20 Apr The History of 420: From High School Code to Worldwide Weed Holiday
Every stoner’s favorite number—420—has become a worldwide symbol for cannabis culture. It’s the punchline to every dank joke, the perfect time for a toke, and the day the whole cannabis community unites in solidarity. But have you ever stopped mid-sesh and wondered where the number even came from?
Spoiler alert: it wasn’t a police code, a Bob Dylan lyric, or the number of active chemicals in cannabis. The real origin of 420 is way more grassroots than that.
A Baked Beginning: The Waldos of San Rafael
Our story starts in 1971 in San Rafael, California, with a group of high school kids who called themselves The Waldos. Why the name? Because they liked to hang out by a wall near their school. Yeah, stoner logic.
The Waldos had caught wind of an abandoned cannabis crop rumored to be growing somewhere nearby. They decided to meet after school at 4:20 p.m. to try to find it. They’d pass each other in the halls and say, “420-Louis,” as a reminder to meet by the statue of Louis Pasteur. While they never found the mythical weed field, they did find a way to make 420 part of their everyday language—and eventually, the entire cannabis culture.
The Grateful Dead Connection
Here’s where it goes from local lore to global phenomenon: The Waldos had connections to the Grateful Dead. One of their dads managed real estate for the band, and another had a brother who worked with them directly. Through these ties, the term “420” made its way into Deadhead circles, then onto flyers, and finally into the mainstream.
By the early ‘90s, High Times magazine picked it up—and once it was in High Times, the legend went national.
April 20th Becomes Weed’s Official Holiday
With 420 being the code, April 20th—4/20—naturally became the unofficial holiday for cannabis lovers everywhere. From smoke-outs in Golden Gate Park to legalization rallies across the country, 4/20 has transformed into a symbol of resistance, celebration, and community.
420 Today
Today, 420 is more than a time or a date—it’s a movement. A unifier. A protest and a party rolled into one. Whether you’re lighting up at 4:20 on a random Tuesday or pulling out all the stops on April 20th, you’re taking part in a legacy that started with a few curious teens and a big dream of free weed.
Here at Chillum Mushroom and Hemp Dispensary, we celebrate 420 every day—but April 20th still holds a special place in our grinder-loving hearts. It reminds us that cannabis culture is about more than consumption—it’s about connection, rebellion, healing, and joy.
So wherever you are this 4/20, whether you’re puffin’ solo or passing the blunt, just know you’re part of something legendary.
Light it up. Pass it on. And never forget where it all started.
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