Part party, part call to action: A look at pot holiday 4/20

Marijuana plants are shown at a California Street Cannabis Company location in San Francisco on March 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Marijuana plants are shown at a California Street Cannabis Company location in San Francisco on March 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

By GENE JOHNSON / Associated Press April 20, 2023 5 min read

SEATTLE (AP) — Thursday marks marijuana culture’s high holiday, 4/20, when cannabis fans gather in clouds of smoke at music festivals, celebrate with all-you-can-deals on chicken wings and other munchies, and take advantage of pot-shop discounts in legal weed states.

This year’s edition provides an occasion for activists to reflect on how far their movement has come, with recreational pot now allowed in 21 states and the nation’s capital, as well as a national political climate that hasn’t moved as quickly on legalization as many expected.

Here’s a look at the holiday’s history.

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WHY 4/20?