The cultural celebration akin to a high holiday for marijuana enthusiasts, customarily observed on 4/20, bizarrely overlaps this year with significant religious holidays, namely Easter Sunday and the final day of Passover. The resulting amalgam of festivities has given rise to peculiar events, such as an ‘Easter nug hunt’ in Los Angeles and THC-infused gummies, adhering to kosher norms for Passover, in New York. A headline event includes a quirky ‘blaze and praise’ drag brunch celebrated in Portland.
The origin story of the term ‘420’ and its associated date in marijuana culture was shrouded in mystery for a long period of time. Some hypothesized a link to a law enforcement code for marijuana offenses, while others tied it to Bob Dylan’s ‘Rainy Day Women No. 12 & 35,’ with repeating line ‘Everybody must get stoned,’ as 420 is the product of multiplying 12 with 35. However, the dominant narrative traces its genesis to a group of high school students in Marin County, California during the 1970s.
Casually referred to as ‘the Waldos’, the Californian teens claimed to have initiated the term ‘420’ in relation to a marijuana plantation nearby. The story goes that the brother of a friend feared being apprehended for his cannabis plot amidst a forest in Point Reyes. To mitigate this risk, he offered the Waldos a map to the illicit crops, essentially permitting them to collect the yield on his behalf.
Each afternoon at 4:20, directly after school and football practice, the Waldos gathered by the statue of Louis Pasteur within their school ground. After indulging in a joint session, they commenced their expedition in search of the mysterious cannabis crops. Despite their regular efforts, they never successfully located the plantation, yet their private jargon, originally ‘420 Louie’ and later reduced to ‘420’, remarkably gained popularity and perpetuated over the years.
In a fascinating twist, the group retained letters and other relics that referenced ‘420’ dating back to the 1970s. These items are now safely stored within a bank vault. The term ‘420’ found its way into the Oxford English Dictionary in 2017, with evidence from these treasured documents representing the earliest-in-record usage of the term.
A brother from amongst the group of pioneering teens maintained close contact with Phil Lesh, a member of the Grateful Dead band. By extension, the terminology of ‘420’ infiltrated the band’s social circle, gradually spreading its influence beyond. By the early 1990s, the term came across a reporter at a Dead concert, sparking the official documentation of ‘420’.
An unidentified individual handed the reporter a flyer, proposing a 4:20 meeting on 4/20 for marijuana indulgence in Marin County, atop the picturesque Bolinas Ridge during sunset. The flyer made its way to publication, cementing ‘420’ and its associated culture into the societal mindset. It’s impressive to note the endurance of this phenomenon, as it continues to thrive decades later, defying the typical fate of fading trends.
Considering the scope of its influence, the creators responsible for designing and disseminating the impactful flyer at the Dead concert remain unknown. The mystery further adds to the allure of the 4/20 culture, which has now evolved into a full-blown holiday for marijuana enthusiasts. Furthermore, the celebration has seen innovative twists over the years, attracting crowds from diverse cultural backgrounds.
In New York City, for instance, the cannabis brand ‘Tokin’ Jew’ is leveraging this year’s convergence of 4/20 and Passover to market a kosher-style THC gummy line. Similarly, there will be a conspicuous absence of cannabis consumption onsite at the ‘blaze and praise’ drag brunch in Portland, replaced by a door-prize gift basket from a local dispensary.
Though national festivities prominently feature all things cannabis, the gathering known as Hippie Hill in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, typically a major hub for 4/20 celebrations, was canceled for the second year in a row. The reasons given were dual: a lack of financial sponsorship and city budget cuts. It’s interesting to see how the economic environment can also impact these cultural events.
Meanwhile, Lagunitas Brewing, located just north of the Bay Area in Petaluma, California, continues the tradition of releasing its signature ‘Waldos’ Special Ale’ each year on 4/20. This practice pays tribute to the ‘Waldos’, the purported pioneers of the ‘420’ term. The event has morphed into a significant industry affair, attracting vendors to sample each other’s offerings.
Currently, 24 states have legalized recreational marijuana use while 14 others permit it for medicinal purposes. However, the progress of marijuana legalization has faced recent obstacles. Voters in Florida, North Dakota, and South Dakota went against the wave and rejected legalization measures in the preceding November elections. The legal implications for intoxicating hemp-derived products have also been tightened in several states, primarily driven by a loophole in the federal Farm Bill.
Despite reforms being introduced by states, federal law maintains that marijuana is illegal. Surprisingly, President Donald Trump displayed support for reclassifying marijuana as a lesser dangerous drug, with the Biden administration continuing this process. Yet, it seems that this administration has not prioritized altering the cannabis policy, leaving uncertainties about the future of legalization.
It seems the White House is not in favor of decriminalizing marijuana, as recent documents accused decriminalization efforts in Washington, D.C., of promoting disorder, representing so-called ‘failed policies’. However, a bipartisan group of senators recently proposed legislation that would allow states to independently regulate their own cannabis policies. This move was accompanied by an attempt to remove financial obstacles for the marijuana industry, including allowing relevant entities to claim business expenses on tax returns.
In the face of these political and legal complexities surrounding this controversial plant, advocates are urged not to lose hope. Persistence in pressing for change may culminate in favorable outcomes such as better banking access for cannabis businesses. Such victories, though small, can represent significant strides in larger legislative packages.