World Marijuana Day is celebrated on April 20 every year, although not everyone knows about its origin and why this specific date was chosen to pay tribute to marijuana.
There are many widespread theories about this day, although the most accepted is the one that involves a group of young people, known as ‘The Waldos’.
Theories about the origin of World Marijuana Day
We need to go back to the 1970s, in California, where these kids known as ‘The Waldos’ got together to smoke marijuana after school at 4:20 pm. That’s why they used the code 420 to remind each other about their daily meetings.
Another theory takes us to Canada in 1995, specifically to Vancouver. There, 200 cannabis consumers gathered on April 20 – which is written 4/20 in date form – to demand the decriminalization of this product and, as a form of protest, they smoked marijuana in public.
Whatever the origin of this celebration, consumers around the world adopted this date to celebrate World Marijuana Day, so much so that they also use ‘420’ as an international code for cannabis.
April 20, in addition to being a special date for marijuana smokers, is also now a day used to demand that weed should no longer be a taboo in society.
That’s why demonstrations are common in different parts of the world, in which people ask their governments for the consumption of marijuana to no longer be criminalized, especially when talking about medical use.
What does the WHO say about marijuana?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), medical marijuana does not represent any health hazard.
In fact, it considers its use as a palliative for chronic diseases and an aid for patients with epilepsy. In addition, it reduces inflammation and pain and is another treatment for addictions or mental illnesses.