Archive · 2025-03-25

Most everybody has a favorite number and, for cannabis lovers, that number is 420. It is not only an easy slang abbreviation to refer to your doobage or a universal time to get high, but an actual date, April 20, where cannabis aficionados around the world find ways to celebrate weed by smoking up and enjoying life. “420” is now even an official entry in the Oxford English Dictionary - so you know it’s legit.

The Origins of 420

The actual origins of the connection between weed and said number are not completely clear. Many grew up thinking that it had something to do with California police or penal code, but there is actually no evidence to support that. It has also been rumored that it’s called 420 because that is the amount of active chemicals within the leaf – but that’s inaccurate as it has actually been proven there are more than 500 such compounds. Currently, the most commonly accepted explanation relates to a High Times article from 1991 that shed light on a group of high schoolers in the ’70s who called themselves The Waldos and were the ones claiming they originated the whole 420 euphemism. Regardless of how the term 420 came to be, the connection between that number and cannabis culture is now irrefutable. Funny enough, 420 and Easter coincide this year - so many individuals, groups and dispensaries, in addition to celebrating 420 on its actual day of Sunday, will be celebrating the day before on the 19th - or even the entire weekend! If you are looking for ideas on what to do on 420, aka the “stoner holiday,” then you’ve come to the right place. We have the ultimate guide on fun ways to celebrate 420.

Connect With Your Local Cannabis Community

If you are lucky enough to live in a place where recreational marijuana is fully legal, this may be the year to go big and surround yourself with others who share the same passion. We’ve already compiled a list of some of the best 420 events happening in 2025, but if you aren’t close enough to any of those, a quick internet search can point you to local events where festival producers have come up with ways on how to celebrate 420 in a most spectacular fashion. Most of these include music, great food, and the opportunity to learn and purchase some of the coolest new products in the cannabis industry - but best of all you can break routine and create lasting memories while you socialize with others of like mind.

Host a Canna Party

If celebrating in a group of thousands isn’t really your thing, maybe a better way to celebrate 420 is with a smaller, more intimate group. With the 20th of April falling on a weekend this year, it’s a great time to get together with your close bud-loving buddies and host a house party. It can be as simple as just inviting some friends over to smoke and have fun - or as involved as you want. Some canna party activity ideas?!
  • Create an enormous blanket fort where you all can hotbox.
  • Build a giant Jenga game for everyone to play.
  • Set up a photo booth to commemorate it all in the most Insta-worthy fashion.
  • Burn some flying wish paper.
  • Engage with some adult coloring books.
  • Get yourself some weed-related Mad Libs or just make up some of your own.
  • Compete in a joint rolling contest.
  • Throw a cannabis accessories cleaning party - and tackle the most hated of chores together, where everyone brings their dirty bongs or pipes and shares their best tips and tricks to getting them sparkling clean - just so you can then enjoy a chill smoking sesh after.
Whichever way you go, just make sure that there’s plenty of munchies and an excellent 420 playlist going for guaranteed good times.

Go Out on the Town

Another great idea when considering how to celebrate 420 is to stay close to home and explore places or activities with friends that you don’t usually frequent:
  • Look for some local musicians performing nearby.
  • Try a club where you can dance the night away
  • Laugh yourself silly at a live stand-up comedy performance.
  • Hit up the lanes for some cosmic bowling.
  • Find a class near you that’s similar to Blaze&Brush where you can get high while you paint – and end up with your very own masterpiece to gift or take home.
  • Check out a consumption lounge if you’re in the area.
When looking for how to properly celebrate 420, maybe it’s time to fight that couchlock and get out and see all that’s going on around you.

Get Out and Breathe

Being that April is a month that generally brings warmer weather across the country, one of the best ways to celebrate 420 is by getting outdoors. Plan a solo journey, grab your honey, or get a group of friends together to appreciate the fresh air and outdoor activities like hiking, bike riding, rollerblading or horseback riding. You can do some at-home gardening or visit a local park. Watch the sunset from the beach or the mountains. Pairing cannabis with the outdoors is always a good choice, especially on 4/20.

Enjoy Your Space

You work hard to make where you live beautiful, so why not enjoy it? Maybe turn off all your devices and simply relax at home. You can take part in an online cannabis blessing and meditation like this where you can energetically connect with others celebrating 420 without leaving the comfort of your couch. You can get in touch with your inner chef and cook up one or more of these amazingly delicious edible cannabis creations. You can delve into one of these great books about weed or put on one of these movies or tv shows about stoners to enjoy while you’re getting high. Whether you are alone or with your boo, there is nothing wrong with getting cozy. It’s one of the best ways to celebrate 420.

Claim Your Discount

With so many dispensaries offering significant discounts on April 20, perhaps the best way to celebrate the canna-holiday is by stocking up on what you need. Maybe even try a new cannabis product that you’ve been eyeing, or experiment with something different like cannabis concentrates. To supplement the munchies, some restaurants and delivery apps last year even offered some 420-themed discounts - be on the lookout this year! It’s not every day that your love of weed is celebrated, so don’t miss out on these opportunities.

Make a Difference

While you are making the most of your 420 holiday this year, just remember that doing so wasn’t always an option without facing potential legal ramifications. While 39 states currently have legalized medicinal cannabis and 24 states allow recreational usage, we still have quite a ways to go. Not only are there many places that presently deny the right of the people to consume cannabis legally, there are still people sitting in jail for consuming or selling cannabis. While it is great to enjoy the 420 holiday and all it represents, it is important to reflect on how far we still need to go before true cannabis legalization is fully realized. Cage Free Cannabis, the Last Prisoner Project and The Social Impact Center are some great organizations working to repair the harm caused by the War On Drugs. When it comes to how to properly celebrate 420, the most important thing you can do is learn more about the current issues, attend a protest or otherwise get involved by acting in a truly unselfish way that can benefit others.

Hit the Road

While there are 24 states where recreational use of marijuana is legal, there are still 26 less-evolved states where it is not. If you live in one of those where you are limited on what to do on 420, why not just get on out there and explore one of the states where you can publicly consume? Take a road trip over the weekend. See the sites. Book a stay in a cannabis-friendly hotel or bud & breakfast. That’s the great thing about 420 falling on a weekend this year - you can maximize the weekend and not miss work on Monday -  though we wouldn’t judge if you do!

Get Involved in the Cannabis Industry

And speaking of hitting the road - don’t forget that you can connect with other like-minded individuals and stay on the cutting-edge of cannabis innovations and technology by attending one of the many CannaCon expos each year. With hundreds of exhibitors, dozens of speakers and thousands of attendees, CannaCon is your one-stop shop for all things cannabis. The best way you can celebrate your 420 to its fullest is by treating yourself and planning a visit to the nation’s leading business-to-business cannabis conference this year. You don’t even have to wait until April 20 -  get your CannaCon tickets online today! This blog was originally published on April 10, 2023, and has been updated for March 2025.