What's 420 History?
420 is a term that starts rolling around right at the turn of spring. April 20th as it’s known is celebrated as the “stoner holiday”, it’s a time where weed is plentiful and the goal is to get high all day long. But in between tokes and rolling papers have you ever stopped to consider the origins of 420? If you haven’t, fret not, gather round' stoners, let me tell you a story.
Back in 1971, yep the stone age, somewhere in sunny California, a bunch of high school students that attended San Rafael Highschool got ahold of a map that supposedly led to a crop of abandoned cannabis plants. The high school students known as the “Waldos” would meet after school for weeks every day at 4:20 p.m to travel to point Reyes peninsula coast guard station.
The Waldos would jump in their 66’ Chevy Impala and smoke weed the entire way. Even though they never actually found the hidden cannabis the term 420 became synonyms with the group because it was secretive, when referring to weed they would say 420 because teachers and parents weren't aware of what it met.
The term 420 skyrocketed when the rock band Grateful Dead took hold of it and catapulted it throughout the ’70s and ’80s. The term 420 has also been associated with Reggae Legend Bob Marley, many fans believe that 420 was either the birth or death date of the popular artist, not to mention Marley himself has been a popular advocate for marijuana using it almost religiously. Marley quotes, “ Herb is the healing of the nation, alcohol is the destruction”.
420 took off in the hip-hop industry during the ’90s when more hip-hop artists began promoting marijuana use in their music. Popular artists such as Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Notorious B.I.G, Jay-Z, Tupac amongst many others helped the marijuana culture become a fully integrated and normalized part of hip-hop and society.
Today, 420 is celebrated worldwide even during a pandemic, there are still groups that engage in virtual 420 smoke sessions. With marijuana being legalized in most states, the most recent being New York City. 420 is seen as more than just a day, it’s almost seen as Christmas for stoners with trichome nugs being at the top of their wish list.
There are so many accessories that accompany 420 such as RAW rolling papers, Rolling Trays, Backwoods, and some of the best rolling papers in the game Shine. There's plenty of opportunities for stoners to make a statement while smoking herbal essence.
So there you have it kids a little 420 history, so as you roll up that green, thank the Waldo’s for their ambitious efforts, and have a happy 420!!