What does 420 mean, and where does it originate?

The subject of where 420 originates from is quite controversial.


Myths & Rumors of 420 origins


- Some say that 420 is a police code for weed.
- Some people say that 420 is the number of chemicals found in marijuana but in reality it's around 100 less that that.
- There are also the rumors that 4:20 is tea time in Holland when everyone sparks up a doobie.


420 History


According to a High times article, the term 420 originated in 1971 at San Rafael High School. A gang of about 12 people called the Waldos used to meet up daily for a smoke. They would say 420 to each other which is the time they planned to meet up at the statue on campus of Louis Pasteur. This 'secret' code for getting high spread among the generation of people who must be pushing 60 by now.

When interviewed by high times they quoted "We did discover we could talk about getting high in front of our parents without them knowing by using the phrase 420." 

Currently


The pot heads favourite number 420, originally invented by the Waldos as a secret code for getting high has grown into an internationally recognised symbol for the great herb.
- The 20th of April 4/20 is now national weed day
- 420 magazine is one of the most popular pot smokers magazines in the world.
- Many people around the world try and keep up the tradition of sparking up some ganja at 4:20pm, daily.