San Francisco's Hippie Hill, where every day is 4/20

Well, it’s that day again.  This afternoon, right at 4:20, millions of marijuana smokers and drug enthusiasts will sneak off and light up a joint in celebration.  After all, 4:20 is generally the time associated with pot smoking, and there’s no day bigger for pot smokers than April 20, which has become an international celebration of marijuana use.  But does anyone know the real story behind 4/20 and its relationship with marijuana culture?  Probably not; personally, I think it’s because April 20 is Bob Marley’s birthday (or Adolph Hitler’s birthday).

“Californians will say it was a high school and some dudes allegedly met at 4.20 or something like that,” said Max Stone, an Australian 4/20 Day organizer of the apocryphal story of how 4/20 got started.  “But if you talk to a New Yorker they’ll say it started in New York.  That’s because the last call for alcohol at a New York bar is four o’clock in the morning and it takes the average New Yorker 20 minutes to get home and blaze up.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmT6udys8Tc

One thing’s for sure about 4/20 day.  For about 40 years, thanks to the Grateful Dead, this has been a big deal in the drug community.  In places with more relaxed marijuana laws, expect some big events.  In other places, expect some pro-legalization rallies with prominent speakers.  I don’t indulge in this sort of thing, but to those who do, have a good time and enjoy your smoke of choice responsibly.

Tags: unusual holidays, unusual celebrations, marijuana, marijuana culture, marijuana holiday, Bob Marley’s birthday, Hitler’s birthday, 4:20 day, 4:20 holiday, April 20, pot day, Willie Nelson, unusual international celebrations

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