20 April holds a special place on the calendars of those who commemorate this day, but what exactly is the historic significance of ‘Happy 420‘?
Who started ‘Happy 420’?
In the early 2000s, the names of the Los Angeles natives who are credited for coining the term ‘420’ were anonymous, largely due to the rather harsh prohibition of cannabis in the United States (US).
However, 20 years later, with weed regulations easing at state level (it is still a federal crime), the group infamously known as the ‘Waldos’ unveiled its identity in a LA Times piece written by Christian Orozco.
Steve Capper, Dave Reddix, Jeffrey Noel, Larry Schwartz and Mark Gravitch, alumni of San Rafael High School, are responsible for the globally recognised ‘Happy 420’.
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The group coined the term ‘420’ as a secret code for a weed hangout in the 1970s.
According to Capper, the Waldos had been tipped off about an abandoned patch of cannabis plants at the Point Reyes lighthouse and, as potheads, this presented the perfect opportunity to spend the afternoon experimenting on a new strain.
School came out at 15:00 and some of the group members had football practice until 16:00. A call was made to meet at the statue of Louis Pasteur — ironically, he was a famous chemist –on campus at 16:20.
Everyone made it on time and the first-ever blunt in commemoration of 420 was lit up. Capper and his mates would use ‘420’ as a secret code in front of teachers and their parents.
Today, the phrase is used globally and, on 20 April, or 4.20, cannabis enthusiasts from all walks of life celebrate this day by lighting one up at 16:20.
What must you do on this day?
Traditional potheads will roll a ‘doobie’ when the clock strikes 16:20, on this day. Others, with nothing better to do with their time, would have already been on a rotational ‘smoke-athon’ at daybreak.
However, for those who don’t particularly enjoy the stimulation brought on by cannabis, but still want to be apart of the club, there are ways to join the celebrations.
The Weedtube is a YouTube alternative launched by a faction of content creators who were kicked off the streaming platform for violating certain rules and policies around smoking.
Interested folks can find anything from ‘How To’ guides, to smoke sessions.
Here is a list of movies about cannabis you can also watch, if smoking is not your thing:
- Pineapple Express (2008)
- Up In Smoke (1978)
- Dude, Where’s My Car (2000)
- Savages (2012)
- Knocked Up (2008)
- The Gentlemen (2019)
