2 min read ~
It's our favorite time of year - The Christmas of Cannabis. What better way to celebrate than learning why we celebrate. Whether you're a seasoned smoker or only take the occasional toke - you've more than likely heard the term "420". It could be the reference to the time of day, date of year, or just a general exclamation made when cannabis is about to be consumed.

Many myths revolve around the origin or original purpose of the phrase, but the most credible version of the story comes from Marin County, California in 1971, where 5 students from San Rafael High School would meet at 4:20 pm to smoke after extracurricular activities. This group became known as the "Waldos" simply because their smoke spot was along a wall near campus.

Decades later, in 1990, a member of the Waldo's (Dave Reddix) gained work as a roadie for the Grateful Dead, and word-of-mouth began popularizing the phrase even more. On Dec 28, 1990, a group of "Deadheads" attending the Grateful Dead show at the Oakland Coliseum, handed out flyers in the parking lot for a "420" on 4/20 at 4:20 pm, which was subsequently noticed and circulated by High Times Magazine and is the first time 420 got national publicity.  

For today's recreational and medical cannabis industry, 420 is a recognized holiday for exclusive sales and events commemorating the state of acceptance we've been able to achieve in the past few decades. When the "Waldos" first used the term "420" back in 1971, cannabis had just been moved to a Schedule 1 Drug by Richard Nixon, prohibiting its use for any purpose. Today, 420 is an international counterculture phenomenon based on the celebration and consumption of cannabis, as well as a call to action to further cannabis legalization and mend the countless lives impacted by the criminalization of the cannabis plant and its consumption. 

Another way to celebrate? Purchasing legal cannabis! Find deals under the SPECIALS tab. Everything on our menu will be 33% off from April 18 - April 20th!
sparkdcannabis.com