You've almost certainly come across the number 420 somewhere before. In Instagram bios. In memes. Or very likely every year on April 20th, when suddenly "Happy 420" appears everywhere.
But what is really behind it?
A police code? A law? Or perhaps a semi-secret conspiracy?
The truth is far less spectacular than many suspect. The story of 420 begins in 1971 in California . With five perfectly ordinary teenagers, no grand theory, and a time that would later make cultural history.
It is therefore high time to put the legends aside and get to the bottom of the true meaning of 420.
What does 420 mean? The simple explanation
In short: 420 is a code for cannabis.
- đđŒ 4:20 am (16:20) is still considered the classic time to smoke weed.
- đđŒ April 20th (4/20 in the American date format) has become World Cannabis Day.
On this date, people consume, celebrate, share, and discuss â depending on the country, legal situation, and personal interactions.
But why did this particular number become so significant?
Why not a different time or date?
To understand this, we need to go back a few decades.
Back to California. To five teenagers. And to a schoolyard.
The true story behind the meaning of 420
Numerous myths surround the number 420. Some claim it's a police code.
Others connect it to laws or penal codes. Sounds mysterious, but it's all wrong.
The real story is much more down-to-earth. And honestly, much cooler.
The Waldos of California â how it all began
In 1971, five teenagers â Steve Capper, Dave Reddix, Jeffrey Noel, Larry Schwartz and Mark Gravich â went to San Rafael High School in California.
Just ordinary boys: school, sports, music, hanging out in the afternoons. Nothing suggested that their story would later become known worldwide.
Why "Waldos"?
They called themselves The Waldos because they met every day at the same wall in the schoolyard. That was their spot. Their meeting place. Their small, unofficial headquarters.
The mysterious treasure map
One day, the Waldos heard about an allegedly abandoned cannabis plantation in the hills of Point Reyes. A Coast Guard officer was said to have set it up but was supposedly no longer able to take care of it.
One of the boys even received a hand-drawn map.
The mission was clear: We find this plantation.
The Waldos. Source
How the secret code was created
But how do you plan such an action without teachers or parents finding out about it?
The solution was simple and ingenious:
- Meeting point : the Louis Pasteur statue in the schoolyard
- Time : every day at 4:20 PM
- Code word : "420 Louis"
If someone just said "420", everyone knew.
Meaningless to outsiders, but clear to the group.
For weeks, they would drive out after school, roam the hills, have fun, and smoke together.
They never found the plantation, by the way.
But the code remained.
From then on, 420 meant: hanging out together, smoking weed together, being on the same wavelength.
How an inside joke became a worldwide phenomenon
The Grateful Dead Connection
Dave Reddix had a brother who worked as a roadie for the band Grateful Dead : one of the most influential rock bands in the USA.
The Waldos hung around backstage at concerts and continued to use their code as a matter of course.
Eventually, people from the band's circle also adopted the term.
And then everything happened pretty quickly.
Grateful Dead - Source
The distribution of 420
- đđŒ Deadheads : Fans of the Grateful Dead traveled across the country and adopted the term.
- đđŒ High Times Magazine : In 1990, the well-known cannabis magazine published the story of the Waldos.
- đđŒ Internet : In the 90s and 2000s, 420 spread worldwide.
A schoolyard code has become an internationally understood symbol.
From 4:20 am to 4/20 Day
Because in the USA the month is given first and then the day, April 20th corresponds to the notation 4/20.
At some point, the scene began to celebrate this very day as an unofficial cannabis holiday:
- Legalization events
- Community meeting
- Culture & Exchange
- Joint sessions at 4:20 pm
Today, in some cities, thousands of people gather every year â on the same date, at the same time.
What are the Waldos doing today?
The five friends are now over 60 years old .
They lead perfectly normal lives with families, jobs, and everyday routines.
At the same time, they are still considered the " fathers of 420 ".
Some of them give interviews and show old letters from the 70s in which â420â is recorded in writing: proof that this story is not a legend.
Why this story is important
420 is not a police code.
No law.
No conspiracy.
It started as a small inside joke among five teenagers â and grew into a worldwide symbol through music, community and chance.
And that's exactly what makes the significance of 420 so special:
It's not just about cannabis.
It's about friendship, shared moments, and culture.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the meaning of 420
What does 420 mean in chat?
Most often, 420 appears in the chat as a code for cannabis or as an indication of a session.
Is 420 a police code?
No. The term originated with a group of teenagers from California in 1971.
Why is April 20th so important?
In the USA, April 20th is written as 4/20. This has evolved into an international day on which people come together, prejudices fade into the background and they share moments of community.
Sources & historical references on the meaning of 420
Note: This article serves solely to provide historical and cultural context for the term 420.
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