Visual Guide to Cannabis Quantities | By ounce and gram
A gram, an eighth, an ounce – what does it all mean? We’ve come a long way from the days of the “dimebag” and the “twenty-sack,” but the interchangeable use of metric and imperial systems of measurement in the legal cannabis industry is quickly becoming confusing; Who hasn’t mixed up their weed amounts at some point? Keeping track of all the names associated with various amounts of cannabis being sold at dispensaries, delivery services and by one man (wink, wink) can be challenging and, at worst, a rip off.
At the heart of the confusion is our conceptualization of weight versus mass, which depends on both product size and density. If you’re new to cannabis, this video and written visual guide will provide you with a general framework to familiarize yourself with typical flower sales quantities so you don’t get stiff.
What are standard amounts of weed like?
When grown well, 1 gram of cannabis flower yields approximately one medium to large sized bud or two smaller buds. An eighth is usually a handful of two to four buds, depending on stem size and how densely packed the buds are; Many operators keep the largest and most beautiful buds for their eighths. A quarter ounce will vary in volume depending on whether it’s small or hearty buds, but should easily fit in a sunglass case.
The larger the batches get, the more difficult it is to predict their size, but half to one ounce of weed is enough to fill a standard resealable sandwich bag.
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Something to note: These representations are educated approximations only as density varies (sometimes drastically) between plants, cultivars and brands. Indica strains tend to grow as stockier plants with thicker, denser buds, while sativas tend to have longer, more stretched nuggets. Think of it as the riddle of a pound of feathers for a pound of gold; A dense cannabis flower from the Cookies strain family can look much smaller than a fluffy Jack Herrer bud, despite both weighing the same.
Luckily, cannabis companies and producers need to determine the exact weight of their weed before it is packaged and taken to a retailer for sale; Even if it doesn’t look like an eighth in the jar or bag, the scales don’t lie.
It’s also important to remember that the weight of cannabis buds doesn’t just come from the smokable parts of the plant. Some of the weight will come from the stems and moisture content. Cannabis flowers lose weight as they age and dry out, so always check the pack date when buying from a store.
A gram of cannabis flower will look very different than a gram of concentrates or cartridge oil. We recommend asking your budtender for specific questions about dab and non-flower amounts.
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How to convert ounces of weed to grams
Before the regulations that came with the legalization of recreational cannabis, you probably remember buying weed in fractions based on your needs; some weeks might have called for an “eighth” (⅛ ounce) and others a “quarter” (¼ ounce). But at the dispensary, you’re much more likely to see buds packaged in gram quantities. For reference, here is a quick conversion guide from ounces of weed to grams.
| Imperial Amount | Metric amount |
| Eighth (1/8) ounce | 3.5 grams |
| Quarter (1/4) ounce | 7 grams |
| Half (1/2) ounce | 17 grams |
| Full (1) ounce | 28 grams |
| Whole pound (16 oz) | 448 grams |
The price of the flower depends on the quality of the product, the market (medicinal or adult use), and the tax structures in the state and county where they are sold. You can expect to pay anywhere from $10 to $20 for a gram of flower and $25 to $75 for an eighth. Some companies offer volume discounts, and pharmacies often offer deals to help ease sticker shock.
Express Summary: Ounces vs. Grams of Weed
Per adult use regulations, a customer may purchase no more than one full ounce of flower from a pharmacy or delivery service in a day. Medical marijuana programs may allow more, but most people barely reach their purchasing limits.
The smallest amount of cannabis flower you can buy from a licensed retailer is one gram. One gram is enough for about two personal sized joints, or about three to four bowls in a pipe or bong, making it a great option for the casual user and when trying a new variety. The next size up, and by far the most popular amount, is three and a half grams, or one eighth. That’s enough for about seven joints; seven grams (a quarter ounce) will roll about 14 joints, so 14 grams (or half an ounce) will roll nearly 30 joints. Thus, a full ounce of cannabis, which is 28 grams, can roll almost 60 joints or pack more than 100 bowls.
Keep in mind that pre-rolled joints are often sold in half or whole gram quantities. You can select half a gram to share with a friend or a full gram for a larger group.
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Slang terms for weed measurements
While dispensaries in all legal and medical states have standardized their measurements and created a clear system for purchasing the legal amount of cannabis, for most of history people have bought weed based on pictures and what they could afford . This is where the code words come into play. Even if you never intend to use them, stoners have always renewed the language regarding their most valuable purchase. Here are some selected slang terms for weed measurement in ascending order:
- A “g”, a Gerb, a Deag: a gram
- A bag of nickels: $5 worth of weed. This is usually half a gram to 1 gram depending on the generosity of your dealer.
- A dimebag, dime, or dime sack: That’s $10 worth of weed. While amounts vary by retailer, this is typically half a gram to 1 gram.
- Twenty-bag, dub-sack, or just a dub: that’s $20 worth of weed. Amounts also vary, but hopefully you’ll get at least a gram to 1.5 grams.
- One sixteenth, half an eighth: That’s half an eighth, or about 1.75 grams.
- One Slice: Just like a pizza slice is one-eighth of the pie, a “slice” is one-eighth of an ounce.
- Half a Zip: This is half an ounce or 14 grams.
- A zipper: This is an ounce (28 grams) of weed, named for the time they were handled in resealable plastic bags before legalization.
- A “qp” (pronounced cue-pee): a quarter pound of weed, or 4 oz.
- A Pack: This is a pound of weed, named for the way it’s transported in turkey sacks.
To make sure you get what you paid for
Before states introduced adult-use laws that included track-and-trace monitoring of all cannabis and derivative products, many dispensaries operated deli-style, allowing patients to purchase the desired amount of weed based on budget in mind able to adjust scales. Now that the flowers have to be pre-weighed and packaged in front of the consumer, you may have doubts about getting your money’s worth.
If you’re afraid of getting dumped, we highly recommend investing in a scale. When you’re home, weigh your weed and compare it to the amount listed on the packaging. If there are any discrepancies, we recommend that you bring them back to your pharmacy with photo evidence or contact the delivery service. Most companies have no qualms about substituting underweight products.
This post was originally published on November 18, 2014. It was last updated on June 14, 2022.
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