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11/04/2019

Everything You Need to Know About 420 in Cannabis Culture

Understanding the importance and story behind 420 or 4/20 or April 20th for cannabis enthusiast.

For Cannabis advocates or enthusiasts 420 or 4/20 or April 20 holds significant importance. April 20 (4/20) is celebrated by cannabis smokers around the world as motivation to toke up with companions and huge groups every year.

Cannabis Day at Montreal

(People gather in Montreal for publicly cannabis smoking as part of 420 celebrations)

Major rallies are organized all over the world in countries like the US, Canada, Australia, Spain, Uruguay, Georgia, etc. People flock on to either support marijuana legalization or to smoke in public. Marijuana Businesses, hence are looking to leverage the holiday to find more ways to sell and market their products.

How did it all start?

Statue of Louis Pasteur

The 420 Movement got its name from waldos from California. It all started in 1971, when five high school students named Steve Capper, Dave Reddix, Jeffrey Noel, Larry Schwartz, and Mark Gravich from San Rafael, California used the term 420. They called themselves the Waldos because "their chosen hang-out spot was a wall outside the school". They created a plan to search for an abandoned cannabis crop that they had learned about, based on a treasure map made by the grower. The Waldos decided that the Louis Pasteur statue on the grounds of San Rafael High School will be their meeting place, and to meet at 4:20 p.m. The Waldos named this mission "4:20 Louis". After failing several times in an attempt to find the crop, the group eventually shortened their phrase to simply "4:20", which ultimately evolved into a code word that the teens used to mean consuming cannabis.

What does 420 stand for now?

The values of 420 are different for a different person. For some, it’s just about getting high and having fun but for others, it is a day to push for legalization and to celebrate the legalization of marijuana. In recent years, marijuana legalization activists have tried to bring a more formal aspect to the celebration, framing it as a moment to push their political agenda.

The pot industry has also gotten directly involved in 4/20 events. The Cannabis Cup, for example, has become a major event at a select city’s 4/20 rally, where hundreds of vendors show off their finest marijuana products to tens of thousands of attendees. The event has steadily grown over the years, featuring big concerts from notable musicians like Snoop Dogg, Soja, and 2 Chainz, as well as a wide collection of marijuana businesses as sponsors.

Some people, instead of attending the public festivities, choose to stay home and enjoy a joint with their friends. For them, 4/20 likely remains a more casual affair void of big sponsorships and marketing. The shift in 4/20 from a counterculture holiday to a more corporate one shows how legalization is changing marijuana. Today, 4/20 is an example of this shift in action — showing cannabis’s evolution from a counterculture symbol to just another commodity that big companies can make a lot of money from.

According to Headset, 4/20 is the biggest day for cannabis sales, driving at least 2x the revenue of an average day.  420 is even deemed as St. Patrick`s Day for Cannabis citing the bumper sale on that day. Too many events are organized on this date across the united states. For more information click here


About Cannabis Drinks Expo

Cannabis Drinks ExpoCannabis Drinks Expo is a must-attend event for those curiously eying the future of the burgeoning U.S. cannabis industry.

We also cover the key issues surrounding the likelihood and timescale for legalization to other countries, as well as the impact of legalized cannabis on the traditional alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks markets globally.


Who should Visit?

Cannabis Drinks Expo promises to be relevant for anyone involved in the development, production, distribution, and retailing of cannabis and related products. It will also provide a vital networking opportunity for political analysts, medical experts, and those involved in the development and implementation of legalized cannabis into new markets.

Attend Cannabis Drinks Expo in the preferred city


Who should exhibit?

If you’re serious about the cannabis drinks category, we’re still keeping it as real as ever. At Cannabis Drinks Expo, our goal is to empower you with knowledge, network, and platform so you can grow and build your cannabis drinks business. CDE is where you will find cannabis brands and suppliers who are serious about building their business in this category exhibit.

Exhibit in the preferred city

Potential exhibitors include (but not limited to): Medical marijuana producers, Cannabis growers, Cannabis producers/ product developers, Cannabis processors, Cannabis distributors/transporters, Wineries, Breweries, Distilleries, Branded drinks companies, Drinks manufacturers/producers, Pharma companies, Equipment and service providers, CBD manufacturers, Marijuana-Infused products and edibles providers, Testing and laboratory services, Logistics, and supply chain operators, Drinks distributors/wholesalers, Drinks importers, Lobbyists/ public affairs businesses, Political advisors, and more.