Let’s break down the most common measurements, weights, and terms used when purchasing medical marijuana.  Continue reading to learn the basics of buying the right amount of your favorite cannabis products. 

Cannabis Flower Measurements

Here, we’ll begin with the smallest unit of weed measurements and work our way up from there. 

Gram

A gram is a small metric unit that equals one-thousandth of a kilogram. It’s ideal for those who want to buy smaller amounts of weed to try a new strain or because of low consumption rates. A gram is the only cannabis measurement unit that doesn’t relate to ounces in regards to cannabis quantities.

Eighth

An eighth refers to an eighth of an ounce or three and a half grams of cannabis flower. For many users, an eighth of weed is affordable and a perfect amount for weekly use. The eighth is the most common weed weight sold in legal U.S. dispensaries.

Quarter

A quarter of cannabis is a quarter of an ounce, weighing around seven grams. If we’re being technical, a quarter ounce actually weighs 7.0874 grams, but the standard is to round down to the nearest gram.

Half

A half simply refers to a half ounce bag or fourteen grams of cannabis flower. A half an ounce of weed is commonly purchased among cannabis consumers.

Ounce

One ounce should contain twenty-eight grams of marijuana flower. A whole ounce is typically the most significant amount from a local dispensary due to possession laws. However, some buyers and dispensary owners are allowed to buy in larger quantities, such as pounds or kilograms. 

Pound

A pound of cannabis is rare to find and is typically only seen by growers and dispensary owners for legal reasons. A pound contains sixteen ounces of weed and is a large amount of weed for one user, so it is not typically purchased. 

Pricing per Weight

Prices for certain cannabis weights can vary greatly depending on the quality of the buds. Many local dispensaries offer shelf levels that allow consumers to choose from cheaper and high-quality products that cost more per one gram (think indoor vs. outdoor. For example, an eighth of a top-shelf strain may cost significantly more than a lower-tier bud.  It’s important to keep in mind that how many grams of weed you can get and how much weed costs is going to be significantly influenced by your location.

Concentrates

Marijuana wax results from a process known as extraction, which involves THC from a marijuana plant being packed together into a substance that is as close as possible to pure THC. Depending on this method, the concentrate can vary in texture and potency but is most often thick, sticky, and light yellow to amber in color.

Cannabis wax can contain up to ninety percent THC cannabinoids and offer a unique experience for cannabis users. It is ideal if you have a severe medical condition and look for quick relief from chronic pain. Different types of wax each have their benefits and risks depending on personal preference, so we recommend trying each to find what is right for you.

Cannabis concentrates contain high amounts of THC and have been popular among consumers in recent years. Concentrate weights are similar to flower but are typically packaged only in half-gram and gram quantities. For reference, a half-gram of concentrate is similar to a medium-sized seed, and a gram is comparable to a lighter. 

Edibles

Edible marijuana includes any type of CBD or THC food or drinks that you can ingest. You can make medical cannabis edibles at home and there are also gummies, candies, brownies, and other edible cannabis products at dispensaries in legal states. Edibles often take longer to kick in, but they produce a relaxing body high that is helpful for some migraine sufferers.

Marijuana edibles for medical use do not produce any other known severe side effects. Some people fear that it might cause too intense of a high, and others have reservations about its legality, considering that marijuana is federally illegal in the United States. It’s crucial to brush up on local laws and choose a high-quality product for migraine treatment and pain relief.

The recommended dose for edibles is one to five milligrams of THC, especially for novice users. That’s likely to be a small piece of an edible as many are twenty to twenty-five grams each. A lower dose, even for experienced users, is recommended because there’s not much benefit to taking a significant amount. Medical marijuana patients typically use between five and twenty mg, with ten mg being the average. After establishing your desired dose and effects, you can experiment with a higher amount if you wish. 

Slang Terms

Since cannabis has been sold on the illegal market for decades, users have developed various slang terms to describe different weed measurements. Below, we define the most common street terminologies.

Dime  

A dime is usually a very small amount of cannabis. A dime bag will typically weigh a gram or even out to approximately ten dollars worth of cannabis. 

Dub

A dub sack typically describes two grams or twenty dollars worth of cannabis. 

Slice

A slice (think Pizza) refers to a quarter of an ounce of bud.  It gets its name because it is a perfect “slice” of pizza’s worth of green. 

Zip

An ounce is often referred to as a “zip” because it fits well in a ziplock bag and is transfered in those as well. 

QP

A “QP” is a quarter-pound of weed or four ounces in weight. 

Pack

A pack is a pound of weed, given its name because they were known to be transported in turkey bags.

Reference Guide

Here is a quick and easy weed measurement chart to compare standard terms with their weed weights in grams: 

              Imperial Units           Metric Units

• Eighth (1/8) ounce             3.5 grams
• Quarter (1/4) ounce               7 grams
• Half (1/2) ounce             17 grams
• One (1) ounce                         28 grams
• Pound (16 oz)                         448 grams

Microdosing Medical Cannabis

For medical marijuana patients, microdosing can be appealing as many medical patients are not looking to feel high all day long, they are looking for assistance in managing and relieving symptoms and pain from their conditions. In the case of pain management for example taking a small amount periodically throughout the day can keep long-term, acute, or severe pain somewhat under control. 

Rather than taking very high doses repeatedly microdosing is an option you have a very controlled and mellow experience while benefiting from cannabinoids.  Patients can work with their medical providers as well as use the same process of hands-on testing to determine their optimal microdose. 

There is no specific rule or chart that can determine what the right amount of a microdose of cannabis for each individual person is. It is a personal process that requires a little bit of hands-on research. When attempting to microdose a cannabis product it is a good idea to start small and keep a written record of how one feels after each microdose. Through this system of trial and error, one will determine what microdose they feel best about and then how often they will need to take each microdose. 

Some people may find that taking one or two a day is enough for them, others may want to take a small dose every couple of hours throughout their day. Cannabis use is a very personal process and that goes as well for microdosing.

Tips for Choosing the Right Amount for You

To complete our comprehensive guide on standard cannabis measurements, here are a few tips for purchasing the amount that fits your lifestyle. 

• If you are looking to try a new strain or cannabis product, we recommend starting small with a couple of pre-rolls or just a gram or two. This will give you an idea of its effects on your mind or body. 
• If you’ve found a strain or cannabis product that works well for you, try buying a half or a full ounce and storing it in an airtight container for long-term use. 
• Purchasing a larger quantity can sometimes lead to significant savings for medical marijuana users. Still, you must know your legal limits per the prescription in some states, so read up on local laws first and be sure to ask your budtender for deals when you go to purchase cannabis.
• The average joint contains around half a gram of cannabis. This can be a good guideline for how much you consume regularly.