Beware of bein’ the roller when there’s nothin’ left to roll.
—Shel Silverstein
In 1971, a group of five high school students from San Rafael, California—a town immortalized in verse by Shel Silverstein in “The Smoke Off”—coined the term "4:20" while planning to find an abandoned cannabis crop. The group, known as the Waldos because they often met at a wall near their school, consisted of Steve Capper, Dave Reddix, Jeffrey Noel, Larry Schwartz, and Mark Gravich. They decided to meet at the Louis Pasteur statue at San Rafael High School at 4:20 pm to start their search, using the code name "4:20 Louis". After several unsuccessful attempts to find the crop, they shortened the phrase to simply "4:20", which became their secret code for smoking pot.
The story of the Waldos was popularized by Steven Hager of High Times. In May 1991, High Times mentioned 4:20 smoking and a 4/20 holiday for the first time, mistakenly attributing the origin of the term to a police code. This incorrect information soon became widespread. However, in December 1998, it was revealed that the term originated from the Waldos. According to Hager, the phrase spread among followers of the Grateful Dead after Waldo Reddix joined as a roadie for Phil Lesh, the band's bassist. Hager also advocated for 4:20 pm to be recognized as the socially acceptable time for marijuana consumption.
Established in 1989, the reform group Cannabis Action Network, which is affiliated with High Times, is often acknowledged as the driving force behind the popularization of 420 and April 20 as symbols of political and cultural dissent. They have organized rallies on this date and helped other organizations plan similar events.
April 20 is now recognized as an international counterculture holiday where people come together to celebrate and consume cannabis. These events are usually focused on promoting the liberalization and legalization of marijuana. Vivian McPeak, one of the founders of Seattle's Hempfest, describes 4/20 as a combination of celebration and a call to action. Paul Birch emphasizes that this is a global movement that cannot be stopped. As more countries decriminalize and legalize marijuana, cannabis activist Steve DeAngelo points out that even after achieving their goals, 420 will continue to be a time for celebrating acceptance and the strong bond between people and this plant.
Hey, it beats celebrating Hitler’s birthday.