What does 420 actually mean?
Asked by: Prof. Doyle Fritsch II | Last update: February 24, 2026Score: 5/5 (20 votes)
"420" (pronounced four-twenty) is slang in cannabis culture for consuming marijuana, referring to both the time 4:20 PM (or 16:20) as a good time to smoke and the annual celebration on April 20th (4/20 in U.S. date format) where people gather to use cannabis, stemming from a 1970s origin story of high schoolers meeting at 4:20 PM to search for a cannabis crop.
What is the vulgar meaning of 420?
The slang expression 420 originated in California in the 1970's when students would meet outside their school at 4:20 p.m. and smoke weed. In contemporary culture 420 refers to April 20 when at 4:20 p.m. pot smokers light up in celebration of marijuana use. Teenagers often use 420 as a replacement word for weed.
What is the logic behind 420?
The number 420 primarily signifies cannabis culture, referring to April 20th (4/20) as a day for cannabis celebration and 4:20 p.m. as a time to consume, stemming from a story about high schoolers in California in the 1970s. Beyond this, 420 has various mathematical properties, like being the least common multiple of numbers 1 through 7, but its most recognized meaning is tied to marijuana use and advocacy.
Is 420 really a police code?
No. Despite a common explanation that section 420 refers to marijuana-related offenses, we looked it up: that code actually has to do with property offenses. Is 420 a police code related to marijuana? A popular theory, but the answer is no.
What is the origin of the 420 code?
The Waldos referred to this plan with the phrase "4:20 Louis". After several failed attempts to find the crop, the group eventually shortened their phrase to "4:20", which ultimately evolved into a code-word the teens used to refer to consuming cannabis. Steven Hager of High Times popularized the story of the Waldos.
The Story of 420
What does 1042 mean in police code?
Police code 10-42 most commonly means "Ending Tour of Duty", signaling an officer is finishing their shift, often used for retirement or at the end of the day, but its meaning can vary by department, sometimes indicating a traffic stop or even a "dead person" in some jurisdictions, so context is key.
What high school invented 420?
On April 20, 1971 five friends at San Rafael High School in California coined the term "4:20" as a euphuism for smoking Marijuana. 4/20 became a popular day to spark one up, as did 4:20 pm became a popular time of day.
How much do potheads smoke a day?
Results: Mean marijuana use per use day among purchasers was 1.35 grams and non-purchasers estimated mean use amount per day was 0.71 grams. Lower mean use per day was a found for women and the most frequent users.
Who started the 420 tradition?
But a consensus has emerged that it started with a group of bell-bottomed buddies from San Rafael High School in California, who called themselves "the Waldos." A friend's brother was afraid of getting busted for a patch of cannabis he was growing in the woods at Point Reyes, so he drew a map and gave the teens ...
Is 420 a secret code?
Myth: The '420' Police Codes
Many people believe that the number '420' is coined from the California Criminal Codes used to punish the use or distribution of marijuana. But if you actually take a closer look at the state's 420 code, it applies to obstructing entry on public land.
Why do they call today 420?
The most widely accepted theory as to the origins of 420 is that it was first used by a group of high school students in San Rafael, California in the early 1970s. The students, who called themselves "The Waldos", would meet at 4:20pm to smoke cannabis after school.
What does a 420 girl mean?
If you're in the dating scene, you might come across the term "420-friendly" on someone's profile, among other interests or personality traits they list. This usually means that the person either consumes cannabis or is okay with being around it.
What does the number 420 mean in dirty mind?
420 is a slang term (or a kind of code word) referring to marijuana or marijuana use. Due to this association, 420 is also used as the name of an unofficial holiday that marijuana enthusiasts celebrate by using marijuana. It is sometimes called Weed Day (weed is a slang term for marijuana).
Is there a connection between Bob Marley and 420?
Bob Marley Connection: While Bob Marley is an icon in cannabis culture, his death date (May 11) and birth date (February 6) have no connection to 4/20.
What is the weird meaning of 420?
"420' is slang for pot smoking, particularly at 4:20 p.m. or on April 20. Its origins are debated. No colon or slash is necessary unless referring specifically to the time or date. Marcus Stone and 5.3K others. 5.3K.
Who smoked 800 cigarettes at once?
In 1996, Romanian daredevil Stefan Sigmond claimed to smoke 800 cigarettes in under six minutes using a special device but was rejected by Guinness World Records for promoting dangerous stunts, although he did break a previous record of 750. While not a world record holder, contemporary figures like Post Malone have reported smoking up to 80 cigarettes daily, and King Zog I was known for smoking 200-225 a day, but no one has officially achieved 800 as a recognized feat, with Guinness avoiding such "gluttony" records.
Is $10 for a gram good?
A gram can range from $10 to $20 depending on location and the quality of the bud. California: $10 to $20 for decent flower, with premium options as high as $25. Colorado: Typically $8 to $15, with higher-end strains going up to $20.
Who smoked 200 cigarettes a day?
While several people smoked heavily, King Zog I of Albania is specifically noted for smoking an extremely high amount, once smoking 225 cigarettes in a day, while Indian superstar Amitabh Bachchan famously admitted to smoking 200 cigarettes daily in his youth before quitting, and Tamil director Manobala also revealed smoking 200 cigarettes a day, leading to liver issues.
Who invented school 😡 and why?
No single person invented school, but Horace Mann is called the "Father of American Education" for creating the modern public school system in the 19th century, aiming to provide equal, tax-funded education to all children to create informed citizens for a democracy, bridging social classes. Earlier formal schooling existed in ancient civilizations (Egypt, Greece, China), but Mann established the universal, standardized, tax-supported model common today, with trained teachers and grade levels.
Who made 420 famous?
28, 1990, a group of Deadheads in Oakland handed out flyers that invited people to smoke “420” on April 20 at 4:20 p.m. One ended up with Steve Bloom, a former reporter for High Times magazine, an authority on cannabis culture. The magazine printed the flyer in 1991 and continued to reference the number.
What will school look like in 2050?
The first change will be more compelling and effective ways to learn online and in hybrid formats. Technology will enhance if not replace traditional classroom learning with new ways to explain topics, provide regular “low stakes” tests to track comprehension, and adapt learning accordingly to help students progress.
What is a 999 cop code?
It means, "Officer needs emergency help." But, in this case, it's not a reference to an officer in need. It's a reference to children in need. "999 for Kids" was created in 1985 through a joint effort of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the County's Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
What does 10.4 mean in slang?
"10-4" is a slang term from radio communication meaning "message received," "understood," or "okay," originating from police and trucker codes to confirm messages quickly, with "10" acting as a warm-up placeholder for early radios. It's used in professional settings like law enforcement and trucking but has also entered general conversation as a simple acknowledgment, like saying "Got it!".
What is code 7 for cops?
Police code "7" varies, but most commonly means "Out of Service" (unavailable for calls) or "Meal Break/Lunch," while some areas use a plain "7" or "Signal 7" for a "Dead Body," especially after a welfare check, highlighting the need to check local codes.