What is 420? Hashtag's 10th Year Anniversary
By Jeff Eckenrode
Quick Answer: 420 originated in 1971 when five California teens called The Waldos met at 4:20pm to search for abandoned cannabis plants. The term spread through the Grateful Dead in the 1980s and went global after a 1991 High Times article. April 20 is now an international cannabis holiday — and Hashtag Cannabis's birthday, celebrating 10 years in 2025!
420: Hashtag’s Birthday
This year, April 20, 2025 marks Hashtag’s 10th year anniversary!
Although much has changed since we first open our doors in 2015, one thing has remained the same: 420 is the code-word for cannabis consumption and a rally flag for marijuana legalization throughout the world.
But what does 420 mean? And how did a number as peculiar as 420 become associated with marijuana to begin with?
Depending on who you ask, you may be surprised by the answer.
No matter where 420 came from or who coined the term, one thing is certain: Hashtag is celebrating its 10th year anniversary this Sunday, April 20 with storewide sales at each of our three locations in Seattle, Redmond and Everett!
Image credit: Jamie Street
Why is 420 associated with cannabis?
420 in the 1970s
In 1971, five California high schoolers who called themselves “The Waldos” were hunting for some abandoned cannabis plants. They met to plot their search at a designated spot, the Louis Pasteur statue at San Rafael High School.
The time they chose to meet? You could probably guess: 4:20 p.m.
The Waldos referred to this plan as “4:20 Louis” and, after several failed attempts to find the crop, the phrase was shortened to 4:20, which they ultimately used as a code-word for cannabis use.
420 in the 1980s
Several of The Waldos had connections to the Grateful Dead. In fact, one of the Waldo’s father managed the band’s real estate; another Waldo’s brother was friends with The Grateful Dead’s bassist Phil Lesh and managed a Grateful Dead sideband.
On tour, cannabis consumption was common.
But due to its illegal nature, codewords were regularly used to avoid drawing unnecessary attention.
When joints were passed backstage, the phrase “Hey, 420!” was often heard. The term spread with the band as they toured the country.
420 in the 1990s
In December 1990, High Times reporter Steven Bloom was wandering through a gathering of hippies before a Grateful Dead concert in Oakland.
He was handed a yellow flyer, which read: “We are going to meet at 4:20 on 4/20 for 420-ing in Marin County at the Bolinas Ridge sunset spot on Mt. Tamalpais.”
Until that time, Bloom had never heard the term “420” or “420-ing” before, but wrote about it in the May 1991 issue.
From there, the term 420 took off and became the international sensation it is today.
So what’s the significance of 420 today?
Since Bloom’s High Times article hit the magazine racks in 1991, April 20 has become an international counterculture holiday. People around the world gather to celebrate and consume cannabis.
In 2017, journalist Phoebe Judge investigated the term’s origins further, after 420 was added to the Oxford English Dictionary.
Where can I find Cannabis products for 420?
Whether you’re shopping online or in Redmond, we’re here to help you find what you need, when you need it. That includes cannabis products to help you celebrate 420!
Click on our online menu link below to see our current availability.
FAQ What Is 420? Hashtag’s 10 Year Anniversary
What does 420 mean and why is it associated with cannabis?
420 is the most universally recognized code word for cannabis — used globally to signal cannabis consumption, celebrate the culture, and advocate for legalization. It originated as a secret meeting time between a group of California high schoolers in 1971, spread through the Grateful Dead touring community in the 1980s, and exploded into mainstream culture after a 1991 High Times article. Today April 20th is celebrated worldwide as an unofficial cannabis holiday!
Who were The Waldos and how did they invent 420?
The Waldos were five friends from San Rafael High School in California who, in 1971, used "4:20 Louis" as their code for meeting at 4:20pm at the Louis Pasteur statue on campus to search for a crop of rumored abandoned cannabis plants. After several unsuccessful searches, the phrase was shortened to just "4:20" and became their personal slang for smoking cannabis. What started as a teenage inside joke would eventually become the most recognized cannabis term on the planet!
What role did the Grateful Dead play in spreading 420?
A huge one! Several of The Waldos had direct personal connections to the Grateful Dead — one member's father managed the band's real estate, and another's brother was close friends with bassist Phil Lesh and managed a Dead sideband. As The Waldos socialized backstage at Grateful Dead shows, "Hey, 420!" became a discreet way to pass joints without attracting attention from law enforcement. As the band toured coast to coast throughout the 1980s, the phrase traveled with them into the broader cannabis community.
How did High Times turn 420 into a global phenomenon?
It all came down to one yellow flyer! In December 1990, High Times reporter Steven Bloom was handed a flyer at a Grateful Dead concert in Oakland that invited people to meet at 4:20 on April 20th for "420-ing" on Mt. Tamalpais in Marin County. Bloom had never heard the term before but wrote about it, and his piece ran in the May 1991 issue of High Times. From there, 420 rapidly became an internationally recognized cannabis code word and holiday — all from a single piece of paper passed at a concert.
When did Hashtag Cannabis open and why does April 20th hold special meaning for the dispensary? Hashtag Cannabis opened its doors in 2015, making April 20, 2025 their 10th year anniversary! The fact that Hashtag was founded on 4/20 makes the date doubly meaningful — it's both the cannabis world's most celebrated holiday AND the dispensary's birthday. Every year, Hashtag celebrates with storewide sales across all three locations in Seattle, Redmond, and Everett. A decade of serving the Pacific Northwest cannabis community is something genuinely worth celebrating! 🎉
Is 420 officially recognized in the English language?
Yes! In 2017, "420" was officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary, marking its formal recognition as an established term in the English language. That same year, journalist Phoebe Judge investigated the term's origins for the podcast Criminal, helping bring the Waldos' story to an even wider mainstream audience. Going from a high school inside joke to an Oxford Dictionary entry in about 45 years is a pretty remarkable cultural journey!
Want to learn more about cannabis history and culture?
Then check out our collection of related posts here!