Confused by weed measurements but a little too embarrassed to ask? Do terms like “dime bag” and “eighth” sound familiar but leave you scratching your head? You’re not alone! Stoner lingo and insider slang are everywhere in the world of cannabis and intimidate a lot of newbies. While you don’t need to become a connoisseur of terpenes or an aficionado of strains to enjoy the benefits of bud, youdo need to know the most common ways weed is measured.
If you’re lucky enough to live in a state with access to dispensaries, you can usually count on a knowledgeable budtender to help you sort through your choices in both quality and quantity. If buying your bud brings you to a little less professional setting, you definitely want to know what you’re talking about! No matter where you buy your weed, it’s important to know both how much to ask for and how much you can expect to pay.
While you’ve probably heard terms like “dimebag” tossed around in pop culture, others such as “dub” and “zip” may remain a mystery. Don’t let any of that hold you back - you’re about to become a weed measurement pro. Read on to find everything you need to buy your kush with confidence!
How To Tell The Quality of Weed
Before we get into the most common measurements of weed, it’s important to touch on how to judge weed quality. How can you tell if weed isgood quality? One quick way is to check for appearance and smell!
What Good Weed Looks Like
There are a few things to look for when assessing your bud. Bigger doesn’talways equal better. Huge nugs with a lot of empty space and a dull, flat appearance are a no-go. Indica strains typically have tighter, denser nugs, while sativas generally look a bit fluffier. But no matter the strain, you want to see a colorful bud, not a ton of seeds and stems.
Trichomes
Another quality to look for when determining good weed vs bad weed is trichome color and density. Trichomes are the sticky little crystal-like projections that give weed it’s frosty appearance. They’re a great indicator of quality because they house the feel-good compounds like terpenes and cannabinoids that shape the vibe of your experience.
Depending on the type of strain and desired effect, you will want to look for different colors of trichomes.
Sativa strains boast uplifting, energizing, and creativity-boosting highs. To get the most from your sativa, look for nugs covered in milky-white trichomes. Sativa covered in amber trichomes can signal weed that was harvested late and is past it’s peak potency.
If the chill, relaxing body high of indica strains are more your jam, look for a greater abundance of amber colored trichomes. If your indica buds are dominantly milky-white rather than amber, they may have been harvested too early before producing their full range of active compounds.
What Good Weed Smells Like
You can also tell a lot about your weed just by using the good ’ole smell test. Smelling weed can give you insight into both the quality of your bud and its terpene profile.
In terms of quality, whatdon’t you want your weed to smell like? Urine, cut grass, and burnt hair are all signals that something went wrong either before, during, or after the harvesting process. Steer clear if you catch a whiff of any of these!
Terpene Profile
On the other hand, good weed can have a range of smells: fresh spices, pine trees, floral, fruity, or even skunky! All of these scents can clue you in to the terpenes present in your bud. Terpenes are produced and housed inside the trichomes, which is another reason why visually assessing trichome density is so important. Terpenes have unique benefits to both the plant and the smoker, so enjoy the variety and combinations of aromas as it’s all a part of the experience!
Now that we’ve talked quality, let’s get into measuring weed quantity…
What are the Common Measurements for Weed?
Weed can be purchased in terms of grams or ounces. Grams are tiny little units of weight - there are 28 of them in just one ounce. It’s best to think in terms of grams when you just want a little bit of weed. Maybe you’re trying out a new strain or just testing the cannabis waters as a novice toker. That’s when buying in grams is best.
On the other hand, dealing with ounces, or more specifically,fractions of ounces of weed is more common once you’ve established that you enjoy smoking on a more regular basis. It’s also best once you figure out what kind of bud tickles your fancy and want to save some cash and trips to the budtender.
A quick note before we get started: An ounce may not sound like much, but it is the most a person is allowed to legally possess in several states where marijuana has been legalized for recreational use. “The more you know…”
Now that we’ve got the big picture, let’s break it down into specific measurements. We’ll go over some common slang and talk about how much bud you can get for your buck!
Slang Terms For Ordering By A ‘Gram of Weed’
A dimebag
“Dimebag” or “dime” typically refers to $10 worth of weed. You’ve probably heard the term before as this was one of the most popular and affordable ways to purchase a small amount of pot back in the days before dispensaries! It was even the nickname of a beloved heavy metal guitarist of the 90’s. (RIP Dimebag Darrell).
How much is a dimebag of weed?
Depending on who you purchase from, a dimebag could range from 0.7 to 1 gram. It all depends on the quality of the bud. To put this into perspective, an average joint contains about 1/2 a gram of weed (depending on how fat you roll it), so a dimebag will get you about 1-2 joints worth of bud.
Topack a bowl, a beginner would only need a quarter of a gram, so a dimebag would give you about 3-4 bowl packs.
How much does a dimebag cost?
When asking for a dime or dimebag, expect to pay $10 with a slight range in actual weight. If you specifically order one gram, expect a range in price of anywhere from $10-15 or more depending on location of the dispensary and the quality of your bud!
If you are just venturing into the wonderful world of cannabis, purchasing a dimebag (or a gram) is a great place to start. It’s a budget-friendly way to sample a new strain (or a few!) before committing to a larger purchase.
