The legend of 420

[njdionysus]

Encyclopedia: 420 (drug culture)

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/420-(drug-culture)

The number 420 is a euphemism describing one's support for cannabis and drug culture. The origin of the term is unknown. As with any socially taboo subject, a large amount of urban legend surrounds the origin of this term.

An origin story according to Snopes.com and The Straight Dope claims that in the early 1970s a group of teenagers at San Rafael High School in San Rafael, California used to meet every day to smoke marijuana after school at 4:20 PM. The time became a code word for the drug, and usage spread. 4:20 PM has since become a popular time to "smoke out." Another possible origin of the term can be found in the works of H.P. Lovecraft. A short story of his, entitled "In the Walls of Eryx" and first published in Weird Tales [34, No. 4 (October 1939), pp50-68], contains this passage: I had encountered at least one of those curious mirage-plants about which so many of our men told stories. Anderson had warned me of them, and described their appearance very closely - the shaggy stalk, the spiky leaves, and the mottled blossoms whose gaseous dream-breeding exhalations penetrate every existing make of mask...Although everything was spinning perilously, I tried to start in the right direction and hack my way ahead. My route must have been far from straight, for it seemed hours before I was free of the mirage-plant's pervasive influence. Gradually the dancing lights began to disappear, and the shimmering spectral scenery began to assume the aspect of solidity. When I did get wholly clear I looked at my watch and was astonished to find that the time was only 4:20. Though eternities had seemed to pass, the whole experience could have consumed little more than a half-hour.

In 1955, Raj Kapoor directed a film entitled Shree 420 (Mr. 420), a reference to someone who has a reputation for theft and deception, since apprehensions for such crimes are usually section 420 of the Indian Penal Code.

Others theories include:

The number is a police numeric code for a drug bust

There were, at one time, believed to be 420 chemicals in marijuana.

April 20th, or 4-20, is the last day on which one is supposed to plant cannabis seeds

The Beatles song "Come Together" is 4:20 in length Today many people who smoke marijuana use 420 to symbolize their desire to smoke. In 1994, classified ads in the Santa Cruz Sentinel for "Housing to share" began reading as:

Rm avail Veggie household. 420. No pets M pref

Hardcore smokers smoke-out at 4:20 AM, claiming that 4:20 PM is actually 16:20 (military time). Really, really hardcore smokers smoke-out at both 0420 hours and 1620 hours.

[PCR]

Originally posted by njdionysus

Hardcore smokers smoke-out at 4:20 AM, claiming that 4:20 PM is actually 16:20 (military time). Really, really hardcore smokers smoke-out at both 0420 hours and 1620 hours.

hard core smokers smoke all day long LOL

that was interesting....I didn't know of some of the possible origins of this term

[majinbuu]

Originally posted by PCR

hard core smokers smoke all day long LOL

that was interesting....I didn't know of some of the possible origins of this term

i like to catch them both on april 20th...

[babbo]

Originally posted by njdionysus

Encyclopedia: 420 (drug culture)

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/420-(drug-culture)

The number 420 is a euphemism describing one's support for cannabis and drug culture. The origin of the term is unknown. As with any socially taboo subject, a large amount of urban legend surrounds the origin of this term.

An origin story according to Snopes.com and The Straight Dope claims that in the early 1970s a group of teenagers at San Rafael High School in San Rafael, California used to meet every day to smoke marijuana after school at 4:20 PM. The time became a code word for the drug, and usage spread. 4:20 PM has since become a popular time to "smoke out." Another possible origin of the term can be found in the works of H.P. Lovecraft. A short story of his, entitled "In the Walls of Eryx" and first published in Weird Tales [34, No. 4 (October 1939), pp50-68], contains this passage: I had encountered at least one of those curious mirage-plants about which so many of our men told stories. Anderson had warned me of them, and described their appearance very closely - the shaggy stalk, the spiky leaves, and the mottled blossoms whose gaseous dream-breeding exhalations penetrate every existing make of mask...Although everything was spinning perilously, I tried to start in the right direction and hack my way ahead. My route must have been far from straight, for it seemed hours before I was free of the mirage-plant's pervasive influence. Gradually the dancing lights began to disappear, and the shimmering spectral scenery began to assume the aspect of solidity. When I did get wholly clear I looked at my watch and was astonished to find that the time was only 4:20. Though eternities had seemed to pass, the whole experience could have consumed little more than a half-hour.

In 1955, Raj Kapoor directed a film entitled Shree 420 (Mr. 420), a reference to someone who has a reputation for theft and deception, since apprehensions for such crimes are usually section 420 of the Indian Penal Code.

Others theories include:

The number is a police numeric code for a drug bust

There were, at one time, believed to be 420 chemicals in marijuana.

April 20th, or 4-20, is the last day on which one is supposed to plant cannabis seeds

The Beatles song "Come Together" is 4:20 in length Today many people who smoke marijuana use 420 to symbolize their desire to smoke. In 1994, classified ads in the Santa Cruz Sentinel for "Housing to share" began reading as:

Rm avail Veggie household. 420. No pets M pref

Hardcore smokers smoke-out at 4:20 AM, claiming that 4:20 PM is actually 16:20 (military time). Really, really hardcore smokers smoke-out at both 0420 hours and 1620 hours.

doesnt state road # 420 go thru humboldt county??

[daveman0187]

i got arrested a couple years ago on april 20th at 4:20 pm