How many Grams in an Ounce? – Why knowing this is important

How many grams in an Ounce? Truth be told, If I never smoked weed, I doubt I could answer how many grams are in an ounce. If you’re anything like me, you probably believe that weed and math could never be friends. Believe it or not, cannabis and calculus are very closely related, and marijuana laws couldn’t exist without arithmetic.

But because I toke up often, I can tell you exactly how many grams are in an ounce. Thank you (again!), marijuana!

In this article we will discuss:

• How heavy is an ounce?
• How many grams are in an ounce?
• Why knowing how many grams are in an ounce is important
• Common terms for buying weed
• How to weigh weed
• And more.

If someone tells you they have a good deal on an eighth, what does that mean? We’ve all been there, trying to run numbers in our heads, wondering if we’re getting a good deal.

Fear not: Though measuring weed may seem sinister or complicated, it’s pretty simple with your good friend the metric system. Who knew you’d need to remember conversions from middle school to smoke a joint? Maybe pull out your textbook before tasking a toke of the good kush, though.

Weight is one of the most critical aspects of buying cannabis, and beginners may be wary of all the vocabulary, but the good news is that we’ve taken all the work out of figuring out conversions for you.

How Many Grams Are in an Ounce of Weed?

Weed has taught me much more than Mrs. Briem ever did in 8th-grade algebra, so thanks for nothing, middle school.

One ounce of weed is 28 grams of the sticky icky.

If you’re a visual learner, here are some other things that weigh one ounce (28 grams):

• A passport
• About six sheets of paper
• About two DVDs
• 28 paper clips

It doesn’t seem like a lot of weight for an ounce of weed, but a typical smoker gets about 60 average-sized joints with one ounce.

However, some cannabis strains are heavier or denser than others. One strain’s buds may appear small but are dense and full of trichomes, while another strain’s buds may be less dense and have fewer trichomes. This would make an ounce of the second strain appear larger because it’s not as heavy.

For example, White Widow is a legendary hybrid that grows heavy and lush. On the other hand, Zkittlez is an indica strain that grows soft, fluffy buds. An ounce of Zkittlez will appear larger than White Widow, even though both ounces weigh exactly 28 grams.

Some words to know when buying weed

If you’re visiting a reputable weed distributor, don’t worry too much about knowing all the slang or the right words to use. But if you’re curious, here are some mathematical terms to get familiar with:

• Dime or dime bag: $10 worth of weed, usually about half a gram
• Dub: $20 worth of weed, usually about one gram
• Tenth: 1/16th an ounce, or 1.25 grams (about enough for two joints or bowls)
• Eighth: 1/8th an ounce, or 3.5 grams
• Quarter: 1/4th an ounce, 7 grams
• Half-ounce or half a zip: ½ an ounce, or 14 grams
• Full Ounce, Zip, “Oh-Zee,” “O,” or “Z”: One ounce, or 28 grams
• One pound of weed is 16 ounces or 453.6 grams

This list approximates how much weed you can buy for what prices. The actual quantity of weed you can buy for $10 or $20 depends on the market value of weed in your region.

Why Is Knowing How Many Grams in an Ounces Important?

Knowing how many grams are in an ounce of weed is important for several reasons. We buy and sell cannabis based on weight. First, you need to be knowledgeable so that you won’t get tricked by greedy sellers.

Second, you always need precise measurements based on what is legal or illegal in your state. Even one or two grams over the legal limit could mean a lot of trouble for you. The standard unit of sale in most legal weed shops in America is one ounce. It’s also the personal possession limit in most weed-legal states and is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony in other states.

Other Reasons Why Knowing This Is Important

Sellers and consumers know how many grams are in an ounce of weed for buying and selling purposes. But many people use this knowledge when consuming cannabis. Weed is a psychoactive and should be treated as such. It’s critical to know how much you can consume and how your body reacts to that amount of THC.

Another reason why knowing this is important is for proper dosing. Using weed to help you sleep? Smoke too much, and you might sleep a little too long. Don’t smoke enough, and you don’t get any sleep at all. But knowing exactly how many grams give you a perfect night’s sleep will help you budget your time, money, and weed.

Quantity Confusion?

It’s common to find cannabis flower sold in quantities of one gram to one ounce.

One gram of cannabis flower is usually the smallest amount you can buy. You can roll about two joints or three to four bowls with one gram of weed, making it ideal for the occasional user or when trying a new strain for the first time. One bottle cap is a reasonable frame of reference because it weighs about one gram.

