The number 420 appears on T-shirts, posters and club names all over the world, including our own. But where does it come from, and why has it become a symbol of cannabis culture?
The most commonly cited origin
The most widely accepted version traces its origins to 1971, at San Rafael High School in California. A group of students, known as the Waldos because they used to gather by a wall, would meet at 4.20 pm, after school. The code allowed them to discuss their plans without anyone else understanding.
How he became famous
The expression spread from that group to the circle around the Grateful Dead, which was closely linked to the counterculture of the time. Their fans spread it throughout the United States and, in the late 1980s, a specialist magazine popularised it internationally.
Myths that aren’t true
- It is not a police code.
- It is not the number of chemical compounds in cannabis.
- It is not linked to any specific historical date.
These are explanations that are often put forward, but none of them has any documented basis.
20 April
Over time, the code became associated with a specific date: 20 April (4/20 in the Anglo-Saxon format) is celebrated in many countries as a day for the cannabis community to come together, with gatherings, music and activities.
From secret code to shared culture
What began as a code word amongst friends has become a universal nod. Today, 420 represents a sense of community, of time spent together and of a culture centred around the plant.
That’s also the idea behind Cloud420: a peaceful space for sharing. Find out more the club or discover how to get there.
