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420 (cannabis culture)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
420, 4:20, or 4/20 (pronounced four-twenty) is a code-term in cannabis culture that refers to the consumption of cannabis, especially smoking cannabis around the time 4:20 p.m. (or 16:20 in 24-hour notation) and smoking and celebrating cannabis on the date April 20 (which is 4/20 in U.S. form).[3]
In 1971, Steve Capper, Dave Reddix, Jeffrey Noel, Larry Schwartz, and Mark Gravich, five high school students[4] in San Rafael, California,[5][6] calling themselves the Waldos[7][8] because "their chosen hang-out spot was a wall outside the school",[9] used the term in connection with a fall 1971 plan to search for an abandoned cannabis crop that they had learned about,[7][10] based on a treasure map made by the grower.[11] The Waldos designated the Louis Pasteur statue on the grounds of San Rafael High School as their meeting place, and 4:20 p.m. as their meeting time.[9] The Waldos referred to this plan with the phrase "4:20 Louis". Several failed attempts to find the crop eventually shortened their phrase to simply "4:20", which ultimately evolved into a codeword that the teens used to mean marijuana-smoking in general.[10]
Mike Edison says that Steven Hager of High Times was responsible for taking the story about the Waldos to "mind-boggling, cult-like extremes" and "suppressing" all other stories about the origin of the term.[12] Hager wrote "Stoner Smart or Stoner Stupid?" in which he called for 4:20 p.m. to be the socially accepted hour of the day to consume cannabis.[13] He attributes the early spread of the phrase to Grateful Dead followers, who were also linked to the city of San Rafael.[13]
International day for cannabis-related protests and events[edit]
Vancouver, April 20, 2012
April 20 has become an international counterculture holiday, where people gather to celebrate and consume cannabis.[3][14][15] Many such events have a political nature to them, advocating the liberalization / legalization of cannabis. Vivian McPeak, a founder of Seattle's Hempfest states that 4/20 is "half celebration and half call to action".[16] Paul Birch calls it a global movement and notes that one can't stop events like these.[17]
On that day many marijuana users protest in civil disobedience by gathering in public to light up at 4:20 p.m.[18]
As marijuana continues to be decriminalized and legalized around the world Steve DeAngelo, cannabis activist and founder of California's Harborside Health Center, 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" and that he thinks that "it will always be worthy of celebration".[19][20]
As of 2017 many events take place only days after April 20 or not in relation to 4/20 and global synchronization entirely. While many of these locations are expected to host such an event annually local authorities may attempt to prohibit protests on that day or create unreasonable conditions. However relocation might be required in some cases due to issues such as environmental protection.
In North America[edit]
Thousands illegally consume cannabis in Golden Gate Park to celebrate 420 and end prohibition, April 20, 2013
North American observances have been held at the following locations:
Hippie Hill in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park near the Haight-Ashbury district,[21]
The University of Colorado's Boulder campus,[6][22][23]
Ottawa, Ontario, at Parliament Hill and Major's Hill Park,[24][25]
Montreal, Quebec, at Mount Royal monument,[26][27]
Edmonton, Alberta, at the Alberta Legislature Building,[28]
Vancouver, British Columbia, at the Vancouver Art Gallery,[29][30] but as of 2016 also at Sunset Beach.[31]
The growing size of the unofficial event at UC Santa Cruz caused the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs to send an e-mail to parents in 2009 stating: "The growth in scale of this activity has become a concern for both the university and surrounding community."[32]
Elsewhere[edit]
Events have also occurred in London, United Kingdom, in Hyde Park;[33] University of Colorado Boulder;[34][35] and Dunedin, New Zealand, at the University of Otago.[36][37][38][39][40][41]
Other impacts[edit]
Stolen signs[edit]
Signs bearing the number "420" have been frequently stolen. In Colorado, the Colorado Department of Transportation replaced the Mile Marker 420 sign on I-70 east of Denver with one reading 419.99 in an attempt to stop the thievery.[42] The Idaho Department of Transportation (ITD) replaced the Mile Marker 420 sign on U.S. Highway 95, just south of Coeur d'Alene, with Mile Marker 419.9.[43] That marker was eventually stolen as well, leading ITD to just post the marker with spray paint on the pavement.[citation needed] In Goodhue County, Minnesota, officials have changed "420 St" street signs to "42x St".[44]
Legislation[edit]
In 2003, California Senate Bill 420 was introduced to regulate medical marijuana use, in deliberate reference to the status of 420 in marijuana culture. An unsuccessful 2010 bill to legalize cannabis in Guam was called Bill 420.[45]
Honors[edit]
Following the success of Washington D.C.'s Initiative 71 to legalize cannabis in 2014, Mayor Muriel Bowser granted license plate number "420" to the campaign's leader, Adam Eidinger.[46]
