Bob Marley does not have anything to do with April 20 being the unofficial marijuana holiday. The reggae pioneer, contrary to popular belief, wasn’t born, nor died on April 20.
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Calling all stoners: 4/20 is just around the corner. The unofficial marijuana holiday is April 20, and yes, it’s on Easter Sunday.
This is not the first, and surely won’t be the last, time 4/20 and Easter Sunday align. And though the two events aren’t directly related, some worshippers and consumers may enjoy partaking in both.
But why is a random day in April the “weed holiday”? The marijuana industry has taken advantage of the day to push extra deals, and some non-marijuana chains fall in line, offering specials to those who may be in an extra munchy mood.
Here’s what to know about the unofficial holiday.
What is 4/20?
4/20, or 420, refers to April 20, the day that has become the unofficial marijuana holiday for consumers.
Why is April 20 the unofficial marijuana holiday?
The story behind how 4/20 became the unofficial marijuana holiday is unclear, but there are a few popular theories.
Some believe the holiday is representative of “420,” a radio code that has been used for police to indicate marijuana. Others tie the “holiday” to Bob Dylan’s song “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35,” with its refrain, “Everybody must get stoned,” and the product of multiplying 12 by 35 is 420, according to PBS.
The most likely story, though, is one that centers around a group of California high school friends in the 1970s.
According to PBS, a brother of one of these friends allegedly grew marijuana in the woods near the school and was paranoid about being caught. He drew up a map of where to find the pot and gave it to the friend group to harvest.
One day during the 1971 fall semester, at precisely 4:20 p.m., the friends smoked a joint and headed out to the woods, looking for the stash. Though they were never able to find it, their code “420” caught on, as the friend group hung around the Grateful Dead a fair amount, according to PBS.
No, 4/20 doesn’t have anything to do with Bob Marley
And despite what some people think, no, Bob Marley wasn’t born on April 20. The reggae legend was born on Feb. 6, 1945, and he didn’t die on 4/20 either. He died on May 11, 1981, at the age of 36.
Where is marijuana legal?
Marijuana − medical and recreational − is legal throughout more than half of the U.S. Wondering about the status in your state? Check USA TODAY’s list of where recreational and medical marijuana is legal in 2025.
This story has been updated to fix a typo.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
