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The Real Story Behind 420
The term “420” is a part of every stoner’s vocabulary, but
where does this term come from, and how did it become so universally known and
used in cannabis culture? We’re here to share the real story behind 420—our
favorite holiday.
Some thought it came from the Bob Dylan song “Rainy Day
Women #12 & 35” because 12 x 35 = 420. Bob
Dylan confirmed there was no correlation between the two. Others thought it
stood for a police code that meant “smoking in progress” but that wasn’t it,
either. Some people even correlated 420 to Hitler’s birthday, which is
April 20 but it has absolutely nothing to do with cannabis.
So what is the real story behind 420 and how does it fit
into cannabis culture?
The origin of 420 and cannabis started in 1971 with five
high school students from San Rafael, California, that called themselves “The
Waldos.” The Waldos got their name from their after-practice hangout spot,
along an outside wall of their school. They were all athletes and would meet
after practice at 4:20 PM, which gave them a time window before they had to be
home. Sweet, sweet freedom!
In 1971 the Waldos heard a rumor that there was a
local Coast
Guard member who could no longer manage his cannabis plants. So the
boys set out at 4:20 PM every weekday searching for these plants to help tend
to them. They never found the plants, but they evidently had other ways to get
weed for their weekday smoke sessions.
“I thought it was pretty funny. What started out as a funny
little joke, a secret code, turned into a worldwide phenomenon,” said Waldo
David Reddix, one of the five Waldos.
How did this group of high schoolers get the rest of the
cannabis community on board with the number 420, though?
In the early ‘70s, the Grateful Dead moved to the Marin
County hills, only a short distance from San Rafael High, where the Waldos
attended school. However, the Waldos had more than a geographic connection to
the Grateful Dead. Waldo Mark’s father took care of the real estate for the
band, while Waldo Dave’s older brother, Patrick, managed a Grateful Dead
sideband and was good friends with bassist Phil Lesh. Patrick
figures that he must have used the term 420 around Phil Lesh, and that’s
probably how it caught on through the band.
So there you have it, friends! The mystery behind the term
420 has been unveiled, and who knew it began with a group of five high school
students? Who then got the Grateful Dead on board with the cannabis reference?!
Quite impressive use of word of mouth communication.
What’s going down at Pharmhouse Wellness on
4/20, you ask?
We will have some incredible deals all day at the shop,
including a ridiculous 8 for $100 steal deal on Platinum Vape cartridges! Be
sure to check out our Weedmaps page for
details on all of the deals that will go on throughout the day. Some of the
vendors at the shop offering free SWAG and giveaways will be Old Dune Farms, Treetown, Wyld, Select, Platinum Vape, and Kushy Punch.
- 11
AM to 1 PM – We will have our grill-master heating up some hamburgers,
brats, and veggie burgers that you can customize at our Burger Bar.
Covered dining seating will be available for you to sit back, relax,
mingle, and enjoy a free lunch with us.
- Noon
to 9 PM – We will have the second iteration of our “Toke Tent” lounge
set up for you to enjoy. You’re welcome to pop in, fire up and enjoy your
cannabis with friends.
- Noon
to 3 PM – Our take on Puff ‘N Paint will happen in the Toke Tent
lounge. We have habitat boxes available (bat, bee, and bird boxes) for you
to paint and decorate. These boxes will be placed around the Westside of
Grand Rapids for our flying friends!
- 4 PM –
“Puff, Puff, Pass” the joint is a game like “hot potato,” but with a joint
and whoever is the last one standing and holding for the game will win a
prize. (Prize TBD, we promise it’ll be worth it).
- 7
PM to 8:30 PM – Enjoy our stand-up comedy show featuring three local
comedians and Emcee Hunter Swanson entertaining between sets. Making us
laugh are: Hunter Miles, Brianna Blackburn and Nina Mulder. The comedy
show is free for all to enjoy at the Toke Tent lounge.
- We
can’t wait to see you at our 420 gathering for some great deals, great
people, great weed, and great laughs!
You might also be interested in
Cannabis In Your Community
Marijuana is Recreational, What About Decriminalization?
Cannabis: Why Aren’t More Women Consuming?
Recreational and Medical Cannabis: The Key Differences