Um, two things, and a little weed history for younger people here.
1. You're old. But then again, so am I, because I used that term (lid) when buying an ounce in my teens.
2. You had no money when you were young.
Anybody paying that price meant you were buying dirt weed, but until the mid-late seventies, that was mostly all you could buy. Leaves, shake, seeds, stems, and a few pieces of bud mixed in. Literally dried in bulk in a clothes dryer. I don't think most people today realize just how nasty it was if you inadvertently left a seed in the bowl. Back then, though, weed was mostly coming from Mexico, they didn't know how to grow and process properly and they would tightly pack it for transport. You could solo an entire joint of the stuff and still function. I was in California and very quickly found sources for Cali bud at around $35 for 1/4 ounce for what was at the time top notch (but nothing like the stuff now). I was a total pothead between about 18-19, then quit until quite recently because I realized that it totally robbed me of all ambition. A very occasional thing now, and I don't like to get wrecked on it. For me, I wouldn't even attempt to lift on it, because my lifts would suck and these days I would never drive while high as I don't have a home gym. Also...marijuana *does* raise blood pressure while active in your system and is technically classified as a stimulant, so those with blood pressure issues should probably not bake and lift.
I also grew up in CA 1974-1990 and you described the times perfectly.
I had the exact same experience as you back then.
It was tough to find and always full of seeds and compressed crap from Mexico unless you knew someone who lived up in the golden triangle who could hook you up.
As for use of marijuana and lifting, of course, it’s an individual preference.
Myself, I get hyped when using THC so it been a motivating substance for me.
As for mental focus during workouts, I meditate during my workouts and I don’t socialize in the gym at all so I find that use of MMJ actually helps me in meditation which results in greater focus and the mind body/separation I can achieve allows me to do sets without feeling any physical pain.
I’ve practiced meditation for mental focus and its ability to block pain for the past two decades.
Also, I listen to music on my headphones while working out and it all just sounds better.
I can empathize with people who suffer anxiety issues on weed. It’s not for everyone.
Just the same as alcohol is not for me. It’s much worse for one’s health and wellbeing.
I consider cannabis to be a much healthier alternative to just about every other substance people utilize for both mental and physical relief.
I’m rated 100% disabled for combat related ptsd and cannabis has been a life changer for me.
I also stopped using it for about 25 years because I had other priorities such as family and military career that weren’t compatible with marijuana use.
But my kids are all grown and out of the house doing well and I’m retired so my circumstances are much more favorable these days.
I much prefer that the industry is licensed and regulated rigidly than the way it used be 20-30 years ago when you really had no idea what you were getting but it was almost always guaranteed to be low quality and full of pesticides.
I’ve actually embraced the regulated industry and even gone so far as to get wholesalers license.
You’d be shocked how little dispensaries pay growers for what they charge retail customers.
The markups can be in the thousand percentile at times but are typically around 10X the wholesale price.
