Origins of 420

420 is a number that is often associated with cannabis culture and is celebrated as a countercultural holiday on April 20th (4/20). The exact origin of this association is unclear and disputed, but some believe it originated from a group of high school students in California who used “420” as a code word for smoking marijuana in the 1970s. Over time, the term has become more widely known and is now recognized as a symbol of cannabis culture. 

The story behind “420” and its association with cannabis culture is often traced back to a group of five high school students at San Rafael High School in California who called themselves the “Waldos.” In the early 1970s, the Waldos heard a rumor that a Coast Guard service member had abandoned a cannabis crop near Point Reyes, and they made plans to search for the hidden stash.

The group agreed to meet at 4:20 PM after school to begin their search, but they never found the hidden crop. However, they continued to use “420” as a code word for smoking cannabis, and it eventually caught on with others in their social circle and beyond.

The exact origins of the term remain somewhat shrouded in mystery, but the story of the Waldos has become a part of cannabis lore, and the term “420” is now widely recognized as a symbol of cannabis culture.

One thing is for certain, whatever weed they were smoking was probably from Bolinas!