cannabisnews.com: What Does 4:20 Mean To You?





What Does 4:20 Mean To You?
Posted by CN Staff on April 19, 2007 at 15:20:23 PT
By Leslie Brefeld, Summit County Correspondent
Source: Aspen Times 
Aspen, CO -- Allen St. Pierre, executive director of NORML, and Steven Hager, editor of High Times magazine, are willing to give interviews any time of the year. But it’s April 20 that the people want. The date, time and number, all encompassed in 4:20, have become increasingly meaningful over the last few decades to the stoner culture, and the culture at large.
The connection between cannabis culture and 4:20 began with a group of California students in the ’70s who would meet at the time — which falls after school and before dinner — to smoke marijuana.In the 1990s, a fateful flyer endorsing the 4:20 celebration landed in the High Times magazine office, drawing the attention of 20-year editor Steve Hager. He picked up on the idiom, taking it from a cultural idea to an official pot holiday.“I jumped on it immediately,” Hager said in an interview Monday. “I liked it because what 4:20 meant to me, was to wait until 4:20. It’s a good time of day at 4:20 because you basically have all your stuff done ... You’ve done all your faxing and filing, and it’s time to move to another gear — as opposed to a breakfast bong. It’s a more powerful tool if used respectfully and sparingly,” he said.And through two major events Hager produced — the WHEE! (or World Hemp Expo Extravaganza) festival, which no longer exists but featured 300 hemp vendors in its first year, and the Cannabis Cup, which is coming up on its 20th year in Amsterdam — he promoted and popularized the ritual.Of course, the message hasn’t reached everyone.“Depending on age and demographics — it could have meaning or none at all,” said St. Pierre. But if you’re under the age of 40, it’s a part of the culture. St. Pierre cited Hollywood references like Quentin Tarantino setting the clock in the background to 4:20 when characters are smoking marijuana, to advertising campaigns launching on April 20, to bands singing about it — which all work to show the thoroughness of 4:20’s recognized meaning.In Las Vegas, the NORML chapter will host a 24-hour music festival on April 20, joining many other celebrations of the date, including other overt celebrations at universities, and private ones in homes. The High Times website will play a video of Hager being interviewed on ABC about the 4:20 term, and both the High Times and the NORML websites will see their peak day in visits for the year.“It certainly demonstrates the pervasiveness of marijuana use,” said Tom Rose, executive director of the Summit Prevention Alliance. He said the nonprofit organization, which works to help children make good decisions, combats drug use year-round and in so doing does not recognize the date with any special programs.The same is true of Summit County law enforcement. According to Summit County Sheriff’s Office public information officer Paulette Horr, no particular operations are set up for the April 20 date — just the same “bust them when we find them” routine.Note: For some, it's a high time — literally.Source: Aspen Times (CO)Author: Leslie Brefeld, Summit County CorrespondentPublished: April 19, 2007Copyright: 2007 Aspen TimesContact: mail aspentimes.comWebsite: http://www.aspentimes.com/NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #9 posted by RevRayGreen on April 20, 2007 at 04:57:46 PT
Science must be used
to improve the lives of others......Louis Pasteur 1822-1895http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/speeches/2004/em_nma/Slide2.jpgThere is no denying the science of medical cannabis.
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Comment #8 posted by BGreen on April 20, 2007 at 02:20:29 PT
Happy 4:20 on 4/20
It's 4:20 on 4/20 and I'm celebrating appropriately for such an occasion.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #7 posted by Hope on April 19, 2007 at 23:21:02 PT
Here, right now.
It's 1:20 on 4-20.
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on April 19, 2007 at 23:19:49 PT
To second that greeting from JHarshaw
Everyone have a good and safe 4-20!
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Comment #5 posted by JHarshaw on April 19, 2007 at 22:01:27 PT
Time difference
Here it is after midnight.
Just thought I'd explain that.
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Comment #4 posted by JHarshaw on April 19, 2007 at 21:59:20 PT
April 20th
Greetings to all!On this stinky, sticky, gummy, yummy, fragrant Friday I can only hope that you all have an exceptional 420!Just a thought, peace and pot.
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Comment #3 posted by RevRayGreen on April 19, 2007 at 21:58:56 PT
I hope 4/20/07 is the Day ILLINOIS
passes their medical law. That means alot to me.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on April 19, 2007 at 16:33:19 PT
RevRayGreen
Thank you. That was really good.
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Comment #1 posted by RevRayGreen on April 19, 2007 at 16:02:32 PT
In a nutshell
story, place 4:20 gatherings began. San Rafael CA. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_6FKdld1rs Quote: 
Reefer Madness - 4-20 Subliminal Message In the scene where Bill first enters Jack's apartment, there is some banter, and chitchat. Hit slow-mo, and wait. After that goofy redhead is done talking, the screen is suddenly put pitch black with the number "4" made out of green letters. Another split second later, the same black screen, except the number "20" appears. For those who don't know, 4-20, or April 20 is International Marijuana day. It is impossible to see this without slow-motion, as it only takes a microsecond for both of these screens to pass. 
 Quote: 
The term 420 is used widely in Cannabis culture as a time to get high, a national day to get high, and cannabis itself. There are a lot of different theories about how the word was first invented: :: San Rafael theroy :: 
In the early 1970's, a group of teenagers who attended San Rafael High School in San Rafael, California used to get high every day at 4:20 in the afternoon under the Louis Pasteur statue. :: Bob Dylan theroy :: 
In Bob Dylan's song, 'Rainy Day Women #12 && 35,' the lyrics contain 'everybody must get stoned.' 420 comes from the title, as 12 * 35 = 420. :: Highway 420 :: 
In Ontario, Canada in the 60's, marijuana grew freely on one of the Highways. This highway was later renamed in 1972 as Highway 420. :: The Date 4/20 :: 
April 20th is coincidentally (or not..) the birthday of Adolf Hitler who was born on April 20, 1889. It is also interesting to note that the Columbine High School shootings also occured on this date in 1999. 
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