THE ORIGIN OF 420 - featuring Steve Capper & Dave Reddix of THE WALDOS (Episode 22). This month, stoners around the world will be celebrating our high holiday—April 20th, or 4/20. But how exactly did 420 become the official number of cannabis? Over the years, there have been several myths circulated about it: that it was some police code related to weed, or that it’s the number of chemical compounds in the plant … but believe it or not, the ultimate marijuana meme was actually started over 50 years ago by a group of teenagers in Marin County, California known as The Waldos. How it evolved from an inside joke amongst a handful of high schoolers into the worldwide phenomenon it is today is a truly remarkable story—one that you’re about to hear from some of the the founding fathers of 420 themselves.
In this episode of Cannthropology, host Bobby Black speaks with two of the five original Waldos—Steve Capper and Dave Reddix, aka Waldo Steve and Waldo Dave, who explain the origins behind their groups’ name, how 420 became their secret code for weed, and how two counterculture institutions—The Grateful Dead and High Times —helped spread the 420 phenomenon around the world.
The World of Cannabis Museum Project presents: Cannthropology—the potcast that explores the history of cannabis culture one artifact and interview at a time. Hosted by World of Cannabis executive director and marijuana media icon Bobby Black.
Read our Cannthropology blog at worldofcannabis.museum/cannthropology and in our official media partner Leaf Magazine. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of this podcast, please contact us at cannthropology@gmail.com.
SHOW LINKS
Website: worldofcannabis.museum/cannthropology, leafmagazines.com/features/learn/history
Facebook: Cannthropology, WOCMuseum, BobbyBlack420
Instagram: Cannthropology, worldofcannabis.museum, BobbyBlack420
Twitter: Cannthropology, WOCMuseum, @bobbyblack
YouTube: WorldofCannabis, TheInfamousBobbyBlack
Hashtags: #Cannthropology #worldofcannabismuseum #worldofcannabis #leafmagazines
GUEST LINKS
Website: 420waldos.com
Facebook: 420 Waldos
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.