The top 420 events in San Francisco [2024] 

San Francisco has long been a cannabis haven for visitors from around the United States and other countries across the globe. Before California passed Proposition 64 in 2016 to legalize recreational cannabis for adults 21 and older, the city's Haight-Ashbury District created the hippie movement of the 1960s and counted famous stoners like the Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin among its residents. 

Medical cannabis pioneers Dennis Peron and Brownie Mary Castro (née Mary Jane Rathbun) launched the modern-day weed-as-medicine revolution from San Francisco's Castro District during the 1980s and early 90s, in response to the AIDS epidemic ravaging the city's neighborhoods.

Fast-forward to 2024, and the place known as “Fog City” is a sprawling paradise for legal cannabis — both as medicine and for fun.

What to know about smoking weed in San Francisco

4/20 is the holiday of holidays for weed smokers, and San Francisco is arguably the top city in the whole United States for visitors to enjoy this extra-special cannabis celebration. 

Man lighting joint Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

But there are a few restrictions: 

  • Cannabis users can only legally use the plant in a licensed marijuana consumption lounge or at a private residence with the owner's permission.
  • The city warns that smoking in public places, like parks and sidewalks, near schools, or anywhere with children, could land violators a ticket and possibly a misdemeanor citation. The same goes for smoking weed inside most buildings, including restaurants and bars. 
  • Authorities claim that lighting up at outdoor events such as music festivals, street fairs, and parades may also result in an unwanted ticket, but that comes with a wink and a nudge — it's rarely enforced.

Buying adult-use weed in San Francisco is pretty easy and straightforward. All you need is a government-issued ID, such as a driver's license or passport, that proves you're 21 or older. Recreational users can buy and carry up to 1 ounce of flower or 8 grams of THC concentrates. 

Medical cannabis is more difficult, but it could be worth the extra effort, thanks to its lower age limit and higher possession limit. Adults 18 and older need a California Medical Marijuana ID card, which opens the door for purchasing up to 8 ounces of flower. Unfortunately, the Golden State doesn't accept medical weed cards from other states.

If you're visiting San Francisco from out of state, only buy what you can consume during your time in Fog City. It's illegal to bring your weed outside of California, even if you're going home to a cannabis-legal state such as Nevada or Oregon.

420 events in San Francisco

No matter your preferred way to celebrate 4/20, San Francisco offers something for every type of cannabis reveler.

420 at 7 Stars 

7 Stars dispensary exterior Photo by: Courtesy of 7 Stars Holistic Healing Center

Just north of San Francisco in nearby Richmond, one of the area's most popular dispensaries is holding a sprawling 420 bonanza. The celebration at 7 Stars Holistic Healing Center will include California cannabis farmers selling their top products and the debut of 7 Stars' cannabis consumption lounge, called Exit Now.

The event is free for adults 21 and over and will also feature free food, live music, a prize wheel, and the newest art from local creators on display. 

  • Address: 7 Stars Holistic Healing Center, 3219 Pierce Street, Richmond, CA 94804
  • Time: April 20, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
  • Price: Free

Bass & Blunts 420

Nothing resonates on 4/20 like live music, and the Bass & Blunts 420 concert has plenty of it to go around. The seven-hour event features McWavy's original emotion-driven soul music, along with violinist Josh Teed, who meshes introspective EDM-style instrumentals with nodes of classical violin. 

The appropriately named Seeded Vision, whose music “aims to bridge worlds” with emotive soundscapes and subtle, complex grooves, will open the indoor show at The Midway, a 40,000-square-foot venue in San Francisco's Bayview neighborhood.

  • Address: The Midway, 900 Marin St, San Francisco, CA 94124
  • Time: April 20, 2:00 pm – 9:00 pm
  • Price: $20 - $30

Baked! 420 Celebration

Photo by: Alessandra Sio on Unsplash

Cannabis vendors and Filipino culinary artists alike will showcase their tastiest products during this unique annual event in a San Francisco urban park. Expect live music, delicious eats, weed product giveaways, and some good smoking during this six-hour outdoor party that combines cannabis culture with the best food from the Philippines.

Epicenter Sound 4/20 Party

Just north of San Francisco, a historic saloon in Bolinas will close out 4/20 with DJs Zelus, Omatic, and Zoro spinning the hottest music across reggae and hip-hop genres. Smiley's Schooner Saloon, the oldest saloon on the West Coast, has continually operated in the same coastal location since 1851. A 2020 renovation added a restaurant and outdoor patio, making this vintage bar a solid option for a night celebrating 420.

  • Address: Smiley's Schooner Saloon, 41 Wharf Rd, Bolinas, CA 94924
  • Time: April 20, 8:30 pm – 2:00 am
  • Price: $5 - $10 to reserve a table

Honorable mention: 420 at Hippie Hill

California's OG of public gatherings to celebrate cannabis, 420 at Hippie Hill has rocked San Francisco each year since the 1970s. The event is typically complete with good vibes, live music, food trucks, and, of course, a massive collective puff at 4:20 pm. 

Unfortunately, organizers for the event announced that it has been canceled for 2024.

Tips from a San Francisco local

Nate Haas, a fourth-generation San Franciscan and the founder of Moe Greens Dispensary and Lounge has hosted his fair share of 420 celebrations in the Bay Area. Moe Greens, located at 276 Market Street in the city's Mid-Market District, will also offer product specials and a host of giveaways for 4/20 this year. 

Haas said that while Hippie Hill was always a San Francisco staple, the city has plenty of other 420 events to offer throughout the day and evening. “The cannabis scene just keeps getting bigger here, especially since the state legalized the plant,” he said. “Just make sure to always be in groups and have someone you know and trust with you.”

Street car Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

San Francisco weather can be unpredictable, but it's generally cooler. In the morning, temperatures are in the 50s, and during the day, they reach the mid-60s. Haas suggested preparing for sun that's hot enough to require sunscreen and also preparing for the possibility of rain.

He also recommended that tourists celebrating 4/20 in the city “start low and go slow” with how much weed they consume and avoid driving altogether — both for safety and logistical reasons. While San Francisco traffic can be heavy and parking difficult on most regular days, a Saturday on the biggest weed holiday of the year only stands to complicate matters. “There are plenty of Ubers and Lyfts available,” he suggested. “That's probably a better bet than driving on your own, for everyone's safety but also just pure convenience.”

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The information contained in this site is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as medical or legal advice. This page was last updated on March 26, 2024.