420 friendly means open to cannabis: a person who uses it, or a place where using it is accepted. "420" is slang for marijuana and for using it,[1] so a 420-friendly roommate, date or rental is one that is fine with weed. What it does not mean is that the law changes: in Canada, where you can use cannabis in public is set by provincial and territorial rules.[3]
Key Takeaways
- "420" is slang for marijuana, for marijuana use, and for April 20 or 4:20 as a time to consume.[1]
- 420 friendly means cannabis is welcome: the person uses it, or the place accepts it.
- The term dates to 1971, from a group of San Rafael High School students who met at 4:20, and spread through fans of the Grateful Dead.[1][2]
- It is not a legal pass. In Canada, places where cannabis may be used in public fall under provincial and territorial legislation.[3]
On this page
What 420 friendly means
Dictionary.com defines 420 as slang for marijuana, for marijuana use, and for the twentieth day of the fourth month, or the time 4:20, as a day or time for cannabis consumption. Its example sentence: "The guys at the party were all 420-friendly."[1]
So "420 friendly" describes a person or place that is comfortable with cannabis. Asked of a person, it usually means "do you use weed, or are you fine with it?" Said of a place, it means cannabis is accepted there.
Where you will see it
| Where | What it usually signals |
|---|---|
| Dating profiles | The person uses cannabis or is fine with a partner who does |
| Roommate and rental listings | Cannabis use is accepted in the home; check the details, such as smoking versus vaping or edibles |
| Short-term rentals and events | The host accepts cannabis use; check exactly what is allowed and where |
The details matter. "420 friendly" is a general signal, not a contract: a place that accepts cannabis may still draw a line at smoking indoors. Ask before you assume.
Where "420" comes from
Dictionary.com traces 420 to a code word derived from the meeting time of a particular group of marijuana smokers in 1971, later popularized by fans of the Grateful Dead.[1]
The group, as reported by HuffPost's Ryan Grim, was five friends at San Rafael High School in California known as the Waldos. They agreed to meet at the statue of Louis Pasteur outside the school at 4:20 to go looking for a hidden cannabis crop. The phrase started as "4:20-Louis" before the Louis was dropped, and spread as the Grateful Dead toured through the 1970s and 1980s.[2] The story rests largely on the group's own account.
What 420 friendly does not cover in Canada
A host or roommate saying a place is 420 friendly settles their own rules, not the law. Health Canada lists "places cannabis may be used in public" among the matters set by provincial and territorial legislation, and municipalities handle issues such as zoning and nuisance and odour concerns.[3] So whether you can use cannabis in a park, on a patio or in a car depends on where you are, whatever a sign or a listing says.
April 20
Because 420 also means April 20,[1] shops tie promotions to it: our coupon directory includes codes named for 420. See 420 deals in Canada for the codes and offers, and the coupons page for codes running now.
FAQ
What does 420 friendly mean?
What does 420 mean?
Where does 420 come from?
Does 420 friendly mean you can smoke anywhere?
References
- Dictionary.com. 420. dictionary.com
- Grim, R. 420 Meaning: The True Story Of How April 20 Became "Weed Day". HuffPost. huffpost.com
- Health Canada. Submit questions or concerns about cannabis (federal, provincial, territorial and municipal responsibilities). canada.ca
For adults of legal age in your province or territory. Check the cannabis rules where you live.
