“Weed Day,” more commonly known as 4/20, is what most cannabis enthusiasts wait all year for.
According to The Associated Press, the origin and history of the date are “murky.” However, some claim 4/20 refers to a “police code for marijuana possession,” or it is derived from Bob Dylan’s song, “Rainy Day Women No. 12 and 35,” as 420 is the product of 12 times 35.
Despite these theories, the "prevailing explanation” for the holiday is that it started in the 1970s between a group of friends from San Rafael High School in California’s Marin County, north of San Francisco.
The story claims a friend’s brother was afraid of getting caught growing a patch of cannabis he was growing in the woods, so “he drew a map” and gave the group, called “The Waldos,” permission to "harvest the crop.” The Waldos met up behind the school at 4:20 p.m. to look for the cannabis patch that was growing in the woods nearby after smoking a joint.
In Athens, multiple people are ready to celebrate, as the city has a few dispensary locations to choose from. Mavuno of Athens, located on 711 W. Union St., has sales for customers.
Alexander Semrad, a supervisor at Mavuno, said the business welcomed at least 40 customers during the day.
“I feel like it's the one day where people come in here with just a smile on their face, wanting to leave with a smile on their face, you know?” Semrad said. “So I think seeing that impact, however small or big it may be, makes the most difference in the day.”
As for Mavuno’s 4/20 deals, the business offers 30% and 40% off over 80% of the inventory. There are also buy one get 10% off, buy two get 20% off and buy three get 30% off deals with certain products.
“That is applying to pretty much everything in the store that goes from flower, pre-rolls, edibles, tinctures, drinks, vaporizers, you name it,” Semrad said.
Semrad said Mavuno prioritizes making the establishment a “homey dispensary” where a customer can shop comfortably and find different daily deals.
“We try to make everybody feel as if there are no bad questions here or there's no wrong step to take when you're looking to get into something new or trying something different,” Semrad said.
Other Athens locals and residents visited Bloom Athens Dispensary, located on 9 W. Stimson Ave., to purchase its cannabis products.
Aaron Lawson has lived in Athens his entire life and celebrated 4/20 since high school.
Lawson picked up some chocolate edibles, a pre-roll and cannabis.
“My plans are basically just go home, enjoy what I bought and just get really f----ing stoned,” Lawson said.
While some participants spend the day alone, others make plans to meet friends and consume together.
Leah Ziegler, a local, first celebrated 4/20 five years ago and purchased some flower, and said she was planning on seeing her friends later.
“I mean, I just think (4/20) is fun,” Ziegler said. “I think it does bring community together. My friend is having a cat birthday party tonight, but it's also a 4/20 party. So I just think that's cute.”
This year’s celebration might be different for some previous business owners, with the passing of Ohio’s Senate Bill 56 March 20, according to a previous report by The Post. The bill resulted in the closure of multiple businesses state-wide, including *Buddy’s Lounge, previously on Court Street.
Ziegler said Bill 56 does not affect her 4/20, as she is over the age of 21, but it still “sucks.”
Lawson shared a similar vein but hopes those who do participate enjoy their celebrations.
“Happy 4/20 to everybody out there,” Lawson said.
