Every April 20th, cannabis fans across the globe fire up joints, hit up festivals, and celebrate International Cannabis Day.
It’s the one day where “420” isn’t just a number—it’s a vibe, a movement, a call to gather and honour weed.
But how did 420 become the thing?
Why’s 4:20 the go-to time to spark up, and why April 20th the big holiday?
Let’s take a trip back to the 1970s, to a group of California high school buddies called the Waldos, a statue, some handwritten letters, and a quest for a hidden stash that changed cannabis culture forever.
The Waldos and Their 4:20 Ritual
It’s 1971, and five friends—Steve Capper, Dave Reddix, Jeffrey Noel, Larry Schwartz, and Mark Gravich—are kicking it at San Rafael High School in Marin County, California.
They called themselves the Waldos because they loved hanging out by a wall, cracking jokes, and, yeah, smoking a ton of weed.
These guys were all about good times and epic adventures, and one day, they got wind of a wild rumour: a Coast Guardsman had planted a secret cannabis crop out in Point Reyes and left a map to find it. Jackpot, right?
The Waldos decided to hunt for this mythical stash.
They’d meet after school at 4:20 p.m. the perfect time after sports or clubs, to smoke a joint and pile into a car for the search.
Their spot? A statue of Louis Pasteur on campus, a chill, out-of-the-way place to light up.
They started whispering “420 Louis” in the halls as a code for their meetup, a way to talk weed without teachers or parents catching on.
They never found that fabled crop (though official Coast Guard records later backed up their story), but the 4:20 habit stuck.
It was their secret handshake, their stoner ritual.
Letters and a Flag: Proof of the 420 Origin
What makes the Waldos’ story legit isn’t just their word—it’s the proof.
These guys kept letters, a flag, and even school records that show they were using “420” for weed way back in the early 1970s, long before it hit the mainstream.
They’ve got this stuff locked in a high-security bank vault, ready for journalists to check out.
Here’s the good stuff:
- Letters from the Waldos: When Waldo Steve went off to college, Dave wrote him a letter, tossing in “420” to talk about weed and even mentioning their Grateful Dead connections.
- Another letter from a friend named Patty, a San Rafael High School classmate, mentions a “420 flag” she made for them in an arts and crafts class.
- That letter’s postmarked from the early ’70s, and Patty’s still around in Marin, backing up the story.
- Then there’s a letter from a guy named Ken, who was living on a kibbutz in Israel, complaining about the lack of weed and dropping “420” like it was nothing. These letters are gold—U.S. and international postmarks, handwritten, full of that ’70s slang and vibe.
- The 420 Flag: Patty’s flag is a total relic—a batik-style piece with a big cannabis leaf, made in that tie-dye, early ’70s artsy way. School transcripts confirm it was crafted in a San Rafael High School class. Forensic labs could probably date the dyes to prove it’s the real deal.
- School Newspaper Shoutout: The Waldos have an old copy of the San Rafael High School Red and White newspaper from the early ’70s. In a “Question Man” column, a Waldo family member answers a random question with just “420.” Sneaky, right?
- Coast Guard Records: In a wild twist, the Waldos tracked down 167 pages of official U.S. Coast Guard records that confirm the time, place, and people tied to their story about the abandoned cannabis crop. It’s like something out of a stoner detective novel.
- More Letters Found in 2018: They even dug up a batch of 1974 letters in storage, sent to a friend of Steve’s with a 10-cent Andrew Jackson stamp. These are packed with “420” references and classic ’70s humour, like they were just riffing while high.
This isn’t just nostalgia—the Oxford English Dictionary reached out to the Waldos to verify their evidence for the term’s origin.
Now, “420” and its Waldo heritage are officially in the dictionary.
How’s that for legit?
From High School to High Culture
The Waldos’ code might’ve stayed a Marin County secret, but it spread thanks to their ties to the Grateful Dead scene.
Dave’s brother was tight with the band, and “420” started buzzing among Deadheads, those weed-loving hippies who followed the band’s shows.
By the late ’70s, it was a thing at concerts and campouts, like a secret password for stoners.
Then, in 1990, a flyer went around at a Grateful Dead show in Oakland, calling for a big smokeout on April 20th at 4:20 p.m.
Someone sent it to High Times, the cannabis culture bible, and they published it in their May 1991 issue, shouting out the Waldos’ story.
That’s when 420 went big. High Times kept pushing it, and by the late ’90s, April 20th was the day for weed fans to rally, party, and celebrate.
Oh, and let’s clear up a myth: 420 isn’t a police code for weed busts.
Never was. In California, drug violations are five- or six-digit codes, like 11357 for possession.
The Waldos’ website shuts that rumour down hard, and they’ve got the facts to prove it.
Why April 20th?
The Waldos were all about 4:20 p.m., but April 20th—4/20—just clicked as the date.
It’s got that numerical magic, and that 1990 Grateful Dead flyer made it official.
High Times ran with it, and soon, April 20th was International Cannabis Day, a global call to spark up, advocate, and vibe.
420 Today: A Global Party with Purpose
Now, 420 is huge.
From massive festivals in Denver and San Francisco to underground seches in countries where weed’s still taboo, April 20th brings people together.
You’ll find live music, vendors with the latest strains or edibles, and folks sharing why cannabis matters.
It’s not just about getting baked—it’s about pushing for legalization, celebrating weed’s medical benefits, and fixing the damage from decades of harsh drug laws.
In the U.S., where weed was the bad guy for so long, 420 is a flex. Over 20 states have legal recreational cannabis as of 2025, and that’s a win.
In South Africa, where cannabis was long demonized, 4/20 is a bold statement.
Since the 2018 Constitutional Court ruling decriminalized private use, the country’s cannabis culture has flourished, with hemp farming and medical markets growing fast.
It’s a win worth celebrating, but 4/20 also reminds us to push for full legalization and fairness, especially for those still caught in legal battles over minor dagga charges.
The Waldos’ Lasting High
The Waldos, now in their 60s, are kind of blown away by what they started. They’ve shared their story with High Times, CNN, and even the Oxford Dictionary crew, laughing about how their teenage code went global.
They’ve got that Louis Pasteur statue at San Rafael High School as their unofficial monument, still standing, probably clueless about its fame.
The letters, the flag, the newspaper—they’re all proof of a high school ritual that became a cultural juggernaut.
So, as we roll into April 20, 2025, let’s raise a joint to the Waldos, their 420 flag, and those scrappy letters they saved.
Whether you’re toking up, marching for change, or just feeling the 420 spirit, this day’s about the plant, the people, and the legacy of some high school buds who made history.
Happy International Cannabis Day—stay high, stay kind, and keep the Waldo way alive.
Please go have a read on the original 420 Waldo’s website https://420waldos.com/
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