420 Forever: What Were the Waldos Smoking?

This 420, we’re honoring the Waldos by celebrating the cool cultivars that defined cannabis in the 1970s!

The origin of 420 involves a secret cannabis stash, five friends, and a rendezvous time that would eventually become synonymous with cannabis. 

The year was 1971, and a group of friends in San Rafael, California burned one down at 4:20 p.m. before heading off to find a secret patch of weed (with permission) that a friend’s brother was too paranoid to harvest himself. They never found it, but they began regularly meeting at 4:20 p.m. to smoke. Eventually, the phrase “420” became synonymous with both that time of day and the cannabis plant. 

These teenagers were known as the “Waldos.”

What started as a code word to discreetly talk about cannabis quickly spread throughout their high school. Through various connections, the Waldos were able to interact with the Grateful Dead, where they also dropped the term. 

One High Times feature explained, “Waldo Dave always used the term ‘420’ around the Dead community in that era.”¹ From there, it’s easy to see how the term could have spread among Deadheads and, eventually, throughout the cannabis community. 

Obviously, one of the best ways to pay homage to these cannabis-loving men is to enjoy cannabis on April 20th at 4:20. We’re taking things a bit further, though. Read on for a celebration of the cultivars that defined cannabis in the 1970s!

Celebrating 70s Era Cannabis Strains: What Were The Waldos Smoking?

Today, there seems to be an overwhelmingly large number of cannabis cultivars due to decades of hybridization. This was not the case in the 1970s. 

Cannabis was very much illegal, so access was limited to discreet local growers or whatever could be smuggled into the country. More importantly, many of the iconic landrace cultivars that are difficult to find today were widely popular during this time period. 

Waldo Dave Reddix told Weedmaps, “There really weren't a lot of strains back then. Most of them were Mexican and South American.”² Waldo Jeffrey Noel added, “It was the location, not brands. That's where the stuff came from — Guerrero, Oaxaca, Jalisco.”

Reddix recalled that one of his favorites had been Acapulco Gold, while Noel explained that the first “really potent weed” came from Hawaii with strains like Maui Wowie. Some of these cultivars still win awards today, but their rarity makes it difficult to track them down. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t still honor and celebrate these iconic 70s-era strains!

Acapulco Gold

Acapulco Gold is a groovy landrace cultivar from Acapulco, Mexico, that popped up in the 1960s and quickly gained notoriety. As it traveled up the coast and into America, countercultural hippies of the 1960s and 70s took an immediate liking to it, and Cheech and Chong’s cult classic film Up in Smoke even references this beloved strain. 

While it’s difficult to get your hands on this cultivar, its iconic aroma and stimulating effects are worth it. Think dank with earthy wood notes, a splash of gassy citrus, and a rich, sunny sweetness akin to rich toffee or gilded honey.

Afghani 

Calling Afghani an “old school” strain is a massive understatement. Named after the mountainous region of Afghanistan, rumor has it that these landrace genetics were smuggled out of the area in the 1970s. From there, Afghani made its way to Europe and America, where cannabis connoisseurs loved it for its resinous buds, pungent aroma, and intensely relaxing and couchlock-inducing effects.

Its aroma is rich, hashy, and can have subtle notes of pine and citrus. Popular offspring of Afghani include other iconic strains like Northern Lights and Grape Ape. Both capture the relaxing, dreamy effects and spicy aroma of Afghani while offering unique takes on this beloved cultivar.

We don’t currently offer an Afghani terpene profile. Do YOU know of any authentic, preserved Afghani genetics? Contact us today, and let’s talk!

Durban Poison

Durban Poison made its way to the U.S. in the late 1970s when an American breeder cultivated several seeds he’d brought back from the port city of Durban, South Africa. Some of them were then passed to another breeder who modified the genetics to optimize both resin content and flowering time, resulting in one of the purest and most potent sativa strains available.

This heavy-hitting cultivar is also considered one of the best-tasting buds, with perfectly balanced elements of sweet wood, citrus, and spice. Plus, let’s not forget that without Durban Poison, we wouldn’t have popular modern strains like GSC and Cherry Pie.

Haze

It's the backbone of an entire beloved genetic family, and it all started during the 1970s with the “Haze Brothers,” who cultivated and crossed imported sativa strains in Santa Cruz, California. There was a landrace sativa from Mexico, one from Colombia, and eventually a female from Southern India and a male from Thailand. 

