What Does 420 Mean? The Real Origin of 4/20

420 is slang for cannabis and for getting high, and April 20 (4/20) is the unofficial cannabis holiday. The term started in 1971 with a group of high school students in San Rafael, California, who met at 4:20 in the afternoon to go looking for a cannabis crop. Their code word spread through Grateful Dead fans and, by the 1990s, around the world.

Below we explain where 420 came from, the myths that are not true, what "420 friendly" and "Happy 420" mean, what 710 means, how 4/20 is marked in New York, and how to celebrate safely. From our team at NY Elite Cannabis in Bayside, Queens.

What does 420 mean?

Merriam-Webster lists three related meanings for 420 (also written 4/20, 4:20 or four-twenty): cannabis or the act of using it, the time 4:20 pm, and April 20 (Merriam-Webster). People use it as a noun ("got any 420?"), as a time ("it's 4:20 somewhere"), and as an adjective ("420 friendly").

Where did 420 come from? The Waldos

The best-documented origin story starts at San Rafael High School in Marin County, California, in the fall of 1971. A group of five students heard about a patch of cannabis growing on the Point Reyes Peninsula that its owner could no longer tend. They had a treasure map and agreed to meet after school, at 4:20 pm, at the campus statue of chemist Louis Pasteur to go search for it (420 Waldos).

They called the plan "4:20 Louis," which got shortened to "420." The group was known as the Waldos because they liked to hang out by a wall. They never found the crop, but "420" stuck as their private code for cannabis, one they could say in front of parents and teachers (Snopes). The Waldos kept letters and other evidence from the 1970s that show the term in use, and fact-checkers have rated their story true.

How did 420 spread? The Grateful Dead and High Times

The Waldos had connections to the Grateful Dead through friends and family, and the code word traveled from them into the band's circle and then among Deadheads following the band on tour (Snopes).

The big jump came in December 1990. Outside a Grateful Dead show in Oakland, High Times reporter Steve Bloom was handed a flyer inviting people to gather and smoke "420" on April 20 at 4:20 pm. High Times printed it, and from there 420 went national and then global (HuffPost). The flyer itself got the history wrong, claiming 420 came from a police code, which is one reason that myth is still around.

420 myths that are not true

• A police radio code: false. There is no standard police code 420 for cannabis; this came from the 1990 flyer (HuffPost).
• A California penal code section: false. Section 420 of the California Penal Code is about obstructing entry on public land.
• The number of chemicals in cannabis: false. Cannabis contains hundreds of compounds, and the count is not 420.
• Bob Dylan's "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35": false. 12 times 35 is 420, but the song came out years before the Waldos and is not where the term started.
• Hitler's birthday or other April 20 events: false. These dates are coincidences. 420 began as a time of day, not a date.

Why is April 20 weed day?

Because 4/20 is how April 20 is written in the United States. Once 4:20 pm became the code, April 20 became the natural day to celebrate it. Today 4/20 is marked with gatherings, concerts and dispensary sales, and many people light up at 4:20 pm local time.

What does "420 friendly" mean?

"420 friendly" means cannabis is welcome or accepted. You will see it in roommate listings, rentals and dating profiles. It means the person or place is comfortable with cannabis use, though landlords and buildings can still set their own rules about smoking. "Happy 420" is simply a greeting on April 20, like wishing someone a happy holiday.

Where is it 4:20 right now?

It is always 4:20 somewhere, which is the point of the joke. Because 4:20 happens in a different time zone every hour, people say "it's 4:20 somewhere" as a playful excuse. In New York, 4:20 is Eastern Time.

What does 710 mean?

710 is the concentrate version of 420. Turn "710" upside down and it reads "OIL," a nod to cannabis oils and concentrates. July 10 (7/10) is celebrated as a day for dabs and concentrates such as wax, shatter and rosin. Who started it is not clear. If you are curious what a dab is, read our guide to what a dab is and how to dab.

420 in New York

For most of 420's history, celebrating it in New York was illegal. That changed in March 2021, when the state legalized adult-use cannabis and created the Office of Cannabis Management to regulate it (OCM). The first legal adult-use sale in New York took place on December 29, 2022, at a licensed dispensary in Manhattan (Governor's office). NY Elite Cannabis on Bell Blvd became Bayside's first licensed dispensary after that.

Today, adults 21 and older in New York can possess up to 3 ounces of cannabis and 24 grams of concentrated cannabis (OCM). Around 4/20, the state also runs public campaigns encouraging people to buy from licensed stores, which sell lab-tested, labeled products.

How to celebrate 420 safely

• Do not drive. A 2018 study of 25 years of US crash data found more fatal crashes after 4:20 pm on April 20 than on comparison days (Staples and Redelmeier, 2018). A 2019 follow-up using more years of data found the difference was not statistically clear (Harper and Palayew, 2019). Either way, impaired driving is dangerous: get a ride, take transit or stay in.
• Know your dose. If you are trying edibles or concentrates, start low and wait. Edibles can take two hours or more to kick in.
• Buy licensed. Licensed dispensaries sell tested products with clear THC labels.
• Know where you can smoke. In New York, you can generally smoke cannabis where tobacco smoking is allowed, but not in cars, many workplaces, or places where smoking is banned.
• Stick to adults. 420 is for people 21 and older. Keep products away from children and pets.

Shop for 4/20 at NY Elite

Whether it is April 20 or any other day, here are a few popular picks on our menu right now; tap through for current stock and prices.

• Infused pre-rolls: Baby Jeeter Gelato Infused Pre-Roll 5 pack.
• Kief pre-rolls: Honey King OG Kush Diamond Infused Kief Pre-Roll.
• Flower by the ounce: Hashtag Honey Lemon Cherry Gelato, 1 oz.

See all pre-rolls, flower and this week's specials.

Frequently asked questions

Where to shop for 420 in Bayside, Queens

NY Elite Cannabis is a New York State licensed adult-use dispensary (license OCM-CAURD-24-000153) on Bell Blvd in Bayside, a short walk from the Bayside LIRR station. Come in on 4/20 or any day of the year, or order online for pickup or same-day delivery.

• Address: 42-15 Bell Blvd, Bayside, NY 11361 (between 42nd and 43rd Avenues). Directions and parking.
• Store hours: 10 AM to 10 PM, every day.
• Delivery: same-day delivery across Queens, Nassau County and the Rockaways, with no delivery fees. Ordering hours are Sunday to Friday 11 AM to 8:30 PM and Saturday 6 PM to 8:30 PM. Delivery hours may vary based on driver availability and demand. Minimums and zones are on the delivery page.
• Paying: cash or debit in store. Delivery orders are paid online with Dutchie Pay (ACH bank transfer).
• Bring ID: you must be 21 or older with a valid government photo ID, in store and at the door.

Sources

• 420 Waldos, the Waldos' own site
• The Origins of 420, Snopes
• 420 Meaning: The True Story Of How April 20 Became Weed Day, HuffPost
• 4 20 slang meaning, Merriam-Webster
• The April 20 cannabis celebration and fatal traffic crashes in the United States, Staples and Redelmeier, JAMA Internal Medicine, 2018
• The annual cannabis holiday and fatal traffic crashes, Harper and Palayew, Injury Prevention, 2019
• First adult-use cannabis retail sales in New York State history, Office of the Governor
• About the Office of Cannabis Management, NYS Office of Cannabis Management
• Adult-Use Information, NYS Office of Cannabis Management