Feliz 420!

Yes, the day is finally upon us. And, after two years of lockdowns and with more states allowing legal cannabis use than ever before, the festivities are set to be bigger than ever this year. 

I’m sure you’ve all heard the many urban myths surrounding the history of 4/20. Once you wade through the various origin stories related to Adolf Hitler’s birthday, police codes, and a Bob Dylan song, you will most likely arrive at the more widely accepted explanation: that five Californian high school students coined the term as part of their cannabis secret code. Whatever its origins, April 20 is now synonymous with a general celebration of the green stuff. Once seen as a countercultural movement, more and more companies are capitalizing on the event every year – an inevitability given the rapidly changing public opinion around the drug. 

If you do plan to take part in the festivities this year, check out this complete guide to some 150+ events on offer. My top Pick? 420PPM. We are a cannabis science magazine after all, and this has a distinct climate-science flavor. It also links nicely to our newly published piece on indoor VOCs. 

The Oktoberfest of cannabis?
 

Paired with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in the US, 4/20 this year is set to generate a huge profit for cannabis companies. With businesses calling 4/20 the “Oktoberfest of cannabis” and comparing the unofficial holiday to Black Friday, the cannabis industry has been preparing for months. Companies have reported a sales increase of up to 50 percent in previous years and are expecting similar numbers this year – if not a further boost in sales due to COVID-19 restrictions being lifted. Many US businesses have emphasized the celebratory atmosphere they wish to create, and highlighted user experience and accessibility – especially for first-time cannabis users as this could be an opportunity to bring in new customers. On a similar note, 4/20 and less COVID-19 rules also mean that cannabis companies, activists, and artists are coming together at protests such as the Vancouver 4/20 event and educational events such as the High Tide Summit in Portsmouth, US, to discuss cannabis policy challenges and opportunities.

Celebrate good times
 

If you’re still on the hunt for unique ways to take part in the 4/20 celebrations, how about purchasing your very own NFT mural? 

Leafly has just announced their new pro-cannabis project in collaboration with local artists who have been commissioned to paint murals in Chicago, Portland, Toronto, and Washington, D.C. The murals will be available to purchase for $420 (teehee) and the profits will go directly to non-profit organizations fighting for justice and fairness in the cannabis industry. 

In other news… 
 

Endocannabinoid system involved in suppression of antitumor immune response, suggesting that cannabis should be avoided during cancer immunotherapy. Link

Researchers design novel standardized protocol for generation of cannabis smoke extract and reveal its inflammatory effect on human lung fibroblasts. Link

Phytochemical characterization of nine hemp varieties reveals three main chemotypes, with differences in volatile compounds and major cannabinoids. Link

Several states, including Delaware, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania, remain in play to legalize medical or recreational cannabis this year. Link

Amsterdam mayor to close the city’s cannabis cafes to tourists, citing the cannabis market as the source of many of Amsterdam’s problems, including use of hard drugs. Link

New Jersey recreational cannabis sales to begin the day after 4/20. Link

Get in touch and let us know how you’ll be celebrating! What does 4/20 mean to you? Do you have any plans, recommendations, or 4/20 traditions? I’d love to hear from you: [email protected]

^{Image Credit : Collage collated from Unsplash.com}

_{Credit : Collage collated from Unsplash.com}