Over the past two decades, 21 states plus the District of Columbia and Guam have legalized marijuana for recreational use. That means marijuana smokers can smoke more openly than ever before on 4/20—a date that both marijuana smokers and non-smokers recognize as a national holiday for cannabis culture. Yet few actually know how the date got chosen.

Some say “420” is code among police officers for “marijuana smoking in progress.” Some note 4/20 is also Adolf Hitler’s birthday. And some go as far as to cite Bob Dylan’s song “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” because 12 multiplied by 35 equals 420.

But, to put it bluntly, those rumors of the history behind how April 20, and 4/20, got associated with marijuana are false.

The most credible story traces 4/20 to Marin County, Calif. In 1971, five students at San Rafael High School would meet at 4:20 p.m. by the campus’ statue of chemist Louis Pasteur to partake. They chose that specific time because extracurricular activities had usually ended by then. This group — Steve Capper, Dave Reddix, Jeffrey Noel, Larry Schwartz, and Mark Gravich — became known as the “Waldos” because they met at a wall. They would say “420” to each other as code for marijuana.

Popular lore ties the birth of “4/20” to a group of high schoolers attending Northern California’s San Rafael High School in the early 1970s. The cohort which dubbed itself the “Waldos” used to gather at 4:20 pm to toke up. 

“We weren’t stupid stoners,” Steve Capper, 68, an original Waldo said, pointing to a certificate for exceptional achievement and citizenship he received in school.. The point being, the Waldos engaged in after-school activities like sports and studying, so 4:20 was chosen as the time the group could all meet up. 

The time stamp became code for the act of smoking weed, and eventually spread beyond the Golden State’s borders.

Who was the messenger? None other than The Grateful Dead. 

Dave Reddix, a member of the “Waldos,” told TIME Magazine in 2017 that the band helped popularize the term during his tenure working as a roadie for bassist Phil Lesh. TIME reports that during a December show in 1990 some Deadheads in Oakland distributed flyers inviting people to smoke “420” at 4:20 p.m. on April 20.

One of the recipients of the flyer was Steven Bloom, a reporter at The High Times. The following year the popular cannabis publication printed that flyer and a new observance was born. 

Cannabis dispensary weed deals, events on 4/20

Here’s where you can find deals on marijuana around the Peoria area:

• nuEra East Peoria Dispensary: The store will open an hour early from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 20. Customers can “Spin the Wheel” for swag, score penny samples, will receive discounts and a chance to win prizes. Check out 420 Tunes curated by the East Peoria staff. RSVP by visiting eventbrite.com. Address: 504 Riverside Dr., East Peoria, Ill. Phone: (309) 839-1330.
• nuEra Pekin Dispensary: Join the party in the parking lot. The store will open an hour early from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 20. Customers can “Spin the Wheel” for swag, score penny samples, will receive discounts and a chance to win prizes. There willl be free treats from Baking Baer, courtesy of Ozone & Simply Herb Cannabis. Check out 420 Tunes curated by the East Peoria staff. RSVP by visiting eventbrite.com. Address: 3249 Court St., Pekin, Ill. Phone: (309) 201-4086.
• RISE Medical & Recreational Dispensary: Patrons can earn 420 points instantly when they join the RISE Rewards program now through April 20. Participating locations will offer up to 40% discounts on products leading up to 4/20. Deals vary by location. On April 20, there will be DJs, doorbuster deals, exclusive product drops like Queen Cola by RYTHM, food, free swag and more. Bahr Necessities and Meats will be providing munchies. Select stores will offer 4/20 holiday greeting cards on sn sale to support cannabis-loving friends and family members. Address: 3104 N. Main St., Canton, Ill. Phone: (309) 647-9333.
• Trinity Cannabis, Medical and Recreational: Spend $100 and recieve a gift while supplies last. Plus, 50 swag bags will be out at random. Visit pop-ups from Revolution and Verano, and take your chances at “Spin the Wheel” on the medical side. Through April 23 on the recreeational side, score a 30% discount on Aeriz & Stiiizy, GTI, High Supply, Revolution and Verano. Plus, buy two Stiiizy Pods and get a White Cherry Gelato 1-gram pod for $1. Address: 3125 N. University St., Suite B, Peoria, Ill. Medical phone: (309) 863-2122. Recreational phone: (309) 863-2129.
• Trinity Cannabis, Recreational: Spend $100 and recieve a gift while supplies last. Plus, 50 swag bags will be out at random. Visit pop-ups from Revolution and Verano, and check out the food vendors on site. Through April 23, score a 30% discount on Aeriz & Stiiizy, GTI, High Supply, Revolution and Verano. Plus, buy two Stiiizy Pods and get a White Cherry Gelato 1-gram pod for $1. Address: 2301 W. Glen Ave., Peoria, Ill. Phone: (309) 839-0337.

• 22-SweetWater 420 FestSat, Apr 22 – Sun, Apr 23SweetWater Brewing Company, 195 Ottley Dr NEAtlanta, GA
• 20-APRCelebrate 4.20 with CBDToday, 3 – 11 PM3405 Dallas HwyMarietta, GA
• 20-APR4/20 Celebration 2023Today, 6 – 10 PMLaevo LLC CBD, 1706 Hwy 138 SE JConyers, GA
• 20-APRFree the plant 420 CelebrationToday, 4:20 – 10:00 PMGeorgia Beer Garden, 420 Edgewood Ave NEAtlanta, GA
• 20-APR420 Celebration 2 Day EventThu, Apr 20 – Fri, Apr 21Franny’s Farmacy, 13800 GA-9 Suite 3031C Alpharetta, GA

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