From a school map to a global symbol: this is how 4/20 was born
April 20 is not just any date. For part of the world, it’s World Marijuana Day. A celebration that promotes its medicinal use and seeks to decriminalize a substance that continues to generate controversy in legislative chambers and family tables.
But where did that numerical code that everyone recognizes today come from? The story is so absurd that it seems invented.
The Waldos and the treasure they never found
It was 1971 in California. A group of teenagers from San Rafael High School – calling themselves the ‘Waldos’ – found a hand-drawn map. The prize: an alleged cannabis cultivation in Point Reyes.
To organize their after-school expeditions, they created the code ‘420 Louis’. The appointment was at 4:20 PM in front of the statue of Louis Pasteur on campus. Weeks later, the ‘Louis’ disappeared. Only the number remained.
“After a few weeks of searching, the group left out the ‘Louis’ and only mentioned the code 420”
The green treasure never appeared. But those kids planted something more valuable: a term that would seep into popular culture.
The Waldos had interesting connections. Among their circles was the Grateful Dead, the iconic rock band. Thus began the journey of the 420 from a joke among friends to a countercultural symbol.
The consecration came in 1990. Steve Bloom, editor of High Times magazine – the leading cannabis publication – saw an advertising sheet for the band explaining the term. And there the fuse was lit.
“The magazine’s staff […] began to adopt it, holding their editorial meetings at 4:20 in the afternoon”
Today, 4/20 is much more than a number. It’s semi-private code, international slang, and it’s even said to be the ideal time to enjoy Mary Jane. An unthinkable legacy for those five teenagers with a fake map and too much free time.
