If your clock is stopped at 420 every second, every hour, every minute, then figuring out what sort of establishments are open to facilitating your lifestyle is an important must. After all, not all businesses are 420 friendly which puts a big premium on identifying the ones that are so that you can toke away in peace and not worry about anyone blowing your buzz.
Before examining the type of 420 friendly services available across America, let’s briefly discuss where the term 420 came from, the history behind it and why it is embedded in America Culture.
The story on the roots of 420 friendliness in America, like most things involving cannabis, is pretty hazy. However, there are some commonly believed theories that can help us understand what the term 420 means in a historical context.
Origins of 420: Where Did 420 Come From?
For many years speculation on 420 origins has ranged from rumors that the number represents the police code word for cannabis, or even that there are 420 active chemicals at work in bud.
The reality of the term’s roots (at least as far as anyone can determine) is a lot simpler than that.
The most commonly believed origin of 420 story takes us to 1971 in Marion County California where five awesome dudes known in their circle as the Waldos (for the fact that they liked to blaze leaning up against a wall) had begun searching for a rumored hidden cannabis crop in a nearby town.
These brave cannabis crusaders would meet after school each day near their favorite chiefing wall at 420 to get high and then get going.
In short time, the code word for their hunt for the free bud became simply, 420. Simple right? But when you thought to yourself, “what does 420 mean?” you should have accounted for the possibility that it is based on five crafty stoners looking for free herb to smoke on.
What Does 420 Friendly Mean?
What is the meaning of 420 friendly? “420 friendly” generally means that a person, hotel or other business establishment is open to letting you smoke cannabis in peace and without consequences.
Historically, 420 friendly has meant that a business or hotel won’t call the police on you if you spark up. However, given the shaky legal status of pot in the past, the term was only as reliable as the person in charge of wherever you were staying.
That said, with the rapidly changing weed laws that are currently rocking the country the definition of what is 420 friendly is changing pretty rapidly.
Whereas before 420 friendly just meant that a hotel or business had a cool manager who was willing to turn a blind eye, there is now the possibility of finding places with actual legal policies in place to ensure that you are able to smoke undisturbed.
Cannabis Tourism: Smoking at 420 Friendly Establishments
It is important to keep in mind that the way in which the “420 friendliness” of a hotel or business can range pretty wildly depending on where you are staying.
When it comes to the independent business operation of weed legal communities, we are in many ways in the wild wild west. While there are plenty of regulations in place indicating what an establishment can or cannot due, there is also a lot of leeway in which they are given the autonomy to choose how they do things.
In some instances, you may be able to spark up in your room, outdoors or on your balcony in peace. Other places will feature a designated smoking area designed specifically for marijuana enthusiasts to get their imbibing on.
Still, other times, the four twenty friendliness of a place of business means a whole lot more than simple tolerance. There are many places out there now that not only don’t mind weed but seem to love it, offering plenty of activities in which you can enjoy a joint as you explore a new hobby.
We will talk fairly extensively about some of these exciting opportunities a little bit later on.
The phrase “420 friendly”, has become so common that you will even now see people marketing themselves with the term.
Go on any dating site or craigslist listing with the phrase “420 friendly,” and you are sure to find some results. And this is important, because if you are looking for a new roommate, or even a potential life partner, you are definitely going to want to make sure that they are cool, right?
You’ll also want to note that it means different things in states where pot is legal than in states where it isn’t.
While the 420 friendly hotel or business in Colorado means that you will have ample opportunity to acquire and use pot as you see fit, in Illinois, it simply means that if you aren’t extremely discreet, they won’t be the ones to call the police.
Before we transition to the next parts of this guide, do keep in mind that there is one thing that “420 friendly” does not mean. For one thing, many tobacco users may be disappointed to learn that it doesn’t mean you can smoke cigarettes or cigars, and in fact, many 420 friendly places do not allow it.
Socializing With Recreational Marijuana
In addition to just being a really excellent way to kick it, recreational marijuana has a very social component to it that can really be enhanced with 420 friendly hotspots.
Ways Americans are Using Marijuana to Socialize:
People have always used pot to socialize. However, with marijuana legalization popping up everywhere that you turn your head, stoners now have lots of options when it comes to herbal socializing.
The social options for legal pot vary pretty widely depending on which cannabis legal state you find yourself in.
While some states have cannabis friendly hotels, restaurants, and lounges, other states are pretty serious about limiting your toking to the confines of your home.
Hey, there’s nothing wrong with sparking up and watching Avengers with your friends at home, right?
Reasons Americans are Choosing Cannabis Over Alcohol
You may have seen statistics about how more millennials choose pot than alcohol these days.
Why is that? While the reason to choose one substance over the other is ultimately going to be individualized, there is a wide range of reasons why people are choosing to get their smoke on.
