420: How did 20 April become World Cannabis Day

06. 11. 2023

Every year on 20 April, growers, consumers and supporters celebrate World Marijuana Day. Over the past years, the number of celebrations of this day has increased significantly and continues to grow. But what is the real significance of this date? Why is April 20 considered a cannabis culture holiday? If you're looking for answers to these and other questions about cannabis and the number 420, you've come to the right place. In this article, you'll find everything you need to know about the number 420.

What does 420 mean?

World Cannabis Day is an annual event held on 20 April to celebrate cannabis. This once unconventional day has become a rallying point for those seeking to legalise cannabis for medical and recreational use. The number 420 originated as a cipher, then became a symbol of the counterculture movement, and is now considered a very important part of many public celebrations of cannabis acceptance.

Myths about the number 420

There are many hypotheses to explain the origin of 420. Some of them are quite convincing, while others are very far-fetched.

Some believe that the number 420 refers to the number of chemical compounds contained in the cannabis plant. In reality, however, there are many chemical compounds in cannabis: mainly cannabinoids such as CBD and terpenes. There are therefore more than 500 compounds in the cannabis plant.
According to some, 20 April is considered the best time of year to grow cannabis. Of course, this depends on where you live and whether you grow cannabis indoorsor outdoors. In addition, many growers grow cannabis in indoor grow rooms, so it is possible to grow cannabis all year round under the right conditions.
Others believe that 420 is the code the police use to report cannabis-related crimes. While it is true that police use numerical codes to expedite communication, these codes can vary by department, city and state.
420 stands for Hitler's birth. While it is true that Adolf Hitler was born on April 20, it is probably safe to assume that the number 420 has nothing to do with Hitler's birthday.
420 marks a tribute to Bob Marley. Over the years, 420 has come to be used to denote the birth dates of several figures who were active in the original counterculture movement of the 1960s and 1970s that promoted marijuana. However, Bob Marley, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison were not born or died on April 20.

The real origin of the number 420

Before you plunge into the dark abyss of conspiracy theories and false stories, we'd like to clear you of all doubt. 420 is believed to have originated in California in 1971, when high school students met every day at 4:20pm(4:20pm as the American time designation) to smoke weed and search for cannabis plants in the woods. Eventually 420 became their code name for marijuana.

The number 420 was eventually changed to 4/20 for calendar purposes, thus the creation of this celebratory day. The name is derived from the way Americans write the date: they write the month before the day, so April 20 becomes 4/20.

One of the five members was Dave Reddix, who worked as a boxman for the Grateful Dead and went on to popularize the term 420. In 1991, High Times magazine published a promotional flyer originally handed out by the Deadheads in Oakland, California. This flyer was an invitation to an event called 420, where marijuana was to be smoked. The event took place on April 20, 1990 at 4:20 p.m.

How is the 420 Day celebration going?

While many people still question the history of the number 420 and its connection to cannabis culture, people celebrate April 20 in a variety of ways. While some use this unofficial holiday to relax with cannabis, others take the day as an opportunity to demonstrate for itslegalization.

Over time, 420 celebrations have evolved from personal to political events, taking place in hundreds of cities around the world. Cannabis activists play a key role in organising these events, providing publicity and setting up groups to give the events a protest character.

Every year on 20 April, hundreds of people gather in London's Hyde Park to celebrate cannabis and protest against the UK's cannabis laws.

TheCannabis Cup has become the main event on April 20 at a conference in a select city, where hundreds of vendors showcase their best cannabis products to tens of thousands of attendees. The event has grown steadily over time and regularly hosts major concerts by high-profile musicians including Snoop Dogg, Soja and 2 Chainz.

Since the inception of 420 Day, cannabis has become legal in many countries, states and cities, which has certainly exceeded the expectations of its founders. While many other movements and personalities have contributed to this fact, 420 Day continues to be a huge driving force, and as cannabis becomes accepted in more and more countries, 420 will become more and more popular and widespread.