Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

TexasTowelie

(116,759 posts)
Sat Apr 20, 2019, 05:58 AM Apr 2019

How pot holiday 4/20 got its start with 5 California high school stoners

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (AP) — Friday is April 20, or 4/20. That's the numerical code for marijuana's high holiday, a celebration and homage to pot's enduring and universal slang for smoking.

Festivities are planned worldwide, culminating with a synchronized smoke at 4:20 p.m. local time.

How the marijuana-loving world came to mark the occasion is believed traceable to five Northern California men now in their 60s with bad backs and graying hair. They are the unofficial grandmasters by virtue of the code they created nearly 50 years ago as students at a suburban San Francisco high school in 1971.

"We thought it was a joke then," said David Reddix, a filmmaker and retired CNN cameraman. "We still do."

Read more: https://napavalleyregister.com/news/national/how-pot-holiday-got-its-start-with-california-high-school/article_bc1c1739-51ac-5c5d-aa55-be8796863c75.html


In this Friday, April 13, 2018, photo, Waldos Dave Reddix, left, and Steve Capper look over a 420 flag from 1972 made by a classmate that is kept at a bank vault in San Francisco. Friday is April 20, or 4/20. That’s the numerical code for marijuana’s high holiday, a celebration and homage to pot’s enduring and universal slang for smoking. And five Northern California high school stoner buddies widely credited with creating the shorthand slang for getting high nearly 50 years ago now serve as the day's unofficial grand masters. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)



In this Friday, April 13, 2018, photo, the Waldos, from left, Mark Gravitch, Larry Schwartz, Dave Reddix, Steve Capper and Jeffrey Noel pose below a statue of Louis Pasteur at San Rafael High School in San Rafael, Calif. Friday is April 20, or 4/20. That’s the numerical code for marijuana’s high holiday, a celebration and homage to pot’s enduring and universal slang for smoking. And the five Northern California high school stoner buddies widely credited with creating the shorthand slang for getting high nearly 50 years ago now serve as the day's unofficial grand masters. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
How pot holiday 4/20 got its start with 5 California high school stoners (Original Post) TexasTowelie Apr 2019 OP
I forgot what I was going to say world wide wally Apr 2019 #1
I did too. TexasTowelie Apr 2019 #2
American history can be interesting. JudyM Apr 2019 #3
I thought some nostalgia would help out this particular group. TexasTowelie Apr 2019 #4

TexasTowelie

(116,759 posts)
4. I thought some nostalgia would help out this particular group.
Mon Apr 22, 2019, 07:16 AM
Apr 2019

It's the first time that I ever read about the inception of 420.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Cannabis»How pot holiday 4/20 got ...