For one thing, new science shows, as indicated by the infographic above, that moderate amounts of cannabis are a little bit better for a fully developed mind than alcohol (this information does not necessarily apply to teenagers).
It’s also just easier to bounce back from a night of smoking than it is from a night of drinking. While overindulging in marijuana is not entirely without consequences, it’s a whole lot preferable to the effects of a nasty hangover.
Types of 420 Friendly Vacations: Cannabis Tours, Classes and Events
We will get into the specifics of some marijuana-related activities in the next section. However, just for your own point of reference, there actually are plenty of legal options out there in cooperating communities.
Because of the restrictions of current cannabis law, you may have to be willing to go hunting for these activities but for the resourceful stoner, there are plenty of different clubs and classes that are willing to allow you to improve your experience with a little bit of primo kush.
Top-Rated Marijuana Tours:
While we won’t get into the business of recommending specific tours (you’ll have to discover one that suits your preferences on your own) we can tell you that there plenty of exciting cannabis tour opportunities out there for those willing to look for them.
Essentially cannabis tours involve party busses (or other lavish means of recreational transportation) that give the discerning stoner the opportunity to sample a 420 weed-friendly community’s best offering. This could include but is not limited to, dispensaries, grow houses, and even glass blowing demonstrations.
The best part is that the party generally starts the moment that you board the bus. Joints are distributed, and patrons enjoy a variety of different opportunities that are designed to allow them to sample pot through a range of means.
Marijuana tours are now available in most places that weed is legal, including California and Colorado.
Requirements for Joining Tours:
If you are looking to take part in these classes, tours or clubs, all you presently need is a state-issued form of identification indicating that you are twenty-one (21) years of age or older. While there are some rules limiting the extent to which out of state residents can interact with legal pot, out of towners should not have any trouble taking part in the activities listed above.
Types of Marijuana Cannabis Classes:
There are also classes available in 420 friendly communities that have taken to integrating pot into the curriculum. No, we aren’t talking about algebra.
However, if you want to free your mind up to some creativity you can take painting, cooking, or even yoga classes that are willing to let you get your smoke on. Here are some examples.
Creative and Fun Marijuana Classes:
Educational Cannabis Classes:
— Concentrates (Hash/Extracts) and Terpenes Tour/Class
Marijuana Business Classes
— Medical Cannabis Training
— Dispensary Technician Training
There are also private events that allow you to enjoy your marijuana experience in a more intimate setting. These opportunities include marijuana catering, which involves high quality, cannabis-infused food, weddings, which may include food, floral arrangements, and bud bars, and even business networking events.
Do note that these opportunities don’t usually come cheap. Private marijuana event coordinating professionals can cost around $100 an hour, with some wedding consultation services costing upwards of $3000 (not including the cost of the event itself).
420 Friendly Hotels, Resorts, Airbnbs and Clubs
The whole gist of this guide is just how rad it is that this stuff exists, but for the sake of emphasis, how could we not mention it again?
Since most hotels don’t have a four twenty friendly outlooks, and since sparking up used to mean the threat of legal trouble, this is certainly no small thing.
In order for 420 smokers to feel comfortable, there is a need for business owners to provide 420-friendly environments so you can smoke on in a safe and enjoyable way. Considering that these opportunities simply have not existed in the past, it is safe to say that now is a great time to be alive, isn’t it?
Now on to explore the world of 420-friendly hotels and Airbnb.
420 Friendly Hotels and Airbnbs
State law for rental properties including hotels and resorts varies on whether or not marijuana activity is legal. However, some states, like Colorado allow lodging businesses to decide for themselves whether or not they want to permit guests to toke.
Examples include but are certainly not limited to the Boutique Luxury 4 Star Hotel in Downtown Denver, and the All Suite Hotel. These are of course, only examples. You will need to decide for yourself where to lodge.
Bud Bars, 420 Lounges and Clubs:
Bud bars, lounges, and even 420 tours are subject to a little bit of legal ambiguity. You may recall that we mentioned earlier how up in the air public consumption is at this point.
However, there are some legal options available in Colorado open to anyone twenty-one and up.
What’s the benefit? For the social butterflies out there, there’s plenty to like. It’s a chance to get out of the house, relax in a cool and unique setting, and even meet other people that share similar interests with you.
Cannabis Clubs:
The cannabis club is a pretty new concept that allows for the public consumption of marijuana. In Colorado, this concept is particularly new, the state has just issued its first license in the past year.
The idea behind the cannabis club is that imbibers can bring their own bud to the establishment and smoke in public for a cover charge.
While there are obvious concerns regarding these institutions (like the possibility of stoned driving) they nevertheless represent an exciting social opportunity for the responsible stoner.
