Navigating the world of cannabis requires us to deal in a niche culture with a uniquely defined quantifying system. The cannabis industry quantifies flower using both the imperial and metric systems, and there is plenty of jargon used to reference standard amounts. This can be quite confusing to someone without a scale or experience in cannabis culture when trying to determine what a gram, eighth or ounce looks like.
Cannabis typically is sold to consumers in one gram, one-eighth of an ounce, a quarter-ounce, a half-ounce, or a full ounce with a price break for larger amounts. Most dispensaries cap individual sales at one ounce per visit, so customers likely will not expect to go home with anything larger than an ounce of flower. Cultivators and distributors, however, frequently deal in half-pounds and full pounds when selling to dispensaries.
One gram
A single gram of cannabis produces about one joint or two bowls; it’s typically the smallest quantity of flower a dispensary will offer to cannabis consumers. One gram of weed usually looks like a standard or average-size nug. Before recreational or medical marijuana were legalized in the United States, people colloquially referred to a gram as a “dime bag” because a gram of marijuana sold for about $10. Today, many dispensaries sell single grams of marijuana for around $15 depending on the quality of the product.
One eighth
When you hear people talk about “an eighth” in the context of cannabis, they are referring to one-eighth of an ounce of flower. This is a very popular amount among consumers. An eighth is equal to 3.5 grams of weed and usually will amount to a good handful if held in one palm. An eighth of cannabis will produce about four good-sized, pre-roll joints. Depending upon the strain and producer, the price of an eighth will usually vary from $20 to $65 plus any applicable state or local taxes.
Quarter ounce
Another popular amount among consumers looking to save money is one-quarter of an ounce. This is equivalent to seven grams of cannabis and produces around seven sizable joints. People often refer to this amount simply as “a quarter” or “a quad.” A quarter-ounce of weed costs anywhere from $60 to $85 at retail.
Half ounce
A half-ounce or 14 grams of cannabis flower is frequently purchased by medical marijuana patients and high-volume recreational consumers. A half-ounce of cannabis costs anywhere between $100 and $160, making it a great option for people who have found a strain they really enjoy and want to save on the cost per gram. Generally, the larger the quantity, the more bang consumers expect to get for their buck. Dispensaries frequently offer exceptional deals on amounts this size and larger. A half-ounce, also referred to as “a half-O” or just “a half,” can produce more than 25 joints and up to 14 blunts.
Ounce
A full ounce is equal to 28 grams of marijuana. In most legal states, this is the maximum amount an individual may purchase at one time. Just like the price of a half-ounce, the price of a full ounce can vary significantly. Consumers can expect to pay anywhere in the neighborhood from $160 to $350. When a dispensary needs to make space for incoming shipments of flower, they sometimes offer full ounces for heavily discounted prices.
Half pound
Once cannabis is being quantified in terms of pounds, it’s usually in the context of business-to-business sales. A half-pound is equal to 226.8 grams or eight ounces of marijuana. Industry workers sometimes refer to this amount as a “half pack” or a “half-pounder.” The amount usually takes up the space of half a bowling ball. In some instances, the industry professionals may deal in quarter pounds of cannabis flower, which are commonly referred to as “QPs.” If ground up, a half-pound of cannabis is approximately 13.5″ (length) x 7.2″ (width) x 6.25″ (height).
One pound
One full pound of weed is equal to 453.6 grams of flower, can pack upwards of 1,000 bowls or 500 joints, and takes up the space of a full bowling ball. One pound is an everyday measurement for growers and large-scale buyers or processors. Sun-grown (outdoor) cannabis costs around $100 per pound of flower to produce. However, when cannabis is grown in a greenhouse or indoors, production costs can increase from $250 to $475 per pound. A pound of decent quality flower is sold at wholesale for about $750 with prices varying greatly for older or lower-grade products. Once ground through a precision grinder, a full pound of ground cannabis is roughly 13.65″ (length) x 10.75″ (width) x 9.75″ (height).
