Exploring the History, Myths, Celebration of 420

COMMENTARY | Over the past 40 years, the date April 20 has become synonymous with pot smoking. But it's not because that date holds any significance. No, 420 day is only celebrated on April 20 because the date happens to be the same as the codeword for marijuana enjoyment.

What's behind 420?

If you've heard the term in use, you have probably wondered where it came from. While there is no shortage of proclaimed origins, most of them are myths.

Myth - 420 is police code for someone smoking marijuana. No such code for marijuana smoking exists anywhere.

Myth - 420 came into being as some sort of pot smoker's hail to Adolf Hitler. While it's true 4/20 is the anniversary of the birth of the world's worst dictator, that fact has nothing to do with 420 celebrations. The day is based on the number 420, not on any date.

Myth - 420 has anything to do with the Columbine shootings. It's just unfortunate coincidence that both are tied to the same date.

True - In honor of their 420th issue, High Times magazine put out An Animated History of 420. The video runs less than two minutes, and it tells the story of a high school group called the Waldos who would use the code 420 for meeting to smoke pot.

True - Originally, the Waldos said "4:20, Louis," meaning they would meet at a statue of Louis Pasteur at 4:20 in the afternoon.

How is 420 celebrated?

Well, the obvious answer is by toking one up, hitting the bong, or waking and baking. Of course, there is more to it than that.

There will be celebrations worldwide, and a list of many of them can be found at a link on High Times: Find Your 4/20 Rally.

The biggest rally will be in Washington, D.C., and is being called "Overgrow the Government." The goal is to have 1 million protesters, hemp farmers, and marijuana advocates protest the prohibition of cannabis. They also want to draw attention to legislative efforts to decriminalize possession of an ounce or less of marijuana and to protect medical pot patients.

The 4/20 holiday will be followed by events on the first Saturday of May, called the Global Marijuana March. The plan is to have marches and/or rallies in, yes, 420 cities.

Sources:UrbanDictionary.com