Festivals Held On 4/20 To Celebrate High Holiday Of Marijuana

Celebrations were held throughout the U.S. on Saturday to mark the date that has come to be regarded as the holiday of marijuana, 4/20.

A report by El Pais noted some of the more prominent events that were organized as a way to enjoy all things cannabis and push for its widespread legalization.

In New York City, the MARY Fest made its debut in Brooklyn to celebrate the cannabis lifestyle through fashion, music, design and wellness.  30 vendors showcased their cannabis products, including Etain Health, House of Puff, Boston Beer Company, Teapot, Wyld CBD, Hemper, and Incredibles. Attendees were  able to sample products in designated areas.

Other events in the city included a parade along Broadway, a Rally in Union Square Park with elected officials, activists, and cannabis industry leaders, and an After Party.

In San Francisco, 4/20 marked the culmination of SF Weed Week, a new event that included seven world-class growers releasing seven strains at seven lounges over the course of seven nights.  San Francisco is one of the few locations in California with on-site smoking lounges that allow cannabis consumption The celebrations ended at a free 420 party at an art gallery in downtown San Francisco.

The National Cannabis Festival was held in Washington, D.C. on April 19 and 20 with over 100 participating exhibitors, along with educational programs and musical performances from headline act Wu-Tang Clan and Redman, and other performers.  The festival celebrates progress made in marijuana legislation in the nation’s capital.

Denver’s annual Mile High 420 Festival was held at Civic Center Park as a celebration of cannabis culture in Colorado, where marijuana has been legal since 2014.  The event featured a lineup of musical acts including Afroman, known for his marijuana-themed ‘Because I Got High’,  along with other hip-hop and reggae acts such as Gucci Mane, Ohgeesy, Lexy Pantera and Zuri Marley.

Atlanta residents had a chance to enjoy the holiday with a two-day festival called SweetWater 420 Fest at Pullman Yards.  Among those performing were Grace Potter and Gov’t Mule, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Big Gigantic.

Many other festivals were held around the nation, along with cultural and educational events regarding cannabis legislation, discounts on cannabis products, and special deals on food and drinks infused with THC and CBD.

As for how the holiday got its start, USA Today weeded out some of the theories about its origin and described the one that is most likely.

A group of California high school students began meeting outside school in the early 1970s and smoking marijuana late in the afternoon.  They set the time for the meeting at 4:20 p.m. and began to say ‘420’ to each other as a code term. One member of the group went on to work with the Grateful Dead and the phrase spread.  At one point a group of Deadheads handed out flyers inviting people to smoke ‘420’ on April 20 at 4 p.m. The flyer was eventually printed by High Times magazine, and the number began to catch on.

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