The origin and history of the term “420” are related to cannabis culture or marijuana use. The culture and subculture that has evolved around it are very much a mystery. Many known secondary sources suggest its origins within California-based circles as early as the 1970s.
Cannabis Class: What Is 4:20?
Those who claim to understand how this “code word” originated, have wildly varying explanations. This includes being used as a police code for cocaine busts. Police officers were leaving work at 4:20 pm or some other reference to time; April 20 (4/20) was Adolf Hitler’s birthday; The number 420 was used as an alarm-clock setting by “pot” smokers. However, no one knows how or where it began, and most importantly, why!
The term does not appear in any early cannabis cultivation periodicals as a code word for marijuana.
The first reference for this term is dated 1991 according to Steven Hager who is the editor of the pot culture magazine “High Times.”
According to Ernest L. Abel, author of Marihuana: The First Twelve Thousand Years :
“There are several versions of the story [of the origin of 420] every stoner has heard at least one version, and many swear they were there when it happened.”
Abel also says that, as a result of the sheer popularity of this term, it is now almost universal. “Grass” was renamed to prevent it from being banned by the public and 420 was renamed for similar reasons.
Colorado has been a trailblazer in much of what we now consider mainstream cannabis culture
So what is 420?
Colorado Springs was home to the first-ever Cannabis Cup in 1987! The dispensaries were one of (if not) the first establishments throughout the state’s legal history to provide medical marijuana. It currently hosts more than 60 licensed marijuana dispensaries throughout the state, with many more anticipated to open by 2016!
It should come as no surprise that dispensary workers were on pace to sell over 4 million units of smokable cannabis in 2015! With Colorado’s economy standing to gain $100 million+ in tax revenue. It has become the Mecca of Cannabis tourism!
Colorado has seen a dramatic reduction in crime rates, DUIs, and homelessness since legalizing medical marijuana in 2000. And Colorado was the first state to legalize recreational marijuana sales throughout its numerous dispensaries throughout Colorado!
The dispensaries are not only Colorado’s number one source of the highest quality legal cannabis.
Colorado dispensaries also offer various dispensary-related products designed to enhance your experienced flower, concentrates, and edibles; The state makes it easy for visitors seeking their 420 experiences!
Colorado is leading the way for this movement throughout dispensaries like Rocky Mountain High. There can be little doubt that our cannabis laws will continue to evolve nationwide. It’s only a matter of time before these archaic, wasteful prohibition laws become nothing more than a shameful footnote; much like alcohol prohibition! So smoke them if you got them while they’re legal
I’m confident all the other states will follow suit in Colorado’s footsteps shortly!
Colorado is blessed to be home to so many fantastic dispensaries and dispensary workers throughout the state. It makes sense that they, like The Stone, would have an entire day to commemorate this historical, and society-shifting event. On April 20, 2012, dispensaries across the state rang up over 6 million dollars worth of recreational marijuana sales!
According to the Huffington Post, the originator of 420 was a group of five California high school students. They called themselves “The Waldos.” They met each day at 4:20 pm after school because they didn’t have anything better to do. It was initially meant to signal that it was time to get stoned.
The Colorado dispensary culture is much like the legalization of bud in the state
Colorado dispensaries are changing the way people see them throughout. The term “420” has caught on so well that it hardly matters who coined the phrase anymore.
High Times reported several rumored origin stories for 420. This includes being used as police code for when someone was arrested with bud signifying that it’s time to smoke because your bail is 420 dollars. If this version is authentic, it might be surprising to know that California has not had a 420 related incident since legalizing medical use in 1996.
Other origin stories say that 420 refers to the number of chemicals found in cannabis or that it has something to do with Hitler’s birthday. Colorado is the only origin story that dispensaries like Rocky Mountain High support as the state’s true history of this holiday.
Regardless of Colorado’s true history of dispensaries and their impact on the state’s society
Every dispensary worker throughout the state will be celebrating 420 in Colorado style! So gather your friends and favorite dispensaries today! Celebrate 420 throughout all 40+ licensed medical marijuana dispensary locations throughout Colorado !!!
The best way you can celebrate this stoner holiday is by heading down to your nearest dispensary. Grab yourself an eighth of top-shelf cannabis, or edibles if that’s more your style. Sit back, relax, and enjoy 4/20 with some friends! Just make sure not to wake up too late… there are only so many hours in the day!
Thank you for reading Cannabis Class: What Is 4:20? and have a most excellent day!
