get high, and drive to Point Reyes to find the abandoned plants.
They made the trip multiple times. They never found the crop. But "4:20" became their permanent shorthand — "420" scrawled in notes, whispered in hallways, and eventually spread beyond their friend group.
The Grateful Dead Connection #
Dave Reddix's brother was friends with Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, which gave the Waldos access to Dead rehearsals and backstage at concerts. They used "420" freely in that environment, and the term spread through the Dead's massive touring community — one of the most interconnected social networks in 1970s-80s America.
By the late 1980s, "420" had traveled from a single California high school to national consciousness through Deadhead culture.
High Times Magazine #
In 1991, a group of Deadheads in Oakland distributed flyers inviting people to smoke at 4:20 PM on April 20th. High Times magazine picked up the story and began using "420" extensively, cementing it in mainstream cannabis culture. By the late 1990s, 4/20 was an established annual event.
Myths Debunked #
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| "420 is a police code for marijuana" | No. LAPD code 420 refers to juvenile disturbance, not cannabis |
| "It's Bob Marley's birthday" | No. Marley was born February 6, 1945 |
| "It's the number of compounds in cannabis" | No. There are over 500 identified compounds |
| "April 20th is the best day to plant" | No agricultural basis for this claim |
| "It's from a bill number in Congress" | No cannabis-related bill has had that designation |
The Waldos have documentary evidence — letters, postmarked envelopes, and yearbook entries from the early 1970s — that validate their origin claim. It's been verified by multiple journalists and historians.
What 4/20 Means Now #
Fifty-five years after five teenagers failed to find an abandoned cannabis patch, 4/20 has become:
A Day of Celebration #
Community gatherings, dispensary events, and cannabis-friendly festivals happen across every legal state. It's cannabis culture's Thanksgiving — a day for coming together.
A Day of Advocacy #
Major cannabis reform organizations use 4/20 to push for policy change — federal legalization, expungement, equity programs, and research access. The holiday carries political weight.
A Day of Remembrance #
4/20 is also a time to acknowledge the millions of Americans arrested, incarcerated, and harmed by cannabis prohibition. Over 40,000 people are still incarcerated for cannabis-related offenses at the federal level. Celebration and awareness aren't mutually exclusive.
A Commercial Event #
Like every cultural holiday, 4/20 has been commercialized. Dispensary deals, branded merch, and corporate sponsorships are standard. That's not inherently bad — but it's worth remembering that the holiday started with five friends and a treasure map, not a marketing calendar.
How to Celebrate 4/20 With Intention #
Do #
- Try something new — a new strain, a new consumption method, a new conversation about cannabis
- Support local — buy from community-rooted operators, not corporate chains
- Learn something — read about cannabis science, policy, or history
- Check on your rights — know the current laws in your state and municipality
- Share responsibly — introduce curious friends to cannabis safely and knowledgeably
Don't #
- Drive impaired — obvious but critical
- Consume in public — still illegal in Michigan (and most states)
- Pressure anyone — not everyone wants to participate, and that's fine
- Forget the people still locked up — celebration without awareness is incomplete
FAQ: 4/20 History and Culture #
Q: Why is 4/20 associated with cannabis? #
A: The term "420" originated in 1971 at San Rafael High School, California, where five students called "the Waldos" used "4:20" as their code word for meeting at 4:20 PM to search for an abandoned cannabis crop. The term spread through Grateful Dead culture and was popularized nationally by High Times magazine.
Q: Who are the Waldos? #
A: The Waldos are Steve Capper, Dave Reddix, Jeffrey Noel, Larry Schwartz, and Mark Gravitch — five students from San Rafael High School who coined the term "420" in 1971. They have documentary evidence (letters, postmarked envelopes) validating their origin claim.
Q: Is 420 a police code for marijuana? #
A: No. This is a persistent myth. LAPD police code 420 refers to juvenile disturbance, not marijuana. No police department in the United States uses "420" as a marijuana code.
Q: When did 4/20 become a national holiday? #
A: The transition from regional slang to national observance happened gradually through the 1980s and 1990s, catalyzed by Grateful Dead touring culture and High Times magazine's adoption of the term. By the late 1990s, April 20th was widely recognized as cannabis culture's unofficial holiday.
Q: Is 4/20 a real holiday? #
A: 4/20 is not a federally recognized holiday, but it's the most widely observed cultural celebration in the cannabis community. Multiple states and municipalities host official or semi-official events, and it's the cannabis industry's biggest sales day of the year.
Q: How many people are still in prison for cannabis? #
A: As of 2026, over 40,000 people remain incarcerated at the federal level for cannabis-related offenses. State-level numbers add thousands more. Many are serving sentences from before legalization in their states.
Q: Is it legal to celebrate 4/20 in Michigan? #
A: You can legally possess and consume cannabis on private property in Michigan if you're 21+. Public consumption remains illegal. Dispensary events and private gatherings are the standard for legal celebration.
Q: What does 4/20 mean for cannabis farmers? #
A: For sun-grown farms like Divine Toke, 4/20 falls right at the beginning of the outdoor growing season in Michigan. It marks the transition from planning to planting — when living soil wakes up and the first companion plants go into the ground. It's both celebration and starting gun.
Happy 4/20. Celebrate well. Remember where it came from. And think about where it's going.
