On April 20, 1995, a few dozen individuals gathered in Victory Square Park at Hastings and Cambie to exchange and celebrate cannabis, kicking off Vancouver’s 4/20 movement. Since then, 4/20 has grown into a massive cannabis protest festival, attracting over 150,000 people who come to enjoy a free concert with well-known performers from all over the world, as well as to buy, share, and celebrate cannabis at an unparalleled farmer’s market.
The 4/20 celebration in Vancouver is a massive act of civil disobedience that provides cannabis users with a safe place to obtain cannabis in the community while also allowing them to celebrate without feeling humiliated or ostracized.
The non-profit organization that organizes the 4/20 demonstration covers all civic and park board expenses voluntarily, with the exception of enforcement. Every year, organizers work closely with all municipal and park departments on issues such as public safety, traffic management, cleanliness, health, and emergency services.
The oldest annual April 20 cannabis protest in the world takes place in Vancouver, but 4/20 is now observed in cities around Canada and the world.
The End of the Drug War
Despite the festive atmosphere, 4/20 is largely a political protest against the criminalization and stigmatization of cannabis farmers, users, and vendors, which has persisted even after Canada’s quasi-legalization bill was established.
Some people may discover that cannabis reduces or eliminates their use of other, more harmful drugs, such as painkillers and alcohol. However, other currently forbidden drugs must be made available in a safe and legal manner, and drug policy should transition from criminalization and punishment to human rights and health. Instead of a drug war, we require drug peace.
The vast majority of overdose deaths, gang violence, and money laundering are directly linked to prohibition. The drug war and prohibition, which are frequently administered in a racially discriminatory manner, are also largely responsible for mass incarceration and disproportionate police presence.
Cannabis flowers are at the heart of 4/20, but all other illegal medical plants, such as opium poppies, peyote cacti, coca leaves, and psilocybe mushrooms, should also be banned. It is time to recognize the benefits of these plants and safely reintroduce them into society after millennia of use for social, medicinal, cultural, and spiritual reasons.
What Does 4/20 Mean?
In the 1970s, a group of Californian high school friends came up with the name “420” to refer to cannabis. They met every day after school at 4:20 p.m. to consume cannabis and dubbed themselves “The Waldos.”
After helping to propagate the name “420” within the Grateful Dead circle, High Times magazine embraced and promoted it.
Danna Rozek and Cindy Lassu, who worked at Marc Emery’s groundbreaking Hemp BC business, organized the first protest on April 20, 1995, in Vancouver.
When the 4/20 demonstration was moved to the Art Gallery grounds downtown in 1997, over a thousand people attended. For many years, local activist David Malmo-Levine oversaw the yearly event’s expansion by organizing cannabis raffles and a massive joint handout at 4:20.
Malmo-Levine encouraged the sale and sharing of cannabis on 4/20, creating a safe environment for both buyers and sellers. People started selling infused biscuits and bundles of joints.
On April 20, 2007, the Art Gallery’s entrance was jammed with about 7000 visitors. The event grew to include public speakers, live music all day, and multiple tables openly selling cannabis products. Other 4/20 demonstrations began to take place in Canadian cities, inspired by Vancouver.
The magnitude and breadth of the 4/20 protest grew at an exponential rate. By 2014, Hornby, Howe, Robson, and Georgia streets had to be blocked due to crowds of over 30,000 people filling the Art Gallery and neighboring areas.
After consulting with local authorities, the 4/20 organizers decided to move the demonstration to Sunset Beach in 2016. This larger site allows for increased public safety, less disturbance, and a better event for everyone. Despite the Park Board’s decision to deny 4/20 a permit by a single vote, the demonstration has continued as a form of civil disobedience.
From modest beginnings, 4/20 has grown into one of Vancouver’s largest and most popular public gatherings, attracting guests from all across Canada and the world.
We welcome you to celebrate 4/20, indulge in some of the best cannabis products available worldwide, and speak out against the stigma and persecution that cannabis users continue to face in Canada and elsewhere.
