Fun | 420
The origins of the term “420” as a slang for cannabis can be traced back to a group of friends from San Rafael High School in northern California in 1971. These teenagers, known as the “Waldos” because they often hung out by a wall, stumbled upon a unique tradition. They found a hand-drawn map that allegedly led to a hidden marijuana crop near Point Reyes, northwest of San Francisco.
After school, at 4:20 PM, the Waldos would meet up and embark on their quest to find this elusive cannabis field. Despite never finding the crop, the ritual of meeting at 4:20 PM became an ingrained part of their routine. “We were smoking a lot of weed at the time,” reminisces Dave Reddix, also known as Waldo Dave, now a filmmaker at age 59. “Half the fun was just going looking for it.”
The term “420” started as their inside joke but soon spread beyond their circle to friends and acquaintances, including members of the Grateful Dead, a popular rock band at the time. This association with the Deadheads helped to popularize the term further.
In 1990, “420” gained broader recognition when Steve Bloom, an editor at High Times magazine, noticed it on a Grateful Dead concert flyer. The magazine adopted the term, using it in their editorial meetings held at 4:20 PM. Over time, “420” became widely recognized among cannabis enthusiasts and is often seen in various contexts, from building numbers to pop culture references like the film “Pulp Fiction.”
The term’s cultural impact is evident in various ways, such as the replacement of the 420-mile marker on Interstate-70 in Colorado with a 419.99-mile sign due to repeated thefts. Despite other groups claiming to have coined the term, the original Waldos continue to assert their role in its creation, supported by evidence like letters and memorabilia.
Therefore, “420” not only signifies a time of day but also represents a symbol of cannabis culture, originating from the adventurous spirit of a group of high school friends and perpetuated through their encounters with the Grateful Dead and subsequent recognition in cannabis-related media.
