What Does 4 20 Mean? 420 Meaning, April 20 Celebrations

Tomorrow is 4 20. Don't Know What That Is? Check Out Some History on 4 20, Including a Definition of the Term, and Ways To Celebrate

Tuesday April 20, 2010 will be 4 20, day to celebrate cannabis culture. What exactly is 4 20? At 4:20pm on the 20th day of the 4th month of the year, people around North America celebrate cannabis. Many others also use the day to condemn North American marijuana laws.

So How Do People Celebrate 4/20?

Well, usually by smoking some tree. But it goes beyond that. There are organized 4 20 celebrations across North America. The University of Colorado has an annual 4 20 celebration that draws thousands.

In Vancouver, Canada, thousands gather on the steps on the Vancouver Art Gallery for a 420 rally.

There's also usually a 4 20 event in New York's Central Park.

New York 420 Sign

In New York, the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws will unveil a new Times Square ad on 4-20 highlighting the increase in New York City's marijuana possession arrest rate over the last two decades. According to NORML, the rate of arrests has gone from less than 1,000 annually in 1992 to more than 46,000 in 2009.

What Does 4 20 Mean?

The most commonly held theory is that the term 4 20 dates back to San Rafael High School. No greater authority than High Times Magazine confirms the theory that the meaning of 420 dates back to San Rafael.

In 1971, a group of San Rafael students who called themselves the Waldos would often congregate by a statue of Louis Pasteur at 4:20 to smoke up. The term "420 Louie" became a shorthand reminder about when they would meet. The term caught on and spread throughout the California Cannabis scene and beyond.

Videos

Dude on Price IS Right bids 420 over and over

see larger video

sourced by Jon Azpiri

420 Theories

There are other theories about how the term 4 20 came about. Some say 420 is some kind of police code for marijuana use, but there apparently is no such code.

There are theories that 4:20 is tea time in Amsterdam. It is actually later in the day.

Others say there are 420 chemicals in marijuana. In fact, there are less than that.

4 20 Friendly

Whatever the truth is, the term has certainly caught on. The term "420 friendly" is used to describe people or establishments that are open to marijuana use. It's not unusual to see personal ads from people who describe themselves as "4 20 friendly."

For our money, one of the best 4 20 tributes out there is the guy who went on the Price Is Right and bid $420 on every item. Bob Barker probably didn't have a clue what was going on.