April 20th has become a noteworthy day for marijuana enthusiasts worldwide. But have you ever paused to think about how this came to be?
It all began in 1971 with a group of students from San Rafael High School in Northern California who were on the hunt for a hidden treasure—a secret patch of marijuana located somewhere in Point Reyes.
An older acquaintance of theirs, concerned about potential legal trouble, suggested that they could go and harvest it for free. He even handed them a map.
Day after day, the group would gather by the statue of Louis Pasteur after school, syncing their search to around 4:20 p.m. They started using “Louie 420” as a code to discuss their adventures, which eventually got shortened to just “420.”
One of the kids had an older brother who was friends with Phil Lesh, the bassist of the Grateful Dead. Soon, they all started hanging out with the band, and “420” became a slang term widely recognized in stoner culture. Then, someone made the clever connection between “420” and April 20th, and here we are.
Interestingly, those kids never did find that elusive weed farm. Fast forward 55 years, and I think I have a clue why. Ready for a twist?
There were no marijuana plants to begin with. The older guy likely thought it would be a hilarious prank to send naive high school kids on a wild goose chase with a bogus treasure map. He probably had a good laugh about it, but those kids? They spent weeks rummaging through poison oak in pursuit of a damp illusion.
If you stop to think about it, the number 420 almost serves as a testament to how easily misled and oblivious you can become while high.
And just a side note: today is actually April 23rd. Oops. Since marijuana was legalized in California, I can’t help but inhale that sweet, pungent vapor every time I roll down my car window. It’s like, whether you want it or not, everyone in Los Angeles has had a taste of that secondary high.
That’s partly why it took me three hours to crank out those earlier paragraphs, plus a couple of Columbo episodes and a bag of Funyuns. I legitimately lost track of the date.
There are other reasons why I think legalization of cannabis may not have been the best idea:
1. This isn’t your parents’ marijuana
Sorry to burst the bubble, but the whole argument for legalization was based on a product that hardly exists anymore. Back in the 1970s, THC levels typically hovered around 2% to 3%. Now, it’s common to find strains with 15%-20% THC. The “classic flower” that Cheech and Chong smoked? Not even close to today’s potency.
Now there are all these really potent cannabis concentrates out there, with THC levels that can reach up to 60% to 80%. One minute, you’re syncing “The Dark Side of the Moon” with “The Wizard of Oz,” and the next, you find yourself on a vision quest in the frozen food aisle at Vons.
2. The link to mental illness is more serious than often acknowledged
When it comes to cannabis, former New York Times journalist Alex Berenson finds himself amidst debate, often insisting it’s “just a plant.” Many dismissed the notion that marijuana could lead to significant mental health issues as mere “Reefer Madness” hysteria.
His wife, a senior psychiatrist, once commented about a violent offender in treatment: “Of course he smoked pot his whole life.” That remark ignited Berenson’s research, culminating in his 2019 book, “Tell the Children.”
What he uncovered was not some fringe notion but rather a growing consensus in the psychiatric community. Research shows that heavy cannabis use is linked to psychosis, with the risk increasing as potency and usage frequency rise.
That doesn’t mean marijuana triggers psychosis for most users, but the fact remains that legalization has normalized a product that can cause severe, sometimes irreversible, issues for certain individuals. It’s a conversation that’s often glossed over in cultural discussions and marketing efforts.
3. Legalization did not wipe out the black market
One basic argument against legalization is that making marijuana legal would effectively eliminate the illegal market. Spoiler alert: that didn’t happen.
In California, the nation’s largest legal cannabis market, analysts suggest that the illegal trade is at least equal to, if not bigger than, the legal market. Why? Illegal sellers avoid inspections and taxes, meaning they can operate faster and undercut prices. Plus, they sometimes use banned pesticides to maximize yield. That tainted product often ends up right next to regulated cannabis on dispensary shelves.
The black market for marijuana has become a lucrative avenue for criminal organizations, especially as law enforcement has shifted focus to other illicit drugs like meth and heroin. In particular, organized crime from China has taken over much of the illegal marijuana trade, with Chinese nationals often trafficked to work on these farms.
4. The notion that it’s “non-addictive” is misleading
The claim of “marijuana is not addictive” has become one of the most frequently repeated yet least scrutinized assertions in the legalization debate.
Yes, in a strictly clinical sense, marijuana typically does not lead to severe physical dependence like opioids or alcohol. But that’s not the whole story.
Behavioral addiction, where people form habits around using marijuana, is far more prevalent and often overlooked. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that approximately 3 in 10 users develop cannabis use disorder, and the risk increases significantly with daily use and more potent products.
This issue is pervasive, stealthily draining motivation, focus, and energy—hardly a dramatic crisis, but consequential nonetheless.
