April 20 is International Cannabis Day. But what are the origins of this holiday, and what is its purpose? We’ll tell you everything!
What is the origin of 420 Day?
The story dates back to the 1970s in Marin County, California.
A group of high school students used to meet every day after school, always at the same time: 4:20 p.m. (U.S. time) near the statue of Louis Pasteur. They were nicknamed the Waldos because they were always leaning against a wall near San Rafael High School. Each member of the group was named after a member of the Ramones. So there was Waldo Mark (Mark Gravitch), Waldo Jeff (Jeff Noel), Waldo Larry (Larry Schwartz), Waldo Steve (Steve Capper), and Waldo Dave (Dave Reddix).
Their main goal was to find a field of weed grown by a customs officer, which, according to an urban legend, had been abandoned near the Point Reyes Coast Guard station. No matter how hard they searched, they never found that precious green treasure, but they kept the term “4/20” (pronounced “Four twenty”) to refer to cannabis.
The legend might have ended there if Waldo’s older brother Dave hadn’t been friends with Phil Lesh, the drummer for the Grateful Dead. The band then regularly used the term “4/20” to refer to marijuana. That’s how it became an “official” symbol.
Having remained in the shadows for a long time, the Waldos have finally broken their silence to claim and embrace the origins of 4/20.
Today, there are still many rumors circulating about the origin of 420. It is said to come from the code used by the police for cannabis-related offenses, or even from Hitler’s date of birth (What?) or the number of compounds found in cannabis.
Fun fact: In the United States, many milestone signs marked “420” have been stolen repeatedly. The states involved have chosen to replace the signs and display “419.99 miles” instead, making the signs much less appealing.
What do we celebrate on April 20?
Since then, “Four Twenty”—or April 20—has become the perfect date to celebrate International Cannabis Day and, by extension, CBD Day. It is a day when enthusiasts and advocates of the plant come together to campaign for its legalization. April 20 is celebrated primarily in the United States and is beginning to gain traction in Europe and France.
Cannabis is still too heavily stigmatized today, despite all the benefits the plant has to offer. Proof of this is that more and more countries are authorizing studies and even cannabis-based medical treatments.
As for CBD, it is an active compound found naturally in the cannabis plant. It offers numerous benefits that have been highlighted by scientific studies: among other things, CBD has anti-inflammatory, anti-stress, anti-nausea, and antispasmodic properties… And unlike its cousin THC, it has no psychoactive effects and poses no risk of addiction. However, France still struggles to recognize the benefits of CBD and is attempting to ban cannabis flowers, to the detriment of consumers who find them beneficial—particularly for nicotine or cannabis withdrawal.
However, the WHO has clearly highlighted CBD's potential and its safety.
While the issue of cannabis legalization is worth debating, CBD itself is not a matter of debate and should therefore be fully legalized and recognized for its benefits to our well-being.
