Teens Health & Safety What 420 Means in the Pot Smoking Culture By Amy Morin, LCSW facebook twitter instagram Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She's also a psychotherapist, international bestselling author and host of the Mentally Strong People podcast. Learn about our editorial process Amy Morin, LCSW Updated on September 26, 2020 Print Doug Menuez / Photodisc / Getty Images The term 420 is a word used to reference pot smoking. While the term was historically used as a "code" to designate someone's activities or beliefs, such as "420 friendly," most people are now aware of its association with marijuana. Despite the popularity of the term, most people have no idea how or why 420 became associated with marijuana. There are a lot of myths and stories about its origins. Known 420 Myths There are many rumors floating around about why the term 420 is used. Here are some of the most popular myths: Myth: Police dispatch code for smoking pot is 420. The number 420 is not actually a police radio code for anything. Although it was widely suggested that 420 was associated with the California Penal Code, 420 refers to a law about public land. Myth: There are approximately 420 active chemicals in marijuana. There are actually more like 315 active chemicals in marijuana. This number goes up and down depending on the make-up of the marijuana. Myth: April 20th is National Pot Smokers Day. While some people believed April 20th is the day you should start growing your marijuana crop, others believed it was some sort of holiday. But neither is true. Instead, the term 420 led people to think April 20 was somehow associated with marijuana. The date doesn't actually have any significance. Myth: April 20th is Hitler's birthday. Although that was Hitler's birth date, the term 420 referred to a time, not a date. And his birthday had nothing to do with it. Myth: April 20th is the date of the Columbine school shootings. Although the Columbine shooting occurred on April 20th, 1999, the term was already in place long before the incident. The Origin Revealed According to Steve Bloom, an editor at High Times magazine, the term 420 originated at San Rafael High School, in 1971. A group of about a dozen people who called themselves the Waldos met up to smoke marijuana at 4:20 every day. Rather than announce they were going to get high, they used to the code 420. Apparently, the term spread. Over the years, its origins were lost but the "code" stuck. What It Means to Today's Teens While the term 420 has been around for a long time, the internet hasn't. And many of today's teens are accessing pictures, games, and websites that glorify marijuana on a regular basis. Of course, many teens have no idea that it's an old phrase. So they use the slang term liberally in front of adults, thinking it's a secret term developed by today's drug subculture. Thinking that it's cool to smoke marijuana every day at 4:20, or assuming you have to participate in smoking on April 20th, can lead teens to join in. Social media often glorifies drug use and it's easier than ever for teens to get caught up in thinking "everyone is doing it." The legalization of marijuana in some states, or the term "medical marijuana," may lead teens to believe marijuana is safe to use. 4 Things to Do If Your Kid Is Caught With Drugs at School Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. California Legislative Information. Penal Code - PEN § 420. High Times. The Inside Scoop on the Secret Origin of 420. Published April 20, 2016. Krauss MJ, Sowles SJ, Sehi A, et al. Marijuana Advertising Exposure Among Current Marijuana Users in the U.S. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 2017;174:192-200. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.01.017 Martins SS, Mauro CM, Santaella-Tenorio J, et al. State-Level Medical Marijuana Laws, Marijuana Use and Perceived Availability of Marijuana Among the General U.S. Population. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 2016;169:26-32. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.10.004.