Sign for Club 420, a cannabis dispensary and lounge in Austin, Texas, March 11, 2023.
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Your boss is unlikely to give you holiday pay for April 20 — but there are other ways to celebrate. A handful of restaurants and companies are offering discounts to help with the munchies.
Here’s a brief explainer about the 4/20 holiday and where you can score food deals to satisfy your cravings.
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What is 4/20? What does 4/20 mean?
April 20 — abbreviated as “4/20” — has been deemed the unofficial holiday of marijuana.
There are many theories about why 4/20 is associated with marijuana, some with more validity than others. Perhaps the most plausible origin story comes from five teenagers at a California high school.
Popular lore ties the birth of 4/20 to a group of high schoolers attending Northern California’s San Rafael High School in the early 1970s. The five teens — Steve Capper, Dave Reddix, Jeffrey Noel, Larry Schwartz and Mark Gravich — became known as the “Waldos” because they met by a wall.
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The students met at 4:20 p.m. by the statue of chemist Louis Pasteur to smoke weed, presumably because most extracurricular activities had ended by that time.
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse: $4.20 Pizookies®
From 9 p.m. until close on April 20, BJ’s is serving Pizookies® for $4.20 each. Pizookies® are a signature dessert that combines a warm, fresh-baked, deep-dish cookie with cold vanilla bean ice cream. The deal is limited to Signature Pizookie® flavors only, which include Chocolate Chunk, Salted Caramel, Hot Fudge Brownie, Strawberry Shortcake, Cookies ‘n’ Cream, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut, and Triple Chocolate made with Ghirardelli®.
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Cheba Hut: $4.20 Nugs
On Monday only, Cheba Hut has $4.20 Nugs — 4-inch sub sandwiches — served on limited-edition frisbees.
GoPuff: $1 Ben & Jerry’s ‘Half Baked’ pints
From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. CT on April 20, GoPuff customers can order pints of Ben & Jerry’s “Half Baked” ice cream for $1 each, while supplies last. The flavor combines chocolate and vanilla ice cream mixed with pieces of chocolate chip cookie dough and fudge brownies.
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Also through Monday, select Ben & Jerry’s pints will be priced at $4.20.
Jimmy John’s: BOGO meals
On Monday only, Jimmy John’s is offering a buy-one-get-one-free deal for Dream Rotation Meals. Customers can choose among five options, which all include a toasted sandwich, chips and a new Cereal n’ Milk Crispy Treat. Use the code “DREAMROTATION” to redeem the offer.
KFC: Pot pies, nuggets deals
KFC has a few deals for those with the 4/20 munchies. On Monday only, customers can get a $4.20 Pot Pie Combo that includes a medium drink. The chain’s “2 for $2.95” deal includes either two pieces of Original Recipe or Extra Crispy Chicken or two hand-breaded tenders.
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Lastly, KFC is launching its new $20 Chick N’ Nug Meal on April 20, which includes six pieces of bone-in chicken, 12 nuggets, two large sides and four biscuits.
Taco Bell: Free Nacho Fries with $20 delivery order
Customers who spend $20 or more on a Taco Bell delivery order via DoorDash, Uber Eats or Postmates on April 20 will be rewarded with a free large order of Nacho Fries.
Wingstop: Hot Box
In celebration of 4/20, Wingstop is bringing back a fan favorite: the Hot Box. Customers can choose between three tenders or eight wings tossed with the Fiery Nacho flavor — a spicy, cheesy dry rub — served on a bed of fries and topped with housemade ranch and a natural herb seasoning. The meal also includes a 20-ounce drink and a side of dipping sauce.
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The Hot Box has returned to Wingstop, just in time for 4/20.
Courtesy/Wingstop
“4/20 is a day many of our fans celebrate, rooted in culture and shared moments, making Wingstop the obvious choice,” Donnie Upshaw, Chief Brand Officer of Wingstop, said. “The Wingstop Hot Box elevates fans’ rituals with bold, indulgent and intensely craveable flavor.”
Dunkin’ Donuts: 4x points on cold brew
While Dunkin’ doesn’t typically celebrate the 4/20 holiday, it does celebrate National Cold Brew Day. Rewards members who order any Cold Brew drink on Monday will earn quadruple the points. Plus, they can earn an extra 100 bonus points for ordering ahead via the app on Mobile Monday.
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Dunkin’ Rewards members can earn quadruple the points by ordering a cold brew drink on National Cold Brew Day.
Courtesy/Dunkin’ Donuts
Chipotle: Hockey BOGO
While not directly related to the unofficial weed holiday, Chipotle is celebrating the start of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20 with the return of its “Hockey Jersey BOGO” promotion. Customers who wear a hockey jersey inside a Chipotle after 3 p.m. local time can enjoy buy-one-get-one-free entrée, subject to availability.
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— USA TODAY contributed to this report.