Guide to Weed Measurements
Weed measurements can get complicated - gram, eight, quarter, ounce and even some slang terms like dime bag. If you're just venturing into the world of cannabis flower, the weed metric system can be a little daunting.
Most marijuana strains are measured in ounces, but you can purchase different weed amounts. The perfect amount depends on your needs for the material. Here's a breakdown of the most common weed measurements.
Gram
A gram of weed is a base unit of measurement. It's the smallest measurement you can purchase so it's a solid choice for trying out a new strain or just giving cannabis a go in general. A single gram is enough to fill a couple of joints or blunts. A gram is usually the smallest amount of weed you can purchase from a dispensary.
Eighth
An eighth is an eighth of an ounce of weed, or 3.5 grams of cannabis. This amount is enough for several blunts and bowl packs. It’s the most popular quantity because you have enough at your disposal, but don't have to rush to consume it.
Quarter
Sometimes referred to as a “quad”, a quarter ounce of cannabis is equivalent to about 7 grams or double an eighth. This quantity is suitable for regular users who tend to run through smaller purchases relatively quickly.
A quarter of weed is enough to roll about 12 joints or pack a considerable amount of bowls and one hitter, depending on your tolerance level.
Half
A half or “half zip”, is half an ounce of marijuana. To put that in perspective, half an ounce is around 14 grams of weed and enough to easily roll upwards of 30 joints. This larger quantity is better served by heavy users of the plant.
Ounce
A full ounce of weed, or a “zip” is just over 28 grams of cannabis. It is important to note that this is the legal limit for purchasing marijuana in a single transaction.
An ounce of weed can produce nearly 60 blunts or 100 joints. An ounce is usually the largest amount you can buy at one time and usually lasts the average cannabis user between two weeks and a month. Some people who work in the cannabis industry like buyers and dispensary owners are sometimes able to purchase more than this.
Pound
Although pretty rare and an inconceivable amount of green for a single person to use, if you find yourself with a pound of weed you should be set for quite some time. Weighing in at 16 entire ounces or about 454 grams.
Although, if you are not an authorized purchaser possession of anything near this amount is likely punishable by jail time or fines. Make sure to check on your local law enforcement guidelines before trying to take the Costco approach to your weed!
Marijuana Measurement Breakdown
- 1 eighth = eight ounce = 3.5 grams
- 1 quarter = fourth ounce = 7 grams
- 1 half = half ounce = 14 grams
- 1 ounce = 28 grams
- 1 pound = 16 ounces = 448 grams
SLANG TERMS FOR WEED MEASUREMENTS
There are a number of ways to measure weed quantity, and when you add slang terms into the cannabis measurement, it gets complicated. Here's a quick breakdown of some common slang terms you might hear.
- A dime bag is a small plastic bag of weed.
- A dub, or dub sack, is 2 grams of weed.
- A slice is an eighth or 3.5 grams.
- A zip is roughly an ounce or 28 grams.
