Happy 420!
We thought about 420 and how it came about. This article on Wikipedia seems to summon it all up nicely.
In 1971, five high school students in San Rafael, California,[5][6] used the term "4:20" in connection with a plan to search for an abandoned cannabis crop, based on a treasure map made by the grower.[7][8] Calling themselves the Waldos,[9][10] because their typical hang-out spot "was a wall outside the school",[11] the five students—Steve Capper, Dave Reddix, Jeffrey Noel, Larry Schwartz, and Mark Gravich[12]—designated the Louis Pasteur statue[13] on the grounds of San Rafael High School as their meeting place, and 4:20 pm as their meeting time.[11] The Waldos referred to this plan with the phrase "4:20 Louis". After several failed attempts to find the crop, the group eventually shortened their phrase to "4:20", which ultimately evolved into a code-word the teens used to refer to consuming cannabis.[7]
Steven Hager of High Times popularized the story of the Waldos.[14] The first High Times mention of 4:20 smoking and a 4/20 holiday appeared in May 1991[15] and erroneously attributed the origin of the term to a police code; this and other spurious incorrect origin stories became common.[16] The connection to the Waldos appeared in December 1998. Hager attributed the early spread of the phrase to Grateful Dead followers[17]—after "Waldo" Reddix became a roadie for the Grateful Dead's bassist, Phil Lesh[12]—and called for 4:20 pm to be the socially accepted time of the day to consume cannabis.[17]
Another San Rafael group claims to have originated the term before the Waldos.[18]
Created in 1989, the reform organization Cannabis Action Network, associated with High Times, is often credited for giving to 420 and the date April 20 marked elements of political and cultural protest, organizing rallies on that date and assisting other groups in setting up other events.
International observance of April 20
Vancouver, April 20, 2012
April 20 has become an international counterculture holiday based on the celebration and consumption of cannabis.[3][19][20] Events typically advocate for cannabis liberalization and legalization. Vivian McPeak, a founder of Seattle's Hempfest, states that 4/20 is "half celebration and half call to action".[21] Paul Birch calls it a global movement and suggests that one cannot stop events like these.[22]
Many marijuana users protest in civil disobedience by gathering in public to smoke at 4:20 pm.[23]
As marijuana continues to be decriminalized and legalized around the world, cannabis activist Steve DeAngelo notes that "even if our activist work were complete, 420 morphs from a statement of conscience to a celebration of acceptance, a celebration of victory, a celebration of our amazing connection with this plant" which "will always be worthy of celebration".[24][25]