“420” meaning and origin of the stoners' favorite number

On grinders, billboards, in grow shops, in the names of CBD shops, and varieties of weed, the number 420 often comes up when talking about cannabis or CBD.

 
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Whether used as such, as a date or time (4:20 or 4/20 according to the English calendar system), it is like the number 23: it is everywhere! In Amsterdam, it is literally found on every street corner.

 

For over 50 years, this figure has referred to cannabis consumption. Around the world, April 20th is National Cannabis Day and 4:20 am isWorld Smoke Time.

 

But what is the origin of the term 420? What does it mean, and why is it found all over the world today?
You'll find the answers to all your questions in this article!

Origin of 420: Where does this iconic code come from?

The origin of the term remained uncertain for many years. Several theories were put forward to try to explain it, and several people or groups attempted to claim its origin.

 

Today, we know for certain that it is neither a reference to Hitler's date of birth, nor a code used by the American police, that neither Bob Dylan, nor Bob Marley, nor Lovecraft originated it.

 

Today, everyone agrees that the Waldos were the originators of the 420.

Who are the Waldos of 420?

The Waldos' story begins in the early 1970s. It was the name a group of teenagers who hung out at San Rafael High School in California gave themselves. These friends would meet up after school, before their parents got home from work, to smoke joints at 4:20 a.m. That's how 420 became a code for smoking in secret. But by their own admission, they weren't a group of stoners like Cheech and Chang, just typical, albeit incredibly lucky, high schoolers.

 

The Waldos had heard about an abandoned plantation near San Rafael. The code 420, the time they used to meet, became the encrypted message they used to discuss their search. They never found the plantation, but over time, the phrase became their code for anything related to weed. So the meaning of 420 is the one that's still often used today: 4:20, the time to smoke.

How 420 spread throughout the world

As you might expect, the story doesn't end there, otherwise no one would ever have heard of code 420 except in the vicinity of the small Californian town.

 

The expression then spread to the United States thanks to the band Grateful Dead, whose members were known for their love of cannabis.

 

One story goes that the members of the band The Waldos wanted to buy a house in San Rafael. And that's where the young men's luck came in, since the real estate agent they approached was none other than the father of one of their friends. And so, one thing led to another, and the small group of friends met the Grateful Dead, and together they shared their love of cannabis and the infamous 420 code.

 

From concert to concert, the band began to popularize the expression. Through word of mouth, it spread across much of the country until the renowned cannabis magazine, High Times, started using it. From there, code 420 became one of the most widely shared expressions among cannabis users. It entered the cultivationfirst in North America before spreading worldwide.

 

The 420 in American pop culture

Spanning decades to the present day, the code 420 has become a powerful symbol, particularly in North America. This number has permeated Hollywood productions as much as more underground cultural networks, and everything related to pop culture.

 

Unsurprisingly, it can be found in the title of an album by Method Man, a rapper from the Wu Tang Clan, as well as in almost all films featuring stoners (How High, Harold and Kumar, Pineapple Express…).

 

It can also be found in hit series like How I Met Your Mother, where the clock in Ted, Marshall and Lilli's apartment regularly shows 4:20: sandwich time!

 

This time also appears on the clocks of the disreputable pawnbroker in Pulp Fiction.

 

Fun fact: the hype is so strong in the USA that some states have had to change some kilometer signs to display 419.9 miles instead of 420, because the signs were being stolen too regularly.

The 420 today: pop cultivationand events in France

The use of the expression is far less widespread in France than in the United States, its country of origin. It is rarely found in cultural or cinematic works addressing the topic of cannabis use. It is worth noting, however, that an entire film, simply titled "420, The Movie," was dedicated to the expression. Directed by MrPianitza, an independent French filmmaker known for his strange and offbeat creations, this film was well-received by fans of the genre.

 

Following the model of the American April 20th celebration, France has also planned a day of celebration and protest. This one doesn't take place in April, but in May. It's the Cannaparade, which will be held on Saturday, May 24, 2025. But while in other countries events related to 420 are marked by celebration and festivity, the Cannaparade is primarily an opportunity to assert one's demands!

 

As every year, this activist event in favor of cannabis legalization will depart at 2:00 PM from Place de la République. The program includes brass bands and sound system floats in the streets of Paris, culminating at Place de la Bastille. Participation is free, and it will be an opportunity to meet activists and French associations fighting for legalization, all in a festive and friendly atmosphere. Don't hesitate to join us!

 

In recent years, this day of mobilization to advance state and European legislation has also become an opportunity for many CBD shops and grow shops to make their names known by organizing events and associating themselves with this day of celebration and demands.