420

Today is 4/20, a significant day for stoners. 420 has become an iconic symbol in the cannabis world. 4:20 is the time to smoke pot, just like happy hour is for alcohol. I have seen it used for years, and until I googled it today, I didn't know the origin. Maybe I did, and forgot. Occupational hazard.

San Rafael is a bedroom community to San Francisco, located in Marin County. In the 1970s, a group of high school guys called themselves the Waldos. Somehow they came into possession of a treasure map, from a friend who had buried a large amount of pot in the woods in Bolinas, near the beach.

Each afternoon, the boys would meet after sports practice, which ended at 4:20 pm., and embark on the hunt for the cannabis. During the school day, they'd remind each other in the halls of their quest, in code, saying 4:20, no one knew what they were up to.

It would be easy to blow this off, but they have all kinds of proof that they've kept in a safety deposit box. The group consists of five guys, grandfathers now, three of whom agreed to be interviewed publicly.

In the marijuana industry, 4/20 is Black Friday. When I started this job, I was informed that everyone works on 4/20. The deals are a great draw, plus it's all kinds of festive, like New Years Eve in Time Square.

I was dreading it, up until yesterday, when Yelli told me that they weren't going to inventory today. It was going to be a scene that would definitely harsh my mellow. Way too many people wanting really good deals. After working in retail on Christmas Eve one year, I vowed I would never do that again. And I didn't have to. I am probably the only cannabis industry employee who didn't have to work today and I am totally ok with that.