"420" on Tinder is a code related to cannabis. A person who includes this number in their bio is indicating that they smoke weed, or that they are okay with a partner who does.
Explanatory video in French by Alucare, ideal complement to the page. View video (you can use YouTube's automatic translation)
What does 420 mean on Tinder?
On Tinder, the code 420 indicates a link to the cannabis. Note the nuance: it doesn't necessarily mean that the person smokes themselves. It can also indicate a simple tolerance toward their partner's consumption.
In both cases, the aim is to find matches on the same wavelength.
What does 420 friendly mean?
Disclaimers 420, 420 friends Where 420 friendly are used to identify fellow enthusiasts of cannabis. On Instagram, there are already more than 900,000 posts labeled “420-friendly.” The term covers two scenarios: either the person uses the substance themselves, or they are comfortable being around people who use cannabis.
In some countries, the cannabis remains illegal. Consumers therefore prefer a discreet symbol to identify one another without spelling it out explicitly.
You may also come across other similar codes on the profiles.
- the 710, for example, refers to the cannabis concentrates such as oil, resin, or dabs. The trick is visual: the number 710 When turned upside down, it looks like the English word OIL.
- When you see these references on a profile Tinder, Facebook or to an account Instagram, the person indicates that they are comfortable around smokers.
These concentrates are inhaled and produce a thicker vapor than a regular joint, due to the high-temperature vaporization of terpenes and cannabinoids. With rates of THC ranging from 60 to 90 %, the effects are more powerful and almost immediate.
Where does the code come from?
The real origin comes from California, not a song. In 1971, a group of five high school students from the San Rafael High School, nicknamed them Waldos, would meet at 4:20 p.m. after school to visit a plantation of cannabis abandoned near San Rafael.
Their first names: Steve Capper, Dave Reddix, Jeffrey Noel, Larry Schwartz and Mark Gravich. They simply used “4:20” as a secret code between them.
The term then spread through the group Grateful Dead, whose Dave Reddix was close to the bassist Phil Lesh.
The journalist Steven Hager, of magazine High Times, then popularized it worldwide. The TIME Magazine and Snopes Today, they confirm this story, backed by evidence (letters and diaries dated Waldos).
Several legends still circulate about this number, but they are nothing more than myths:
- The Song Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 of Bob Dylan : Some people multiply 12 by 35 to get 420. That's a coincidence, not the origin of the term.
- The theory of the plant: it is sometimes said that the cannabis would contain 420 chemical compounds. That's not true; there's no proof of it.
- The Clocks in the Movie Pulp Fiction : they would all be set to 4:20. It's a rumor, not a proven fact.
What does happy 420 mean?
“Happy 420” is the message we exchange on the April 20 (4/20 in the American format) to wish a happy Cannabis Day. It’s sort of like the fans“ version of ”Merry Christmas”—a celebration that has become a global tradition over the years.
Every year, the April 20, in countries where the cannabis is legal, big gatherings form in parks and public squares. This day is celebrated in many cities across the world.
Beyond the festive aspect, “Happy 420” also carries a broader message. This day is used for celebrate cannabis culture, but also to defend her legalization in regions where its use remains prohibited. The community is growing by’april in april, driven by social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.
Whether Tinder If that doesn't work for you, check out our article on the top 5 other alternatives to Tinder.
FAQs
Is 420 only associated with cannabis?
Yes. The code 420 refers exclusively to the cannabis cultivation. It has no other known meaning in the context of dating or social media.
Is April 20 an official holiday?
It is not a public holiday. It is a symbolic date recognized in the world loved by fans of cannabis. Every April 20, events are held in many countries to celebrate this day and advocate for legalization.
Who are the Waldos ?
These are the five high school students from San Rafael the source of the code: Steve Capper, Dave Reddix, Jeffrey Noel, Larry Schwartz and Mark Gravich.
They have kept letters and diaries dating from 1971 that prove their history.
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