420 is cannabis culture's best-known code: it can mean weed itself, 4:20 in the afternoon as a time to smoke, or April 20, the unofficial cannabis holiday. The most widely accepted origin story goes back to a group of high school students in California in 1971. At Saint John Bud Express we see the number everywhere, so here is a short history for anyone in Saint John who has ever wondered where it came from.
Where did 420 come from?
The Waldos. The story most people accept starts at San Rafael High School in California. A group of friends, who called themselves the Waldos because they hung out by a wall, heard about an abandoned cannabis crop supposedly growing near a coast guard station. They agreed to meet at 4:20 in the afternoon, after school and sports practice, to go looking for it.
The hunt failed, the code stuck. They never found the plants, but "420" became their shorthand. Saying it in the hallway meant "let's go smoke" without teachers or parents catching on.
The Grateful Dead connection. Some of the group had links to the Grateful Dead's circle, and the band's fans helped spread the term. In the early 1990s, a flyer handed out at a Dead show invited people to smoke "420" on April 20 at 4:20 pm. It was later reprinted in a cannabis magazine, and the idea went worldwide from there.
Are the other origin stories true?
You will hear plenty of other explanations. Most of them are myths:
- "420 is a police code for cannabis." There is no good evidence of this.
- "There are 420 chemicals in cannabis." The real number of compounds is different and changes depending on how you count.
- "It's a famous person's birthday or death date." These have been floated over the years but don't explain where the term actually started.
- "It's from a song lyric." Songs have referenced 420 since, but they came after the term was already in use.
The Waldos kept letters and other items from the 1970s that use the term, which is why their version is the one most historians of cannabis culture go with.
Why April 20?
Written the North American way, April 20 is 4/20. Once 4:20 pm was established as the time, the date was an obvious next step. Over the years, April 20 grew into a day of gatherings, music and celebration in cannabis communities around the world, including across Canada.
How is 420 celebrated today?
At 4:20 pm. Many people mark the moment with friends, every day or just on the holiday.
On April 20. Some cities host large gatherings. Others keep it low-key: a few friends, good food and a favourite strain.
Through deals. Plenty of cannabis shops run specials around April 20. Keep an eye on our promotions page for what is running at any given time.
With a little planning. If you are celebrating, plan your ride home ahead of time. Never drive high.
How do you use 420 in conversation?
- "Are you 420 friendly?" means "Do you use or are you okay with cannabis?"
- "Happy 420" is the greeting on April 20.
- "420" on its own can just mean cannabis.
Want to learn more cannabis lingo?
Cannabis has plenty of its own language. If you have ever wondered what a string of A's on a label means, read our explainer on what AAAA means. If you are newer to all of this, our first-time buyer checklist covers the basics of ordering.
A few reminders
- You must be 19 or older to buy cannabis in New Brunswick.
- Check the current provincial rules on where you can consume.
- Pace yourself, especially with edibles, which take longer to kick in.
The Bottom Line
420 began as a secret meeting time for a group of California students and grew into cannabis culture's shorthand and its April 20 holiday. Whether you mark it every afternoon or once a year, celebrate safely. See what deals are on at our promotions page and browse the shop.
