Today, like every year, on April 20th we celebrate Cannabis all over the world.
But why has this date become so popular in consumer jargon? Let's go and discover its origins!
In 1971, five high school students in San Rafael, California, used the term "4:20” in relation to a plan to search for an abandoned cannabis crop, based on a “green” treasure map made by a grower. Calling themselves the "Waldos" because their typical gathering place "was a wall outside the school", the five students - Steve Capper, Dave Reddix, Jeffrey Noel, Larry Schwartz, and Mark Gravich had designated the statue of "Louis Pasteur" near San Rafael High School as the meeting place to begin their search; the designated time was right at 4.20pm. The Waldos referred to this plan with the phrase "4:20 Louis".
After several failed attempts to find the crop, (perhaps it never existed) the group shortened their phrase to "4:20," which eventually evolved into a code word that teenagers in the area used to refer to cannabis use.
It was Steven Hager of the well-known magazine "High Times" to popularize the story of the Waldos.
April 20 has become the international counterculture holiday, where people gather to celebrate and consume cannabis.
Many of these events have a political nature, advocating the liberalization and legalization of cannabis.
Vivian McPeak, a founder of Seattle's Hempfest, says that 4/20 is "half celebration and half call to action". That day marijuana users protest civil disobedience by gathering in public to consume Marijuana at 16:20.
As marijuana continues to be decriminalized and legalized around the world, Steve DeAngelo, cannabis activist and founder of Harborside Health Center in California, notes that "even if our work as activists is not complete, 420 will transform from a statement of conscience to a celebration of acceptance,(...) our incredible connection to this plant will always be worthy of celebration."
Definitely the term 420 over time it has become popular with the increase in marijuana consumption in the population. There are very funny stories about the folklore that has been created around it, such as the collection of signs roads with the writing "420".
Signs with the number 420 are often stolen. In Colorado, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDT) replaced the sign Mile Marker 420 on I-70 east of Denver with a reading 419,99 in an attempt to stop the theft, however, the folklore of the 419.99 sign meant that it was also stolen, as well as becoming a tourist destination.
Happy Cannabis day everyone!
