420 – what does it mean? What is the history of 420 and marijuana holidays?

Does anyone else not know what the symbol 420 is about?

People involved in the topic of marijuana probably know this term well, but do they know what its history is and what is behind the celebration of marijuana festival? What does 420 mean and where did this symbol come from?

The number 420 is one of the most recognizable symbols associated with marijuana culture around the world . Although at first glance it may seem like an ordinary number to many uninitiated people, for millions of people it has become an icon of community, legalization and the fight for rights related to the use of marijuana.

420 – San Rafael, California, USA, 1971

A group of teenagers from San Rafael High School, calling themselves the Waldos (due to their habit of meeting at the wall ) , learned that there was an abandoned marijuana farm not far from where they lived. Every day at 4:20 PM (4:20 PM) they would meet to search the surrounding areas. The mysterious symbol 420 was intended to prevent parents and teachers from detecting the group's plans. Although they never found the plantation, the number 420 became a code for going on trips together and spending time smoking marijuana .

How did it happen that 420 entered the culture and marked its presence as a code valid all over the world? A key moment in 420's history of recognition was Waldos' association with the Grateful Dead . This group, an icon of psychedelic rock and libertarian ideas, had its center in San Rafael. It was through their fans that Code 420 began to penetrate wider culture. The band's fans adopted the term and passed it on, extending it to other US states.

The number 420 began to be used as a universal symbol associated with smoking marijuana and freedom.

1990s - "High Times"

The real flowering of the 420 symbol occurred in the 1990s thanks to the "High Times" magazine. The magazine focused on marijuana users, and in one of the articles the authors explained what 420 meant and began to promote this number as a sign of community. There was also an initiative to create Marijuana Day, which was to fall on April 20 . The coincidence of the American date 4/20 with the numerical code made this day an ideal choice.

420 – what does it mean for marijuana users today?

The term 420 began to take on a life of its own and increasingly enter popular culture. It has become a widely recognized code around the world and has penetrated films, series, music and broadly understood pop culture. In many places around the world, mass gatherings, festivals and marches supporting the legalization of marijuana are organized on April 20.

And although 420 comes from the youth subculture of the 1970s, today it is associated with a real social movement. It expresses not only solidarity , but also the need to reform outdated drug regulations and promote educational campaigns about the medical properties of cannabis.