lid, meth, etc. (1966)

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On Mon, 20 Dec 2004 03:44:30 -0500, Benjamin Zimmer
<bgzimmer at RCI.RUTGERS.EDU> wrote:

>A New Drug Culture Is Burgeoning
>Washington Post, Aug 21, 1966, pp. E1, E5
>
>* lid = 'ounce of marijuana' (OED2 1967)
>
>   Depending on how closely the box is packed, you can roll between
>   10 and 15 joints from its contents, which cost $5 for an average
>   quality. Between four and five boxes make an economy-size lid
>   (one ounce), which runs $15.

Slightly antedated by:

  New York Times, Mar 21, 1966, p. 27, col. 2
  The more sophisticated users, however, buy it by the ounce, which costs
  from $15 to $25 and in the Western states is called a can or lid.


--Ben Zimmer