From: [c--w--g] at [crosslink.net] (Erik Rensberger)
Newsgroups: rec.drugs.cannabis,alt.drugs.pot,rec.drugs.psychedelic,alt.drugs.psychedelics,alt.drugs,alt.drugs.culture
Subject: The real origin of "4:20" in drug culture (was Re: 420-what's it mean?)
Date: 15 Nov 1995 23:32:19 GMT

4:20 PM was the time of day (on April 19, 1943) that Albert Hofmann became
the first human to embark on a deliberate LSD trip. From his lab journal:
"4/19/43 1620: 0.5 cc of 1/2 promil aqueous solution of [lysergic acid]
diethylamide tartrate orally = 0.25 mg [250 mcg] tartrate. Taken diluted 
with about 10 cc water. Tasteless.
1700: Beginning dizziness, feeling of anxiety, visual distortions, symptoms
of paralysis, desire to laugh.
        Here the notes in my laboratory journal cease. I wrote the last 
words only with great effort. It was now clear to me that LSD was the cause
of the remarkable experience of the previous Friday..."
-- crowdog

Spiderman ([j--y--b] at [urvax.urich.edu]) wrote:
: 420 as a police code could very well be true, but I am dead positive
: that it is also a very special time of day(4:20) in Amsterdam. Think
: of it as tea-time. I have met many people who also celebrate this very
: special time for toking.