Kenny Boynton smokes a joint San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, April 20, 2018. Thousands of marijuana enthusiasts flocked to San Franciscoâs Golden Gate Park for the annual April 20 celebration of cannabis that culminated with the crowd sparking up precisely at 4:20 p.m. The gathering was the first since California enacted broad legalization of marijuana Jan. 1. The festival is a celebration of the number 420, stonerâs code for smoking marijuana. A small, informal gathering that began several years ago has blossomed into a full-blown festival of corporate sponsors and commercial booths selling smoking devices, t-shirts and food. (AP Photo/Josh Edelson)
The Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Thousands of marijuana enthusiasts simultaneously exhaled a giant cloud of smoke that rose above San Francisco's Golden Gate Park precisely at 4:20 p.m. Friday, the annual April 20 high holiday.
An estimated 20,000 people flocked to the park's so-called Hippie Hill for the annual 420 celebration of all things pot and the number that is stoners' code for smoking marijuana. Events also were held in other cities worldwide.
The San Francisco gathering was the first since California legalized marijuana on Jan. 1 and it may have been its biggest yet.
A small, informal gathering that began several years ago has blossomed into a full-blown festival of corporate sponsors and commercial booths selling smoking devices, T-shirts and food.
Plenty of marijuana products also were on sale, with sellers fanning through the crowd like hot dog vendors at baseball games.
San Francisco TV station KGO reported that 12 people were transported to hospitals for treatment. KGO reported the San Francisco Police are investigating some of the cases as possible fentanyl overdoses.
No arrests were reported.
Five Northern California men say they created the 420 code in 1971 while high school classmates when they planned to meet at 4:20 p.m. to smoke.
A mushroom flag blows in the wind as thousands gather in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, April 20, 2018. Thousands of marijuana enthusiasts flocked to San Franciscoâs Golden Gate Park for the annual April 20 celebration of cannabis that culminated with the crowd sparking up precisely at 4:20 p.m. The gathering was the first since California enacted broad legalization of marijuana Jan. 1. The festival is a celebration of the number 420, stonerâs code for smoking marijuana. A small, informal gathering that began several years ago has blossomed into a full-blown festival of corporate sponsors and commercial booths selling smoking devices, t-shirts and food. (AP Photo/Josh Edelson)
The Associated Press
A man who only gave his name as Art sells blunts for $5 a piece in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, April 20, 2018. Thousands of marijuana enthusiasts flocked to San Franciscoâs Golden Gate Park for the annual April 20 celebration of cannabis that culminated with the crowd sparking up precisely at 4:20 p.m. The gathering was the first since California enacted broad legalization of marijuana Jan. 1. The festival is a celebration of the number 420, stonerâs code for smoking marijuana. A small, informal gathering that began several years ago has blossomed into a full-blown festival of corporate sponsors and commercial booths selling smoking devices, t-shirts and food. (AP Photo/Josh Edelson)
The Associated Press
A man who only gave his name as Bryan smokes a joint on Hippie Hill in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, April 20, 2018. The gathering was the first since California enacted broad legalization of marijuana Jan. 1. The festival is a celebration of the number 420, stonerâs code for smoking marijuana. A small, informal gathering that began several years ago has blossomed into a full-blown festival of corporate sponsors and commercial booths selling smoking devices, t-shirts and food. (AP Photo/Josh Edelson)
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Trisha Parker-Madison of Chicago celebrates by waving a flag to promote marijuana legalization during the Mile High 420 Festival Friday, April 20, 2018, in Denver. The annual celebration was projected to attract an estimated 50,000 people in Civic Center Park. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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Larnell Rhea of Denver smokes a joint during the Mile High 420 Festival Friday, April 20, 2018, in Denver. The annual celebration was projected to attract an estimated 50,000 people in Civic Center Park. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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Attendees celebrate at 4:20 p.m. by lighting up marijuana during the Mile High 420 Festival Friday, April 20, 2018, in Denver. The annual celebration was projected to attract an estimated 50,000 people in Civic Center Park. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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Lanika Rhea celebrates at 4:20 p.m. by lighting up marijuana during the Mile High 420 Festival Friday, April 20, 2018, in Denver. The annual celebration was projected to attract an estimated 50,000 people in Civic Center Park. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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A cloud of smoke hangs over the crowd as thousands of people smoke marijuana during the 4-20 annual marijuana celebration, in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Friday April 20, 2018. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
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A man reacts while smoking a joint along with thousands of others during the 4-20 annual marijuana celebration, in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Friday April 20, 2018. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
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