Today is April 20. Also known as 4:20, the most important date on the stoner calendar. Why? No one is sure. The leading rumor is that these California kids used to meet everyday after school at 4:20 for a joint. From their humble circle grew the larger stoner circle in which we all pass the Dutchie. It is said to be at San Rafael High School where this legendary group sparked their doobs way back in 1971. Personally, when I want to burn, I burn. I don't wait for 4:20 PM or April 20, but when the world burns, I burn. So... (packs bowl, flicks lighter and inhales) to those who are about to roast, I salute you. Now that I am stoned to the bejeezes, I am ready for the holiday. I actually think it's a little silly, but I can think of worse things. And now with the November ballot looming it seems sorta like there's an air of politics and movement involved.

Ultimately, as one of the few openly stoner dudes in my fraternity in college I can tell you that at one point, every one of those jerks ended up in my room whispering about how he wanted to get stoned but don't tell anybody. Did I mention I love Diane Sawyer? Anyway, everybody has done it or at the least has someone they love that has. At least in California. So ease up world, it's a plant. It should grow between the basil and rosemary and when you want a smoke pluck a bud and smoke it like a free man. Then pluck some basil and make a bomb ass fresh caprese salad. Then watch some fuckin' Scooby Doo and let the drunks slam their cars into trees and get herpes, that's fine. The illegality of Marijuana is one of the biggest signs of the misguided hands that maneuver our laws. In light of prohibition of alcohol and how well that worked, and keeping in mind the releative harmlessness and the benefits of canabis in all its forms, you just have to wonder who would want this illegal so badly? DuPont and Hearst, that's right. To control the paper industry.

But today is a day of celebration, not to ponder the greedy little white men who make life so circuitous for the rest of us in order to funnel our dollars into their pockets, its a day to get stoned. So take a coffee break today, find an alley, blaze your joint and then go straight to lunch. It's 420.

My first introduction to the concept was via a coworker's "flare" at TGI Friday's. Swear it. He had the Highway 420 sticker safety pinned to his suspenders. This was 1995.