The history and meaning of 420
When you think of Cannabis, one of the first things that might pop up in your mind is 420. 420 has many meanings. It refers to the time to consume Cannabis (4.20 pm), the date April 20 (our American friends like to write their dates backwards 4/20) to celebrate Cannabis globally. It's also a code to show acceptance of Cannabis use, lifestyle and culture. That's why we named our brand after it, 420S (fourtwenties), because we believe in the positive power of Cannabis, and we want to celebrate Cannabis culture, not cover it up.
History of 420
There are many myths about the origin of 420. Some say the Californian police use the penal code 420 to report marijuana use, but penal code 420 refers to obstruction of access to public lands. Others say there are 420 active chemicals in Cannabis, but there are over 500, so both myths have been debunked.
The most widely accepted 420 origin story belongs to the Waldos. The Waldos were a group of friends from San Rafael High School, based in California, USA. After hearing a rumour about a mysterious marijuana field in the forest of the Point Reyes Peninsula. Allegedly planted by US Coast Guardsman Gary Newman. They came up with the name in 1971, meeting each other at 4.20 pm after sports practice to go on excursions to find the field while smoking weed. The Waldos never found the mysterious marijuana field, but 420 became their code word for consuming Cannabis.
One of The Waldos would end up going on tour with The Grateful Dead, and on December 28, 1990, a group of "Deadheads" handed out flyers in Oakland inviting people to smoke "420 on April 20 at 4:20 pm. Steven Hager, the editor of High Times magazine, received one of these flyers and published an article in May 1991, attributing 420 to Grateful Dead fans. He championed the use of 4:20 as the socially acceptable time for cannabis consumption and 4/20, or April 20, as the day of celebration.
The Waldos have created an official website where you can read more about the 420 origin story.
Today 420 has grown to become an international symbol for Cannabis. It's an easy way to talk about Cannabis without mentioning the unfortunately stigmatised word. You could even book a "420-friendly." Airbnb!
