4:20 4/20 2024
The Total Eclipse of Cannabis
What is the origin of 420?
GPT4: The origin of "420" as a code for marijuana has its roots in some high school lore. It started back in 1971 with a group of high school students from San Rafael High School in California. These students, known as the "Waldos" because they used to hang out by a wall, would meet at 4:20 PM to search for an abandoned cannabis crop they had heard about. They chose 4:20 PM specifically because extracurricular activities had usually ended by then.
The term "420" became their shorthand for smoking weed. This little inside joke among friends spread, especially once it was picked up by fans of the Grateful Dead, many of whom were connected to the area and the Waldos. The Deadhead community helped propel 420 from a local code to a worldwide event.
Now, April 20th (4/20) is celebrated worldwide as a day to enjoy, advocate, and educate about cannabis. Cool, right?
ME: Do we know any of the names of the Waldos?
GPT4: Yes, some of the original "Waldos" have been open about their involvement in creating the term "420." The group included Steve Capper, Dave Reddix, Jeffrey Noel, Larry Schwartz, and Mark Gravich. They've shared their story in various interviews, explaining how they came to coin the term and how it spread from their high school circles into broader countercultural use, eventually becoming synonymous with cannabis culture globally. These guys were just typical high school students at the time, who ended up making a lasting impact on cannabis culture without even realizing it at first!
See photos of these guys and read the story here: https://nypost.com/2018/04/18/these-stoners-turned-dads-claim-to-have-invented-the-4-20-holiday/
Here is my thought for the day, especially for the many Mormons that read the blog to get a peek into the life of their favorite sinner. Cannabis is a gift and we are lucky to have this medicine that is legal almost everywhere in this country and natural and distributed by growers and dispensaries. The plant medicines are significant and even sacred. I can’t say the same for anything created from Big Pharma.
Peace and Love,
Happy 4:20 4/20
SP
