If you’re a newbie cannabis user, you might not be aware of how important it is to know your weed measurements so you know if you’re getting the most for your money. Weed is generally sold for a quarter of an ounce (7 grams of marijuana), a half ounce (14 grams of marijuana), or a full ounce (28 grams of marijuana).
While you can definitely buy larger quantities of weed for a cheaper price, getting a smaller amount of cannabis is often better, especially since the legalization laws in a lot of countries allow you to have about one ounce of marijuana on you. The only exception would be medical marijuana patients who can legally possess a more substantial amount of weed.
So, if you’re interested in figuring out marijuana measurements when buying your favorite high quality THC or CBD rich strain, read on.
Typical Weed Measurements
Below, we’ll go over all the cannabis measurements ranging from the smallest to the largest.
Gram
This is the smallest metric system unit for marijuana purchases. This is a good choice for cannabis users who want to buy weed in smaller amounts since they don’t consume it that often, or for those who want to try out a few new strains. A single gram will be enough for a few joints, or one to two blunts. In most legal states (such as Colorado, California, and others) a gram would cost anywhere between $12 and $20, depending on the tax which is often higher for recreational cannabis use.
Eighth of an Ounce
One-eighth of an ounce, or an eighth, equals 3 .5 grams of weed. This is one of the most popular weed quantities that’s also the most commonly sold weight in dispensaries. When buying this amount of weed, you have enough to satisfy your need, without worrying too much if it dries out before you finish using it.
Quarter of an Ounce
A quarter of an ounce, or a quarter, equals 7 grams of weed. This is a larger amount which is suitable if you’re planning to have your friends over and want to make sure there’s enough for everyone.
Half of an Ounce
A half of an ounce, or a half, equals 14 grams of weed, and it’s often bought by people who want to have a slightly bigger stash.
Ounce of Weed
An ounce of weed, or an ounce, weighs around 28 grams. The full ounce is often the largest quantity you can buy at most dispensaries because of strict possession laws.
Pound of Weed
Larger quantities of weed are generally bought by dispensary owners and sold by growers. One pound of weed has 16 ounces of weed which roughly equals 453 grams of marijuana. This is the quantity that most cannabis users use for a whole year.
Slang Terms for Weed Quantities
Apart from the general terms for weed quantities, there are also slang terms which are generally used in places where marijuana is sold illegally, hence the secretive language. For informational purposes, we’re listing them below.
Nick
A nick of weed, or nickel of weed, is the smallest quantity of weed that can be sold by dealers. It costs $5 and gets you about a quarter of a gram of low-quality weed, or a quarter of a gram of high-quality weed.
Dime Bag
This is the slang term for the small plastic bag of weed that you get for $10. Sometimes spelled dimebag, this weed quantity roughly equals 1 gram of weed. As weed is now mostly sold in eights, the term dime bag is becoming less popular.
Dub
A dub of weed, or a dub sack, is a weed baggie that contains twice the amount of weed than a dime bag, or about 2 grams, and is sold for $20.
Slice
A slice of weed is another term which is used to refer to an eighth of an ounce, or 3.5 grams.
Zip
The term zip of weed probably got its name from an ounce of weed filled in a Ziploc bag, which is about 28 grams or one ounce.
Key of Weed
A key of weed is the slang term used for a kilogram of weed. This gets you 1000 grams of weed in metric measurements or 2.2 pounds of weed in imperial measurements. This amount is generally sold by growers and bought by dispensaries.
How to Measure Your Weed Properly?
If you’d like to determine the amount of your weed accurately, you’ll definitely need the right equipment, or in other words, a scale. Digital scales are the best for measuring weed since every decimal counts, and digital ones have about two decimal places.
You can purchase one at your local dispensary, but you can also find it in local department stores (look for a baker’s scale). If you’d like a scale with more precision, you can opt for a jeweler’s scale rather than a baker’s scale. After you’ve bought your scale, you can proceed to measuring your weed.
To measure your weed, get a small dish (where you’ll place your weed) and set the tare before turning the scale on so you don’t measure the weight of the dish. Place your weed on the scale and read the number. However, if you don’t have a scale, fear not because there are alternative ways for you to measure your weed. Some of them include using a piece of paper, using a ruler, or even making a homemade DIY scale. For more information on the subject, you can look at our recent guide on how to measure weed without a scale (it will give you further details on measuring your weed).
Final Thoughts
Cannabis quantities can confuse most users, especially if they’re used to imperial measurements and go to dispensaries that measure with the metric system. To make it easier for you when you go to buy your weed, we’ve included a list of the most common weed measurements in both the imperial and the metric system so you always know the amount you’re buying:
- 1 eighth = ⅛-ounce = 3.5 grams
- 1 quarter = ¼-ounce = 7 grams
- 1 half = ½-ounce = 14 grams
- 1 ounce = 28 grams
- 1 pound = 453 grams
On the other hand, the slang terms for weed quantities can be even more confusing. These include:
- A nick of weed = 1 quarter of a gram;
- A dime bag = 1 gram of weed;
- A dub sack = 2 grams of weed;
- A slice of weed = 3.5 grams of weed;
- A zip of weed = 1 ounce = 28 grams;
- A key of weed = 2.2 pounds = 1000 grams.
If you’d like to make sure that the amount you’re getting is equal to the amount you’re paying for and also double check the work of your budtender, buy yourself a digital scale. That way you’ll be able to weigh your weed once more after you bring it back home from the dispensary.
