"Smoked some overseas too but that's a whole other thing."
Sounds like maybe you served in Viet Nam, Camo Hat. Whether you did or did not, I doff my own camo hat in tribute to those who served. You already know the Pentagon's unwitting contribution to high grade cannabis; send disenfranchised young men into battle in a non-winnable war, in an area of the world loaded with strong drugs, and they will take said drugs to briefly get relief from the horror and depression of combat and witnessing suffering. And then they will bring those drugs home. Most returning Americans reentered the states via NoCal military bases, and they were exempt from customs. The weed was distributed locally, and the Humboldt county growing legend was born.
Before those bright green, crystal coated, seedless buds, everything was red and gold and seedy because the plants matured completely before harvest. Mostly though, there was the harsh, leafy, horrible commercial Mexican weed that dominated the market of the era. There was primo Mexican, but it didn't usually make it out of Mexico.
You're a bright guy, and you'll get lots of good advice and know how to follow what is right for you. I don't take a very serious approach to this hobby - I'm still busy working. So I like it to be low time investment. I use soil. You'll have no problem finding Coast of Maine lobster compost. I use it straight up with 10% perlite added. Add a pinch of mychorizae and you're good! I suppose HID is the method of choice for the serious grower. I'm an LED man because they were painless to accrue over the course of several months as my first grow happened. And they are moderately effective. I get about .5 gram/watt, and that's half the standard, but it suits me fine. Quality commercial fertilizers work well without the expense of boutique organics. Silicon is a must! I credit it to the lustrous, vibrant health of the girl in the pictures.
She is 90 days old today, and was grown from a seed stuck in the soil, 12/12. Actually 13.5/10.5. Works well for me. Her grow room mate, a sativa, is 11 months old now, has been flowering since August 2014, and has delivered over 2 ounces of great bud, which I gently pluck one bud at a time, apply aloe or saliva to the wound, and vape fresh. Delicious and strong! I pollinated her with an Indica male, and there are about 100 seeds in 5 small buds. The first ever I germinated grew a root, and then died off. Could be the female is too old to make viable seed. I'm letting the rest mature on the plant. Another month and it will be her 1st birthday! A full year growing, and some folk think I make that up. Why would I? I have nothing to prove, only to share experience.
Best of luck, and may all your trichomes be cloudy! ...get yourself a digital microscope, mate.