What Is 420 And Why Does It Matter?

The story starts in 1971 with five high school friends in San Rafael, California, who called themselves the “Waldos.” They made a plan to meet at 4:20 PM by a campus statue to search for a rumored abandoned cannabis grow near Point Reyes. The grow never materialized, but the code did. “420” stuck, spread through their crew, and eventually hitched a ride into the wider world through their connections to the Grateful Dead community. From the Deadhead scene, it traveled into mainstream cannabis culture, and the rest is history.

Over time, 4:20 stopped being just a time of day and became a date — April 20 — an unofficial cannabis holiday now recognized worldwide. California-born, community-built, and entirely real. No myths, no legends. Just five kids and a very good idea.

Fast forward to today, and 420 is as much a checkpoint as a celebration. It’s a moment to acknowledge how far legalization has come and to recognize the communities, advocates, and everyday consumers who pushed to make that happen. It’s also a day to lift up those most impacted by prohibition and to celebrate cannabis as a legitimate part of wellness, creativity, and everyday life.

For Jaderoom, 420 reflects what we’re about all year: people over profit, education first, and deep roots in the neighborhoods we call home. In Santa Ana, a city with real community pride and a growing cannabis culture, that means something. We’re proud to be part of it.