About 4:20

On this page you'll find answers on the most frequently asked questions and other important information about 4:20. The available topics are:

• What is 4:20?
• Where does the term come from?

What is 4:20?

420, 4:20, or 4/20 (pronounced four-twenty) is cannabis culture slang for cannabis and hashish consumption, especially smoking round the time 4:20 pm, and also refers to cannabis-oriented celebrations and events that occur annually on April 20.

We as enthusiasts and supporters of this culture, selling smokers related products, decided to mix the term with the name of our shop; Headshop - Chiron 4Twenty.

Where does the term come from?

In 1971, five highschool students in San Rafael, California, used the term "4:20" in regard to a thought to search for an abandoned cannabis crop, supported by a map made by the grower. They called themselves the Waldos, because their typical hang-out spot "was a wall outside the school", the five students (Steve Capper, Dave Reddix, Jeffrey Noel, Larry Schwartz, and Mark Gravich) designated the Louis Pasteur statue on the grounds of San Rafael Highschool as their forum, and 4:20 pm as their meeting time. The Waldos mentioned this plan with the phrase "4:20 Louis". After several failed attempts to find the crop, the group eventually shortened their phrase to the much simpler "4:20", which ultimately evolved into a code-word the teenagers utilized in regard to consuming cannabis.

Steven Hager of High Times was accountable for popularizing the story of the Waldos. The very first High Times mention of 4:20 smoking and a 4/20 holiday appeared in May 1991, and therefore the connection to the Waldos appeared in December 1998. Hager attributed the early spread of the phrase to Grateful Dead followers – after "Waldo" Reddix became a roadie for the Dead's bassist, Phil Lesh – and called for 4:20 pm to be the socially accepted hour of the day to consume cannabis.

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