Why No One is Talking about 4/20
April is Cannabis Awareness Month. 4/20 is literally around the corner. The United States is up to nearly 40 pro-cannabis states. Last year, unforeseen states such as Montana and South Dakota implemented cannabis legislation. Additionally, more states thought to be strict towards cannabis (i.e., Alabama, South Carolina) announced plans to add weed to the books. The cannabis industry hasn’t come to a halt either. The ‘global gas market’ expects to bring in nearly a couple hundred billion by the end of the decade. Despite all of these positives, many consumers are not talking about 4/20 like they used to. However, when you think about it, it makes perfect sense why nobody is ‘geeked’ about 4/20.
A crash course on the origins of 4/20
April 20th, commonly known as 4/20, is a holiday meant for the indulgence of cannabis. It is sometimes referred to as ‘Weed Day.’ 4/20 has been celebrated since the 1970s. This would align with a time that Americans were becoming more socially and politically sound. Today, 4/20 is celebrated by millions of cannabis consumers.
Additionally, companies have taken advantage of this social holiday. In recent years, companies have turned the holiday into ‘Green Friday.’ Coupons and deals such as ‘20% off of 4 items as well as other similar gimmicks. Who doesn’t love a good deal on cannabis and unique cannabis accessories?
Key figures in 4/20 history
Contrary to popular belief, Weed Day has absolutely nothing to do with Adolf Hitler. Outside of sharing a birthday with the most villainous man in history, Weed Day has no relation. The true origins of 4/20 are credited to a bunch of kids in California in 1971. According to the lore, five students belonging to San Rafael High School located in Marin County, CA, would synchronize their watches to meet up and smoke some cannabis. The group of kids, known as the Waldos, included: Steve Capper, Larry Schwartz, Dave Reddix, Mark Gravich, and Jeffery Noel. The time they agreed upon was 20 minutes after 4 p.m.
Additionally, the Waldos would pass notes labeled ‘420’ along to each other outside of the agreed-upon time when they wanted to smoke cannabis early. This would lead to 420 being utilized around the globe. This is why Weed Day is celebrated on the 20th of April.
4/20, today
More than 50 million adults consume cannabis daily. There are approximately double that amount of adults who consume ‘illicit’ cannabis daily. The figures mentioned earlier are significantly higher than the number of adults who consumed cannabis during the Counterculture Era. The taboo associated with cannabis has become virtually nonexistent. This means more adults consume cannabis without fear. Moreover, states such as Nevada recently outlawed employers from firing employees based on personal cannabis consumption. Naturally, as the world becomes more cannabis-friendly, more adults will (openly) smoke it.
Paradoxical appeal
Summarily, no one is talking about 4/20 because 4/20 is (now) every day. “Smoke weed every day” is more than just a lyric; it is a mantra for a large populace of people. Weirdly enough, as the taboo surrounding cannabis continues to drop, more people will continue to consume cannabis more often and less often. This is also why Latin American countries implement cannabis-friendly laws. Theoretically, by removing the taboo associated with weed, people will care less about possessing and consuming it.
The 70s were also a time of a few means of consuming cannabis. If weed did not appear in a doobie or a brownie, most adults were not consuming it. Today, cannabis appears in a bevy of forms. From concentrates, capsules, lotions, and smoothies, consumers can ingest cannabis how they see fit. To put it simply: when Christmas is every day, the actual holiday isn’t ‘all that.’ However, expect pounds, if not tons of cannabis, to be consumed during 4/20.