The True Story of 4/20: From a Secret Code to a Global Cannabis Celebration
- William Kanistras
- Apr 22
- 3 min read
April 20th, widely recognized in the hemp and cannabis space as 4/20, has become more than a day to light up. It’s a cultural moment, a nod to the people behind the plant, and a reminder of how far we’ve come in legitimizing a once underground industry.
Behind the sales, campaigns, and memes is a story rooted in history, rebellion, and community. Whether you're cultivating in your backyard or managing acres under canopy, 4/20 still means something. Here’s how it started and why it still matters to growers like us.
Chapter 1: The Waldos and the Code That Sparked a Movement
The story starts in 1971 at San Rafael High School in California. A group of five students, nicknamed “The Waldos,” heard about an abandoned cannabis crop near the Point Reyes Peninsula. They decided to search for it, meeting every day at 4:20 p.m. after sports practice. “4:20” became their shorthand for meeting after school to smoke and continue their search.
It was casual and coded. Instead of saying “Wanna smoke?” they’d say “4:20.” That language stuck, and quietly moved beyond their circle.
Chapter 2: From High School Slang to Grateful Dead Tour Culture
One of the Waldos had a family connection to the Grateful Dead, which became a key channel for spreading the term. The band’s road crew and Deadheads embraced it, and by the late 1980s, “420” was quietly circulating as a cultural signal among cannabis enthusiasts.
Then came 1991. A flyer handed out at Grateful Dead shows promoting April 20th as a day of cannabis celebration ended up in the hands of High Times magazine. They published it, and from there, 4/20 went national.
Chapter 3: 4/20 Goes Mainstream and Commercial
As legalization took root in the 2000s, 4/20 shifted from grassroots tradition to a full-blown retail holiday.
In 2003, California dispensaries hosted “patient appreciation days.”
By the early 2010s, legal states like Colorado and Oregon turned 4/20 into a major sales day with discounts and events.
Today, you’ll see branded campaigns from MSOs, influencer partnerships, and full-scale marketing strategies.
In 2023 alone, U.S. cannabis sales on April 20th surpassed $160 million in a single day. That marked a 10 percent year-over-year increase, according to BDSA.
For cultivators and breeders, this commercial wave is a double-edged sword. The momentum is real, but the meaning behind it runs deeper.
Chapter 4: 4/20 Around the World
Despite its California roots, 4/20 has become a global day of action and celebration.
You’ll see events in:
Hyde Park, London
Parliament Hill, Ottawa
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Civic Center Park, Denver
In some countries, lighting up on 4/20 is still an act of defiance. In legal markets, it’s a cultural reset, a reminder of the history, the plant, and the people behind it.
Chapter 5: For Cultivators, Breeders, and Clone Nurseries, 4/20 Hits Different
For those who grow, every day is some version of 4/20. We don’t just consume the plant, we create it, preserve it, and push it forward. This day is about:
Tending genetics with intention
Hunting standout phenos
Maintaining libraries of stable, vigorous clones
Carrying forward breeder legacies through cuts and seeds
At Clone Harvest, we treat 4/20 as a cultivator’s holiday. It’s not about partying. It’s about the plant’s life cycle and the work behind the scenes that keeps this industry moving.
Every rooted cut is a piece of history.
Chapter 6: A Time for Celebration, Reflection, and Responsibility
On 4/20, we ask ourselves:
Are we honoring the cultivators and caregivers who came before us?
Are we supporting small breeders and preserving rare genetics?
Are we educating new growers and helping them succeed?
Are we protecting the plant, not just profiting from it?
This day is about more than consumption. It’s about clarity. Legacy. Intention.
Chapter 7: Lighting Up the Future
As legalization spreads and the market matures, the cannabis space is evolving fast.
More than half of U.S. states now allow adult use
Global markets are opening across Europe and Latin America
Cultivation technology is advancing rapidly
Consumers are becoming more educated about terpenes, genetics, and grow methods
At Clone Harvest, we stay focused on the foundation — clean genetics, healthy starts, and supporting cultivators who care about quality. That’s how we keep the culture alive, even as the market shifts.
Final Puff
Whether you’re spending 4/20 with your crew, checking your veg trays, or walking your garden solo, know that you’re part of something bigger.
This isn’t just a holiday. It’s a movement built on love for the plant and the people who grow it.
From all of us at Clone Harvest, happy 4/20.
Here’s to the growers. The breeders. The legacy heads. And everyone who still believes this plant can heal, connect, and inspire.
Let’s keep growing.
