4/20: The Facts

Need to know more about the biggest date in the cannabis calendar? Let’s break it down…

Ok, what is 4/20?

In short, it’s a holiday celebrating marijuana on April 20.

But, why 4/20?

Good question. There are lots of anecdotal reasons why 4/20 is so significant. One of the most widely-accepted theories is this: back in the 1970s, a group of high-school students in San Rafael, California, ritualistically smoked marijuana every day at 4.20pm. The ritual spread, and ‘420’ became code for smoking marijuana. Later, one of the students, Dave Reddix, ended up working as a roadie for rock band, The Grateful Dead, who apparently helped popularize the term ‘420’. Eventually ‘420’ was converted to 4/20 for calendar purposes and a day of celebration was born. 

Got it. Any other theories?

Yup. But all disproved. One common belief was that ‘420’ was the California police code or penal code for marijuana. Which is just not true. Then there’s the theory that Bob Dylan’s legendary refrain ‘Everybody must get stoned’ from his hit song Rainy Day Woman No.12 & 35 is the origin; when you multiply 12 x 35 you get…420. A final one theory? That there are over four hundred active chemicals in marijuana. But no one has proved there are specifically 420. Whatever its origins, 4/20 has become a significant date for cannabis fans. 

So, what actually happens on 4/20?

We’re glad you asked. Aside from celebrations and gatherings across the US, 4/20 has become a day to highlight those affected by wrongful incarceration. Did you know that the US still has prisoners serving sentences for cannabis misdemeanors and felonies that are no longer crimes? States like Nevada are making huge progress towards expunging past, nonviolent, cannabis convictions, yet other states are slow to prioritize. 

Wow. And how many people does this affect?

There are over 35,000 individuals currently incarcerated for cannabis crimes in the U.S. Not to mention families who are affected by their imprisonment. 

What can we do about it?

Get educated, for starters. Here are some useful sites that provide further information and ways to get involved:

https://norml.org/act/ —— www.lastprisonerproject.org  —— www.candoclemency.com  —— www.lifeforpot.com  —— www.thsintl.org 

Anything else?

Yes. Write to your senators and representative:

Ask them to support the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act HR 3884/S.227, bipartisan legislation to decriminalize cannabis at the federal level and enables states to set their own cannabis policies.

And a final reminder from us…

At oHHo we advocate for a compassionate and common sense response to those currently serving sentences on nonviolent cannabis charges in the U.S. We support the sealing of convictions to ensure that the stigma of nonviolent cannabis convictions does not negatively impact on an individual's future opportunities. We are committed to supporting the work of organizations and individuals who campaign for change. Spread the word.