• April 20, or 4/20, is unofficially recognized as a day to celebrate marijuana use.
• The origins of associating 4/20 with marijuana are unclear, but theories involve police codes and teenage gatherings.
• This year marks the first time since 2014 that Easter and 4/20 fall on the same day.

Some people will be praising and others might be blazing on April 20.

The notorious 4/20 date, also known as Weed Day, is an unofficial holiday celebrating marijuana use. It coincidentally shares a day with Easter this year, which many have already taken to social media to point out.

The exact origins as to why people associate 4/20 with marijuana are unclear. The most common explanation refers to 420 as a police code to describe marijuana smoking.

Others say the number is a hidden message in well-known songs, like Bob Dylan’s “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” (12 times 35 equals 420). Another origin follows a story of teenagers in California who smoked together at 4:20 p.m in the early ‘70s.

Either way, partakers should be aware of Florida laws.

Hemp crackdown: Hemp extract and THC-infused beverage crackdown: Florida Legislature tries again

Is weed legal in Florida?

Yes, but not for everyone.

Medical marijuana is only legal for Florida residents diagnosed with certain conditions and who have obtained a Medical Marijuana ID Card, or caregivers with a Medical Marijuana Caregiver Card.

Is recreational marijuana legal in Florida?

No. An amendment calling for the legalization of recreational marijuana during the 2024 General Election failed to get the 60% voter approval it needed to pass. 

The group behind it is trying again in 2026. 

Where is weed legal?

Recreational marijuana is legal in about half of the county, in at least 25 states.

When was the last time 4/20 shared a day with Easter?

The last time Easter fell on April 20 was in 2014, and in 2003 before that.

In 2014, churches across the nation grabbed onto the day as a marketing tool to draw people to Easter services, according to The Associated Press.

Pastor Justice Coleman of Freedom Church in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles sent out mailers with the message: “Celebrate 4/20 with us because you can’t get any higher than risen.”

The church used imagery of medical marijuana to promote an Easter sermon series called “Medicated” about finding fulfillment in God, not drugs.

After this year, the dates will coincide again in 2087, according to U.S. Census data.

What happens if you have marijuana in Florida?

If a person without a Medical Marijuana Card is caught with marijuana in Florida, they could face penalties, according to marijuana advocacy group NORML, which lists these penalties under Florida Statutes:

• Possessing 20 grams or less: first-degree misdemeanor, up to one year in jail and maximum $1,000 fine.
• Possession of paraphernalia: Misdemeanor, up to one year in jail and maximum $1,000 fine.
• Possessing marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school, college, park or other specified areas: Felony, mandatory three-year sentence and maximum $10,000 fine.
• Possessing from 20 grams: to 25 pounds: Felony, up to five years in jail and maximum $5,000 fine.
• Possessing from 25 to 2,000 pounds of marijuana: First-degree felony, from three to 15 years in jail and $25,000 fine.
• Possessing from 2,000 to 10,000 pounds of marijuana: First-degree felony, from seven to 30 years and $50,000 fine.
• Possessing more than 10,000 pounds of marijuana: First-degree felony, from 15 to 30 years and $200,000 fine.

Still, many communities have decriminalized possession of up to 20 grams of marijuana. A person found with this amount of marijuana in these areas will have to pay a fine and they may be sent to a drug education program or ordered to do community service.

Areas including Alachua County, Broward County, Cocoa Beach, Hallandale Beach, Key West, Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County, Orlando, Osceola County, Palm Beach County, Port Richey, Sarasota, Tampa and Volusia County have decriminalized marijuana.

Maya Washburn covers northern Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her at [email protected]. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.