4:20 Ways To Celebrate 420 With Music, Movies, & Munchies

April 20th is nearly here, which means that many cannabis enthusiasts will want to take advantage of this day and dedicate it to celebrating the gloriousness that is marijuana. While there are plenty of possible excuses to get the day off from work, we are focusing our favorite extra things for our after-hours, after work crowd on this special 4:20 day!

In addition to (obviously) making sure you’ve got your glass water pipe and favorite strain or extract, part of our celebration today typically includes three additional things: listening to music, watching movies and eating, eating and eating some more.

Whether this is your first time celebrating 4:20 or you’re a 4:20 connoisseur who celebrates this unofficial holiday every year, we’ve taken the liberty of compiling lists that narrow down some of those favorite, top music, movies and food to help you have a smokin’ great day or night!

4:20 Music & Song Playlist Favorites

There’s little to nothing more important than preparing the perfect playlist for your 4:20 smoke sessions. Marijuana has been the inspiration for classic songs in reggae, pop, hip-hop and rock for decades, and it continues to influence today’s biggest artists. Although nearly every song can sound awesome when you’re high, the following five songs leave the rest in a cloud of smoke:

1. “Mary Jane” -- Rick James

This oft-sampled hit from 1978 is one of the first “punk-funk” songs of all time. Its strong opening followed by light female vocals introduce Mary Jane, the star of the show, and James’ main “lady.” James is one artist who can turn singing about weed into a powerful act of seduction.

Smoking lyrics: “And when I’m feeling low, she comes as no surprise / Turns me on with her love, takes me to paradise”

2. “Legalize It” -- Peter Tosh

With this 1976 album title song, Peter Tosh became the earliest musical advocate for marijuana legalization. Although both the song and album were banned in Jamaica, Tosh’s homeland, smokers have been grooving to his plea for decades. This anthem was included in all of Tosh’s performances, and it is a “must-listen” for true smoking enthusiasts.

Smoking lyrics: “Singers smoke it, and players of instrument, too / Legalize it, yeah, yeah, that’s the best thing you can do”

3. “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” -- Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan was one of the most philosophical songwriters of the mid-1960s, but marijuana enthusiasts consider the opening track to Blonde on Blonde a particular triumph. The typically poetic Dylan, backed by a brass band, delivers a strong-yet-wonderfully-loopy anthem in which he exclaims, “Everybody must get stoned” at the end of every verse.

Smoking lyrics: “I would not feel so all alone / Everybody must get stoned”

4. “How High” -- Redman and Method Man

Before they became the “Heckle and Jeckle” of rap, this duo made no secret of their love for marijuana, making their first collaboration, “How High,” a perfect match. The song ultimately became the starting point for these cannabis connoisseurs’ 2001 film of the same name, and while they also created a “part two” and remix of the song, none beats the funk and fun of the original.

Smoking lyrics: “Look up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane / It’s the funk doctor Spock smokin’ Buddha on a train / How high? So high that I can kiss the sky / (Up, up to the sky!)”

5. “Kaya” -- Bob Marley

Of course, it goes without saying that Bob Marley is a must-listen on 4/20. The entire “Kaya” album was about love and peace, and the title song fulfills Marley’s aesthetic criteria of marijuana being exceedingly accessible. Marley creates a languorous, sensual image of being sheltered during a rainstorm and being able to appreciate a respite from the turbulence of life--all thanks to “Kaya.”

Smoking lyrics: “I feel so high, I even touch the sky / Above the falling rain / I feel so good in my neighborhood, so / Here I come again”

“When you smoke the herb, it reveals you to yourself.” -- Bob Marley

4:20 Movie Fun Favorites

This April 20th is the perfect evening to hunker down and watch a movie or five. If you’re planning to participate in the day’s recreational offerings, what better way to mark the day than with a viewing one of the most popular stoner films to date? From Smokey in “Friday” to Harold and Kumar in their namesake film, marijuana enthusiasts have long been celebrated in movies, and Hollywood shows no plans of slowing down. Here are five of the funniest films to watch while embracing the 4:20 holiday spirit:

1. Cheech and Chong: Up in Smoke (1978)

Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong’s film debut is often credited as the “original stoner film.” The movie follows a marijuana-smoking slacker (Chong) and the equally awesome stoner (Cheech) he meets while hitchhiking. Cannabis enthusiasts often enjoy the ridiculous, weed-hazed adventures that ensue as the pair evades prison, unknowingly smuggles a van full of marijuana across the border and pours out their hearts in a rock band contest.

2. Friday (1995)

In 2015, this famous weed-based comedy celebrated its 20th anniversary, and the film’s star and co-writer Ice Cube told Rolling Stone magazine how viewers should enjoy the cult classic: “To me, it’s one of the number one movies to check out when you’re baked or you’re getting down. There’s people that have Friday parties, where they rent all three movies and just kind of enjoy ‘em.” The film follows one day in the life of Craig Jones (Ice Cube) and Smokey (Chris Tucker) as the duo attempts to come up with the $200 Smokey owes to Big Worm, a drug dealer, after Smokey smoked Big Worm’s supply instead of selling it like he was supposed to do.

