Four-Twenty
4:20 or 4/20 (pronounced four-twenty) is a term used in North America as a (somewhat) discreet way to refer to the consumption of cannabis and, by extension, a way to identify oneself with cannabis culture. Phrases such as “420 friendly” sometimes appear in room mate advertisements, indicating that the current occupants are tolerant of cannabis users.
Although many diverse theories exist to explain the origin of the term, it is widely accepted that in 1971, a group of teenagers at San Rafael High School in San Rafael, California used to meet after school at 4:20 p.m. to smoke cannabis at the Louis Pasteur statue.
Many North American cannabis users continue to observe 4:20 as a time to smoke communally. By extension April 20 (”4/20″ in U.S. dating shorthand) has evolved into a counter-culture holiday, where people gather to celebrate and consume cannabis. In some locations this celebration coincides with Earth Week.
