What is 420? Why people celebrate 420 and the meaning behind the day

Every year on 20 April, people all over the world smoke cannabis in celebration of 420.

Thousands gather in London’s Hyde Park, in green spaces up and down the country, and far beyond, to mark a day that has become synonymous with marijuana.

But how exactly did this day come to be recognised as something of a religious holiday for weed-smokers?

Here is the history of 420 explained.

The origins behind 420 are still debated, but the most commonly accepted story dates back to 1970s California.

As a Hyde Park 420 Facebook event explains: “Back in 1971, five students at San Rafael High School in California would meet at 4.20pm – right after doing their after-school sports – by the school’s statue of Louis Pasteur to toke up.”

The group, which called itself The Waldos, adopted 420 as slang for smoking cannabis.

“This spread, 4.20pm became known as the perfect time for smoking weed, and the number 420 became synonymous with marijuana,” the story goes.

In 2012 one of the group members, Steve Capper, told The Huffington Post: “We would remind each other in the hallways we were supposed to meet up at 4.20.”

Reportedly another of the group members, Dave Reddix, became friends with the bassist of The Grateful Dead. The band is said to have helped popularise 20 April as “weed day”.

Using the American calendar method of putting the month before the day, 4/20 is 20 April. And so, 20 April turned into a day of celebration for all things marijuana.

Cannabis is illegal and is classified as a Class B drug in the UK. It is illegal to possess, grow, distribute or sell it.

If you are caught with cannabis it comes with a maximum of five years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.

Being convicted of producing and supplying the drug carries up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.

However, this does not stop thousands of people openly celebrating 420 every year.

The biggest gatherings are in Hyde Park, where thousands convene for cannabis picnics and legalisation demonstrations.

The celebrations, unsurprisingly, peak at 4.20pm, with people cheering and releasing extra large puffs of smoke into the air.

In 2016 20 people were arrested in the London park on 420 for a range of drugs offences, while dozens more were handed warnings.