Fact Checked by Doctor NameWhat is 420?
The term “420,” also known as four-twenty, 4:20, or 4/20, holds significant cultural significance to marijuana and cannabis consumption.
This widely used slang term has become synonymous with the ideal time for indulging in marijuana, namely 4:20 pm. Furthermore, it has evolved to represent the date April 20th, which has been designated as “national pot day.”
While this term is widely recognized within cannabis culture, its origins remain unknown to the general public. According to the prevailing theory, in 1971, a group of five high school students residing in San Rafael, California—Mark Gravich, Jeffrey Noel, Larry Schwartz, Dave Reddix, and Steve Capper—coined the term.
These students, known as the “Waldos,” humorously named after their habit of gathering on a wall outside their school, embarked on a mission to locate a hidden cannabis crop based on a map created by the grower.
They established a daily meeting time of 4:20, which became their code word for their cannabis-related activities, eventually giving rise to the popular slang term.
If you find yourself curious about the origins of other cannabis-related terms, the “Gaanja Heal” cannabis glossary offers a comprehensive collection of definitions, including insightful explanations like the one provided above.