3. Half Baked (1998)

When Kenny (Harland Williams) accidentally feeds junk food to a diabetic police horse and kills it, stoners Scarface (Guillermo Diaz), Brian (Jim Breuer) and Thurgood (Dave Chappelle) must steal cannabis from the lab in which Thurgood works to sell and raise money for Kenny’s bail. Much to the guys’ surprise, their drug-dealing business skyrockets, catching the attention of Samson Simpson (Clarence Williams III), who is in charge of overseeing and fulfilling the area’s current drug needs.

4. How High (2001)

Jamal (Redman) and Silas (Method Man) use the ashes of Silas’ dead friend Ivory (Chuck Davis) as weed fertilizer. Smoking the ash-infused marijuana conjures up images of their dead friend’s ghost, who gives the duo the answers to their college entrance exams, resulting in the pair’s acceptance to Harvard. However, they run out of the “special” weed and try to smoke other intelligent deceased people’s ashes but to no avail. Will the pair get stay in Harvard?

5. Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)

Often considered to be the modern-day Cheech and Chong, this film follows Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) as they smoke marijuana and embark on a disastrous-yet-hysterical journey to get the infamous White Castle hamburger sliders. Rather than a simple drive to White Castle as the guys originally envisioned, the duo encounters a number of hurdles, including turning down a foursome, running into a hitchhiking (and high) Neil Patrick Harris, having to perform surgery on a gunshot victim and smoking marijuana with a cheetah.

“Weed is from the earth. God put this here for me and you. Take advantage, man. Take advantage.” -- Smokey (Friday)

4:20 Munchie Favorites & Recipe Ideas

Before you settle for a soggy slice of pizza topped with dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets smothered in hot sauce, or even worse, decide that Fritos dipped in peanut butter would be the most satisfying snack ever, there are thousands of stoner-approved and tasty food concoctions that are perfect for 4:20. Here are five favorite recipes and ideas to cure even the strongest case of bong-induced cravings:

1. Tater Totchos

Any party will be vastly improved once tots are introduced, but tater totchos are that much more amazing on 4:20. Consider frozen tots as your blank canvas on which you paint your own unique nacho perfection. Simply bake or fry the tots according to the package. Then arrange them on a foil-lined baking sheet and add must-cook toppings like ground beef, beans, pulled pork and loads of cheese. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for three to five minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Then, add all the “cold” toppings such as green peppers, onions, sour cream, avocado and tomato to push your tots to the next level. However you make them, these crisp, golden beauties are sure to make you drop it like it’s tot.

2. Grilled Macaroni and Cheese Sandwich

If the thought of using an oven terrifies you, consider trying oh-so-easy grilled macaroni and cheese sandwich. Simply follow the directions on the box of macaroni and prepare it via the stove or microwave. Turn on the stove to medium heat. Lightly butter two slices of bread and place one of them butter-side down into a skillet or pan. Arrange one slice of cheese on the un-buttered side of one slice. Next, layer a heaping spoonful of the macaroni and cheese on the slice of cheese and place the second slice of bread on top with the butter side facing up. Not only is this sandwich sure to fulfill your craving for cheese, it’s virtually fool-proof!

3. Chocolate-covered Potato Chips

Go with Pringles for this one. Just trust us. First, melt 12 ounces of chocolate in the microwave or a double broiler. Gradually add a few potato chips at a time, gently turning them over to coat evenly in the melted chocolate. Set the covered chips on waxed paper and top with sea salt, sprinkles or any other candies your heart desires. Allow the chips to sit at room temperature until the chocolate sets, typically about two hours or so. If you’re in a rush and your munchies are not waiting for anyone, speed up the process by cooling them in the fridge for 15 minutes.

4. Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches

By far, this is the easiest ice cream sandwich you’ll ever make and exactly what you need to fulfill your sweet tooth craving during a 4:20 smoking session. Before beginning, remove the ice cream from the freezer and allow it to soften. Toast the waffles as per the directions on the box, but make sure they are well-toasted since the ice cream will soften the waffles a bit. Scoop out the ice cream onto one waffle and top with a second waffle. That’s it. Easy peasy! If you want to take your sandwich a step further, top with fudge, sprinkles and whipped cream for a nostalgic and extremely satisfying dessert.

5. Brownies (With or Without Cannabis)

We couldn’t let this list go without including one of the most tried-and-true munchies to have on hand for your 4:20 shindig--brownies. Simple to make and delicious to eat, brownies are a staple that satisfy even the harshest of cravings. Whether or not these become “special” brownies (here’s a simple “special” recipe from The 420 Times: http://the420times.com/2013/06/recipe-simple-and-effective-weed-brownies/) as you make them in your kitchen is up to you, but in either case, they’re fudgy, cakey and chewy. That’s a trio you’ll surely want to munch on, regardless of how seriously you take your 4:20 celebration.

“Is marijuana addictive? Yes, in the sense that most of the really pleasant things in life are worth endlessly repeating.” -- Richard Neville

With 4:20 right around the corner, there’s no better time than now to prepare yourself for the day or night’s celebration. Whether it is your first time observing this unofficial holiday or you have a particular routine you like to follow every year, we hope our favorites list of the best music, movies and munchies will add to your day.