Various phenotypes were produced (Purple Haze, anyone?), and Sam the Skunkman transported some seeds to the Netherlands, one of which became the Original Haze. People loved the stimulating effects and woody, citrus aroma of Haze strains, and the love for Haze hybrids continues today with strains like Super Silver Haze, Super Lemon Haze, and more.

We don’t currently offer a Haze terpene profile. Do YOU know of any authentic, preserved Haze genetics? Contact us today, and let’s talk!  

Maui Wowie

One taste of this tropical cultivar, and you’ll understand why Kid Cudi said, “Goin’ back to Honolulu just to get that Maui Wowie.” Outside of its being a strain native to the Hawaiian island of Maui and its emergence in the 1960s, not much is known about its origins. Whatever the case, its blissfully uplifting effects and uniquely fruity aroma made Maui Wowie popular with nearly every hippie throughout the 1970s.

Think lush, tropical fruits like ripe pineapple, creamy coconut, and bright citrus. Considering its calm euphoria, we recommend enjoying Maui Wowie during beach bonfires, nature hikes, or an afternoon full of creative tasks and endless conversations.

Panama Red

A cross between the cultivars Panama and Columbia, Panama Red is a pure sativa that came out of the hot, humid climate of Panama in the late 1960s. Elevated levels of flavonoids called anthocyinins create its visually striking red pistils, but its intense effects are what cemented it into American cannabis culture in the 1970s. It was so widely popular that it even made its way into films³ and music. 

The Panama Red experience is fast-acting and intensely cerebral, with feelings of euphoria, stimulation, and creativity. The aroma is equally unforgettable with a pungent combination of woody, herbal spiciness and tropical fruit.

We don’t currently offer a Panama Red terpene profile. Do YOU know of any authentic, preserved Panama Red genetics? Contact us today, and let’s talk!  

Abstrax Tech | Preserving Cannabis Aromatics From the Past

At Abstrax Tech, we create true-to-type botanically-derived cannabis profiles that taste and smell exactly like the original cannabis material. The issue? Some of these cultivars are challenging to track down, and finding authentic samples is difficult. 

Have you managed to preserve any of these iconic cannabis genetics? We’d love to connect! 

We’re talking about iconic Panama Red, Haze, Colombian Gold, Thai, and MORE. Contact us today, and let’s talk!

1. Steve, B. (n.d.). The Riddle of 4:20. High Witness News. Retrieved April 11, 2025, from https://420waldos.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/High-Times.pdf.

2. Daniels, T. (2025, April 2). What Does 420 Mean?. Weedmaps. https://weedmaps.com/learn/cannabis-and-its-evolution/420

3. IMDb.com. (n.d.). Panama Red. IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0244120/

Experience the Aroma of Iconic 70s Cultivars

SHOP Acapulco Gold

Acapulco Gold is far out, man. With its rich combo of gilded honey, bright citrus, and that splash of gas, this landrace cultivar perfectly captures the cool gulf breezes and blazing Mexican sun of the 60s.

SHOP Durban Poison

The name may sound ominous, but Durban Poison is the dank wake-n-bake option you’ve been waiting for. The sweet pine and citrus provides a jolt of cerebral stimulation that heightens the senses and sharpens focus.

SHOP Maui Wowie

This sativa-dominant strain has a distinctively “tropical” flavor profile, time-honored associations with creativity, and a large base of devoted fans. Take a sensory surfin’ safari and find out why Maui Wowie’s energizing personality makes so many friends.

SHOP Northern Lights

This iconic cross between Thai and Afghani has cemented itself into the cannabis hall of fame with its palpable relaxation and dreamy euphoria. A celestial balance of sweet lemon and pine will have you seeing stars.

SHOP Grape Ape

Grape Ape is a gentle giant. This moderately sweet Indica is the serendipitous offspring of a hotly-debated love triangle between Skunk #1, Afghani, and Mendocino Purps. Berry flavor is punctuated with woody undertones.

SHOP Super Silver Haze

Super Silver Haze transforms the classic aromas of its lineage into a bright, otherworldly bouquet. Exhilarating pine, lemon, and lime take on a luminous quality alongside sweet floral and herbal notes.

SHOP Super Lemon Haze

Super Lemon Haze has a zesty lemon aroma that’s candy-like without overpowering the senses. The subtlest hint of pine sets off the flavor and makes it a heady solution for daytime errands, hikes, or afternoon lulls.