Lifestyle Debunking 420: Separating facts from fiction Lisa Rough April 20, 2016 Share Twitter Facebook Share Print

The rumors and myths around 4/20 are random, ridiculous, and all too plentiful. We did some mythbusting to find the truth behind a few of the most popular stories that circulate around the holiday. Here’s what we uncovered.

1. MYTH: The police dispatch code for cannabis is ‘420’.

There’s a long-standing rumor that the police radio dispatch code for cannabis possession or public consumption in progress is ‘420’.

Status: FALSE

‘420’ is not the police code for cannabis smoking. In fact, it’s not the police code for anything (unless you’re in Las Vegas, in which case it’s the code for homicide. Buzzkill!)

One reason this particular rumor spread so far and wide is due to another canna-connection. Once, while on tour, Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh attributed ‘420’ to a police code in San Rafael, rumored to be “marijuana smoking in progress.” He was wrong, but the rumor persisted, eventually becoming the stuff of legend. This was the first (but certainly not the last) time the Grateful Dead would be associated with famous 420 rumors.



2. MYTH: The California penal code for cannabis is ‘420’.

Status: FALSE

California Penal Code Section 420 refers to the unlawful hindrance or obstruction of a person from entering public land. Kinda boring, actually. Interestingly, there is a California Senate Bill 420 that refers to the use of medical marijuana, but it was (aptly) named after the cultural phenomenon, not the other way around.

3. MYTH: There are 420 chemical compounds in cannabis.

Status: FALSE

There are more than 500 identifiable chemical compounds in cannabis, including 120 different terpenes and more than 70 different cannabinoids specific to cannabis alone.

4. MYTH: All of the clocks in the film Pulp Fiction are set to 4:20.

Status: FALSE, KIND OF

It’s safe to say that most of the clocks in Pulp Fiction are set to 4:20, but a few sharp-eyed movie buffs managed to find clocks in the film that don’t quite match up. That being said, it’s still a cool bit of movie trivia to drop on your friends.

5. MYTH: April 20 was Hitler’s birthday.

Status: TRUE, BUT IRRELEVANT

Unfortunately, this one is a fact, but it has absolutely nothing to do with cannabis. Hitler was a turd, and he doesn’t get to ruin 4/20.

6. MYTH: April 20 was the date of the Columbine school shooting.

Status: TRUE

Sadly, this is true. However, the usage of the term 420 had already been popularized, and the shooting itself had no ties whatsoever to cannabis. In fact, it is rumored that the date, April 20, was chosen due to its connection to Hitler rather than the cannabis holiday.

7. MYTH: 4:20 p.m. is tea time for cannabis consumers in Holland.

Status: FALSE

There’s no set tea time in Holland, and there’s certainly no consensus on 4:20. If you woke up to coffee from South or Central America this morning, though, you can thank the Dutch (kind of) for that.

8. MYTH: The first dose of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) was taken at 4:20 p.m.

Status: TRUE

This is a curious one. Albert Hofmann, a Swiss chemist, synthesized the first batch of LSD on Nov. 16, 1938. It wasn’t until five years later that its psychedelic properties were discoverd. On April 16, 1943, while reexamining the substance, Hofmann accidentally touched his hand to his mouth, ingesting a small amount. He noticed the effects and decided to investigate further.

Three days later, on April 19, 1943, at 4:20 p.m., Hofmann intentionally dosed himself with 250 micrograms of lysergic acid diethylamide, in what would become the first purposeful acid trip. He began to notice the effects as he rode his bicycle home from the laboratory, and the day later came to be known as Bicycle Day. There’s no connection to cannabis aside from 4:20 p.m., but it’s an interesting tidbit, nonetheless.

9. MYTH: 4/20 is the anniversary of Bob Marley’s death.

Status: FALSE

Nope. Robert Nesta Marley (may he rest in peace) was born February 6, 1945 and died on May 11, 1981. So, while you might be jamming out to “Sun is Shining” on 4/20, the reggae superstar had no connection to the date aside from his love of cannabis. One love, yo.

Also, for what it’s worth, the day has no relation to Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, or Jim Morrison (aside from the simple fact that they were all known to enjoy cannabis).

Curious about the true origins of 4/20 as a cannabis holiday? We’ve got the inside story.

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons and IMDb

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Lisa Rough Lisa is a former associate editor at Leafly, where she specialized in legislative cannabis policy and industry topics. View Lisa Rough's articles