{"id":32805,"date":"2024-04-16T22:55:22","date_gmt":"2024-04-16T20:55:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iguanasmoke.com\/?p=32805"},"modified":"2026-03-04T15:23:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T14:23:55","slug":"lets-celebrate-the-4th-20-discover-the-origins-of-this-cannabis-related-holiday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iguanasmoke.com\/en\/celebremos-el-4-20-descubre-el-origen-de-esta-festividad-ligada-al-cannabis\/","title":{"rendered":"What is 420? Origin, history and meaning of the most famous cannabis code"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 420<\/strong> is much more than a number<\/h1>\n

For millions of people all over the world, it represents a cultural symbol linked to cannabis<\/strong>, The European Union, to marijuana and to those who defend its normalisation, responsible use and knowledge. Every year, the 4 April (4\/20)<\/strong> becomes a key date in cannabis culture.<\/p>\n

But where does 420 really come from, is it just an excuse to consume marijuana or does it have a specific historical origin? In this article we tell you the real history of 420<\/strong>, The cannabis movement, its evolution and its significance in today's cannabis movement.<\/p>\n\n

The real origin of 420: The Waldos and California in the 1970s<\/h2>\n

The most widely accepted and documented origin of the 420<\/strong> dates back to California, early 1970s<\/strong>, specifically to San Rafael High School<\/strong>, in Marin County.<\/p>\n

A group of five students, known as \u201cThe Waldos\u201d<\/strong>, used to meet every day at 4:20 p.m.<\/strong> after class. The initial motive was to look for an alleged abandoned marijuana crop<\/strong>, from which they had received a rudimentary map.<\/p>\n

Although they never found the crop, the schedule was marked as a internal code<\/strong>. To say \u201c420\u201d to each other meant meeting, sharing time together and, in time, relate to cannabis use<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

From secret code to global cannabis symbol<\/h2>\n

The spread of 420 through popular culture<\/h3>\n

The term 420<\/strong> began to spread beyond the Waldos' circle when some of their connections reached the gang environment. Grateful Dead<\/strong>, an icon of the American counterculture.<\/p>\n

From there, the code began to circulate among cannabis communities, until it became a universal symbol of cannabis<\/strong>. Over the years, the 420 was adopted as:<\/p>\n\n