A dub of weed
“Dub” is shorthand for “double”. So we’re essentially doubling our dimebag here to get $20 of weed. Another term for this is “dubsack”.
How much is a dub of weed?
Like the dimebag, the dubsack can range in weight. Anywhere from 1.5-2 grams is typical, with 2 grams being the standard. If you order a dub, expect to pay $20 with a slight variance in weight depending on who you purchase from. However, if you request two grams specifically, expect to pay anywhere from $20-$30.
Slang Terms For Ordering By An ‘Ounce of Weed’
The other most common measurements of weed deal in fractions of an ounce. Whether you’re purchasing an eighth, quarter, half, or full ounce, this typically means you’ve sampled the product and are now looking to buy in bulk. Purchasing these larger quantities will give you a smaller cost-per-gram, so they’re a great option when you’ve found something you enjoy.
Another important aspect to note is that while the weight of a dimebag or dub can vary, ordering by fractions of an ounce means you should be getting exact measurements with the only variances being price, strain, and quality.
An Eighth of Weed
The smallest fraction is the “eighth”, or ⅛ of an ounce, also referred to as a “cut”, “slice”, or “eify”. An eighth is also a good amount of weed for a fun night or two smoking with friends.
How much is an eighth of weed?
An eighth of weed is equal to 3.5 grams. If we can get about 2 joints or pack 4 bowls from each gram, buying a cut will get us about 7 joints or 14 bowls.
An eighth can range in price from $30-$55 or more. It can even be a great option for sampling a new strain when you want several smoke sessions to help you get a good feel for it.
A Quarter of Weed
A “quarter” means a quarter of an ounce of weed or, more specifically, seven grams. A quarter can also be referred to as a “Q” or “quad”.
How much is in a quarter of weed?
With seven grams, you could roll about 14 joints or enjoy up to 28 smaller bowls (depending on how fat you like to roll your joints). A quarter ounce is also a good starter quantity for making edibles like “special” brownies and other baked goods.
A quarter of weed will typically cost $55-$75 or more, so make sure it is a strain you really enjoy before purchasing this much.
A Half Ounce of Weed
Getting into the larger quantities now, we have the half-ounce. Commonly called “half an O”, or “half a zip”, the half ounce of weed weighs in at 14 grams, which is what you can expect to get when ordering this amount.
How much is a half-ounce of weed?
At this quantity, you could have enough cannabis to roll up to 28 joints or pack 56 bowls! Call up some friends to enjoy it with or simply relax knowing you won’t need to make another purchase for a while.
How much does a half-ounce of weed cost?
A half-ounce of weed will generally run you $100-$160 or more. While this may seem steep, it is more cost-effective than purchasing single grams one at a time and allows fewer trips to the dispensary or wherever you purchase your bud.
Settle in, get cozy, and enjoy your buzz.
A Zip of Weed (Or An Ounce)
An ounce of weed, commonly referred to as a “zip”, weighs in at a whopping 28 grams! This is enough to nearly fill a small ziplock bag, hence the nickname. It sometimes is also referred to as a “full O”, “O”, or “Z”.
How much is a zip of weed?
A zip of weed can make up to 56 joints or pack up to 112 bowls! Depending on your tolerance and how often you smoke, buying a whole zip of weed could last you a couple of months.
If you decide to go this route, make sure you are storing your weed properly to retain its flavor and potency. Keeping it in a glass container and in a cool, dark place away from moisture is best.
How much does a zip of weed cost?
A zip of weed can cost anywhere from $150-$300 or more. And again, in several states where weed is legal, having an entire ounce or more could still land you in some trouble, so be sure to check before you stock up!
A Pound of Weed
Whoa, there! A pound of weed is a LOT. Before you get too carried away, know your state’s marijuana laws. Possesing a pound or more of cannabis can result in a felony in certain places. (Although in Maryland, anything between 10 grams and 50 pounds is only a misdemeanor!) I’m not saying you should…I’m just here to let you know.
Also called a “pizzle” (fo shizzle my nizzle), a pound of pot gets our vote for the best weed measurement slang.
How much is a pound of weed?
One pound is 16 ounces, or, 16 zips. We’re talking a staggering 448 grams, which is enough to roll 896 joints or pack 1,792 bowls…that’s a lot of bud!
How much does a pound of weed cost?
Depending on what state you’re in, a pound of weed can cost upwards of $2000-$3000 or more. Unless you plan on selling it yourself, there’s no need to worry about quantities this large.
A pound of weed is pro territory – it’s what you see in the movies and in photos of police confiscations. If you live in a state where it is legal for medical or recreational use, you won’t see this amount outside of a retail or industrial setting.
Final Thoughts
Now that you’ve got the most common weed measurements nailed down, ordering from your friendly neighborhood budtender won’t seem so intimidating. More importantly, you’ll be a savvy smoker and know exactly how much you need (and how much you expect to spend) each time you shop.
And if you’re going to order bud like a pro, make sure you’re enjoying it like one. Tar and contaminants can hitch a ride with your reefer and put a damper on your buzz. Using activated carbon filters with your favorite smoking device helps to capture the stuff you don’t want while bringing out the best flavor from each strain. Enjoy an enhanced smoking experience with a personalMouthPeace and filter for better tasting, safer hits.