
California's decision to legalize weed last year apparently left some LA pranksters in high spirits over New Year's Eve, as the Hollywood sign was altered to read 'HOLLYWEED'.

Social media in the area was abuzz as locals shared photos of the altered sign with the tag #Hollyweed.

But the alteration might be more than a mere joke - it echoes a near-identical alteration made exactly 41 years ago by then-art student Danny Finegood.

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Sign of the times: The Hollywood sign has been changed using white and black tarp to read 'Hollyweed', 41 years after it was first altered by an art student in recognition of California's marijuana laws, which were changing at the time

A peace of the action: The pieces of black tarp were painted with a peace symbol and a love heart. It's not known if this 'edit' wa inspired by California legalizing marijuana in November. Police said a lone male dressed in black altered the sign at 3am

A man of letters: Cal State Northridge student Danny Finegood and friends performed the original alteration in 1976 (right). He died in 2007. It's not known who did it this time (left), but police said they will be charged with misdemeanor trespassing

On January 1, 1976, Cal State Northridge student Danny Finegood used a $50 pair of curtains to make an identical amendment to the sign.

The 'environmental sculpture' - made the same year that California relaxed its marijuana laws, earned him an A grade, The Cannabist reported last year.

The team also amended it to 'Holywood' for Easter 1976; to Ollywood to protest Marine Lt Col Oliver North amid the Iran-Contra hearings in 1987; and to 'Oil War' during the Persian Gulf War in 1990.

Feingood and his pals defended his work against claims that it was vandalism in a letter to The Times in 1983.

'We broke no laws and did no damage to the sign,' they wrote in a letter.

'An artist's role throughout history has been to create representations of the culture he exists in. By hanging four relatively small pieces of fabric on the landmark, we were able to change people's perception of the Hollywood Sign.'

Finegood died of multiple myeloma in January 2007 at age 52. Though this latest alteration appears to be inspired by his work, it's not known if there is a direct connection.

'She's just being Miley': Miley Cyrus, whose embrace of the plant is well-documented, took to Instagram to express her delight at the cheeky sign

The hills have E's: As Californians woke up Sunday morning, #Hollyweed was trending on social media. It's not known if the latest defacement was directly related to Finegood's work, or just inspired by it

The high life: Police said they only became of the alteration at 5am, when officers spotted it. They are currently searching for the suspect

As Californians awoke - or left house parties - on Sunday morning, social media lit up with photos and chatter about the prank.

Singer Alex Sloane tweeted: 'It's 7:01 am & I just got home and the Hollywood sign says 'Hollyweed'? Really tho guys.'

Star Trek: The Next Generation actress Gates McFadden, meanwhile, was more impressed by how the pranksters braved the elements to amend the sign.

'There is a new sign out my window! How did they do it in the rain?!' she tweeted.

A spokesperson for the LAPD said that a lone male was caught on surveillance footage climbing the mountain with colored tarp at around 3am.

He then scaled the scaffolding at the back of the letters and draped the tarp over them to transform them.

The figure - who was dressed all in black - then jumped down and ran off the mountain.

The change wasn't spotted by police until 5am, when officers noticed the amendments, the spokesperson said.

If the prankster is caught they will be charged with misdemeanor trespassing, he added.

Workers began taking down the tarps at around 12:30pm on Sunday.