Today is 4/20 and the day stoners, everywhere on earth celebrate their favorite herb. They call it Mary Jane or Maria Juana.

It was nearly twenty years ago this day that it was considered an evil weed, but over time and in the past decade, nearly 20 states across the USA plus the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for recreational use.

4/20 is a date that both marijuana smokers and non-smokers recognize as a national holiday for cannabis culture. Yet few actually know how the date got chosen.

420 is an unofficial celebration of all things cannabis-related. The somewhat-hazy origins of 420, also known as Weed Day, can be traced back to the 70s when a group of teenagers searched for a plot of marijuana plants that had been abandoned by its owner. Civic festivities are being celebrated, including a party in Weed, California. In places where cannabis is legal, many dispensaries will offer promotions and discounts.

There are many other theories about how 4/20 became popular. The most credible story traces 4/20 to Marin County, California back in 1971, when a group of high school stoner students liked to meet at 4:20 p.m. by the campus statue of chemist Louis Pasteur to partake. They chose that time because extracurricular activities had usually ended by then. This group became known as the “Waldos” because they met at a wall. They would say “420” to each other as code for marijuana.

However, there are other stories that folks like to inhale and have tried to hold in as long as possible. The math theory involves Bob Dylan Some say “420” is cops code for “marijuana smoking in progress.” Others go as far as to cite Bob Dylan’s song “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” because 12 multiplied by 35 equals 420.

Stoners like to read and they love to smoke weed. They say those who do it at the same time become highly educated. They study the usual side effects… hungry, happy, sleepyhead.