The number "420" became associated with weed because of a group of five high school friends in San Rafael, California, in 1971, who called themselves the Waldos. They used to meet at 4:20 p.m. after school to search for an abandoned marijuana crop, using "420" as a code for smoking weed. Although they never found the crop, the term "420" stuck as a secret code among them and spread further through connections with the Grateful Dead band and eventually popularized by the magazine High Times. Over time, April 20 (4/20 in U.S. date format) became an unofficial holiday for cannabis culture and celebration.

Origins of 420

• The Waldos first used "420" as a meeting time and code for smoking marijuana.
• The phrase became popular among the Grateful Dead's followers and eventually cannabis culture at large.
• The term entered broader awareness through its coverage in High Times magazine starting in the early 1990s.

Why 4:20 p.m. and April 20?

• The specific time of 4:20 p.m. was designated by the Waldos for their after-school meetups.
• April 20 (4/20) came into significance as the date associated with the term, eventually becoming a widely recognized day for cannabis-related celebrations.

Common Myths

• Contrary to popular belief, 420 is not a police code for marijuana nor related to Bob Marley's birthday or specific marijuana compounds.
• The most credible and documented origin is the story of the Waldos and their after-school ritual.

Thus, the "420" association with weed stems from a practical, secret code among a small group of teens that grew into a global cultural phenomenon.