Actual prices in your area can range anywhere from $9 to $15 per gram. Some factors that change the price of weed are:

• Your state
• Your state’s sales tax or weed tax
• Your seller
• The competition in the local marijuana market
• Marijuana quality
• Marijuana quantity
• How your cannabis is grown
• Marijuana potency

These are the major variables that determine your weed costs. There are lots of other variables at play, but these are the primary influencers. The price of weed, no matter where you go, isn’t fixed. Prices rise and fall in the cannabis market in the same way milk, chicken, and beef range in price.

Mathematics and Marijuana: Best Friends Forever

Pop quiz! How many grams are in an ounce?

(It’s 28. Say 28 grams.)

Yes, 28 grams make up one ounce. If mnemonic devices are helpful, the number 28 always makes me think of the zombie horror flick 28 Days Later. (Why couldn’t Katherine Heigl try on just one more dress in 27 Dresses?)

How to Weigh Weed

If you’re buying regulated cannabis from a dispensary, most of the time, the packaging on the kush will say how much the product weighs. Although, it’s never a bad idea to weigh it to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth or to practice using the scale.

Another thing to note is that dispensaries and sellers will often round up, so don’t expect the weight to be accurate right down to the decimal.

Here are the three best ways to weigh your weed:

Scale

It’s always smart to have a scale on hand, whether you’re a buyer, grower, or seller of cannabis. Plus, imagine how cool you’ll look while you’re weighing your weed before you roll a joint for your friends. If you’re just buying a scale for your personal use while buying weed, it’s best to find a compact digital scale you can carry around with you (We recommend this one).

Phone Apps

Some phones have scales on them that are relatively accurate. For example, IOS’s 3D touch makes it possible to use your iPhone as a scale. Of course, a more precise scale will benefit you more; however, it doesn’t get more convenient than pulling out your phone.

Make Your Own

Maybe you’re in a pinch and haven’t been able to buy your scale yet. There are other handy methods to weigh cannabis. They may require a few DIY skills, but they’re pretty easy to grasp.

Did you know that pennies weigh 2.5 grams? If you place a penny on one side of a ruler and your bud on the other side, you can see how much adds up to approximately 2.5 grams.

You can also use a hanger and two pieces of string to create a scale in a pinch. Simply tie the penny to one side of the hanger and your weed to the other side and hang it up.

Common Weights and Sayings

It’s a lot of vocab; we won’t lie. However, once you get used to saying measurements, it will be easy to know how much you need to buy. These weights are all using the metric system, and most of them use the gram as a baseline. We’ll start from the smallest amount and work our way up to the largest measurement.

Several determining factors, such as quality and strain, will affect the cost of these amounts.

Gram

A gram is the smallest unit of measurement for Mary Jane. A gram is usually the size of a single nugget or one small joint. If you’re hoping to test out a new strain or buy from a seller you’re not sure of yet, this is a great way to test out the product without being stuck with leftovers.

Cost: The average price for a gram of legal weed is $8-15

Eighth

“Eighth” is short for “One-eighth of an ounce” (or 3½ grams). Usually, you can find a good deal when buying an eighth, and we would recommend this amount for casual smokers.

Cost: Average cost is $25-40

Quarter

A quarter is equivalent to ¼ of an ounce, so if you’ve ever changed quarters, this is some easy math. It’s around 7 grams, so if you’re hoping to buy an amount that will last you a couple of months, this is the perfect amount for you.

Cost: Average cost is $50-75

Half

Many states will have this amount as the legal maximum you can purchase at one time. An ounce is 28 grams or about 25-28 blunts. This law exists to stop the illegal selling of weed.

Cost: Average cost is $200-300

Pound

A pound of weed is a rare sight for most. Just to clarify how big a pound is, take an ounce and multiply it by 16. That’s about 450 grams. This amount is enough pot to last the average smoker for around a year.

Cost: You probably won’t be able to buy this amount legally.

What Effects Weight?

Don’t be fooled; not all weed is created equal. Some weed can be heavier or lighter, dependent on three factors: density, moisture, and strain. If you are concerned about whether you got a fair price, make sure to weigh your weed before buying it because looks can be deceiving.

Density

Some nuggets are packed tighter than others, similar to how you can pack a bowl tighter or loose.

Moisture

Depending on how fresh the marijuana is and other factors, it may still hold some moisture. The difference in moisture means the smaller-looking nuggets may be heavier than they seem based on how much water is in the leaf.

Strain

Believe it or not, certain strains weigh differently. Some strains may be more light and fluffy than others, while others are more condensed. Two nugs of different strains may look like the same amount but weigh differently

In Summary…

So maybe it’s more math than you were hoping for, but overall, grams in an ounce is a simple concept. It may seem like you need a lot of equipment to weigh weed properly, but all you need is a scale or your phone and a little brainpower.

Take some time to brush up on all of the measurements and lingo before you go to buy some weed, and you’ll look like an expert. The perfect amount of weed will be different for every pothead.