I first started consuming cannabis in the mid-90’s. I remember vividly the first time I was told about the concept of 420. I was hanging out with a classmate, and ‘420’ was etched on something. My friend, an avid cannabis consumer, asked me if I knew what that meant. I, being a total rookie, had no idea what it meant but did my best to play it off like I was ‘in the know.’ I would later go to my friend who was more knowledgeable and asked him what it meant, and he did his best to explain to me what it meant.
That following year (1994) was my first April 20th as a consumer. I can’t remember exactly what we did to celebrate back then, but I’m sure it involved hanging out at my best friend Eric’s house (the friend I asked about the meaning of 420), and we were likely listening to music and elevating our minds. That was likely what I did every 4/20 up until 1999. In 1999 I went to my first cannabis activism event. It was at the Oregon Capital, and it basically involved a group of people peacefully protesting by consuming cannabis on the capital steps. It is what inspired me to become an activist, which is an inspiration that I still feed off of to this day.
That was my favorite 420 memory. I’ve told this story on the blog before. Another one would be my first ever trip to Denver with Jay Smoker. It was 2012, and we were invited to Denver by the WeedMaps crew. They had a similar protest event as the one that I participated in back in Oregon in the late 90’s, but it was massive. There were tens of thousands of people there, compared to just hundreds back in the day in Oregon. It was absolutely mind blowing, and an experience that I will always treasure.
So what is your favorite 420 memory? Hanging out with particular friends? Consuming a particular strain that you can’t find anymore? Taking a vacation to a cannabis destination? Post your story below. Happy 420!
