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!