If you’re familiar with cannabis at all, you probably have heard the number or phrase “420” thrown around quite a bit. When the holiday approaches, every year on April 20th, the meaning behind the number always comes up. As with any origin story there are plenty of myths and legends that go along with it. We dug deep into the history of 4/20. Now we’re here to bring you the facts about the popular cannabis holiday.
The Myths
The myth behind 420 usually comes with associations to some of the most famous “tokers” in the history of cannabis. From Bob Marley’s birthday to the death dates of the infamous 27 club there are plenty of people associated with 420 from rumors alone.
One popular myth is that 420 is the police code used to distinguish marijuana related crimes. However this has proven to be false as well. The rumors of tea-time in Holland occurring at 4:20 also sparked the 4/20 rumor train. This story also came up short and is fiction. With all these stories not adding up to 420, the truth eventually came out about the date and its association to cannabis. The real story of 420 starts with a treasure map and a group of kids who referred to themselves as the “Waldos.”
The Real Story
In 1971, a group of students from San Rafael High School, just outside of San Francisco. The boys got together and heard a rumor that eventually led to the cannabis-centered holiday and time. The “Waldos” were called such because they were often found hanging out in a spot on the wall outside their school. One day while the Waldos were hanging out by the wall they heard that there was an abandoned cannabis patch near the Point Reyes Lighthouse on the Point Reyes Peninsula.
After receiving a “treasure map” from a friend the Waldos set off on their adventure to find the abandoned cannabis. Every day at 4:20 the group would meet at their school’s Louis Pasteur statue. Starting with the phrase “4:20 Louie.” Then they eventually shortened it to just the simple phrase of “4:20.” After searching and following the treasure map for a few weeks, the patch of cannabis was never recovered. This didn’t stop the Waldos from using the phrase every time it was time to light it up.
Where are they now?
The Waldos still are still around and setting people straight on the 420 origin story. They wanted people to know there story and association with the popular phrase. You can check out the facts and proof on their website 420waldos.com. They have popped up in all sorts of publications, discussing where the origin story for 4/20 came from and still on the mission to set the truth straight today.
Next time you use the phrase 4/20, share the truth behind the most popular phase in the cannabis world!
Want to learn more about the cannabis world? Check out our Instagram @HempBakers!
