Weed lovers know that understanding weed measurements is precious knowledge. Smokers and sellers should know how to measure cannabis and the different units used to measure weed. Whether you’re a toking novice or you’ve been partaking for years and still can’t do the math, our Flavor Fix experts are here to help.
If your level of cannabis use is best described as “significant,” failing to find out how many ounces are in a pound will cost you a chunk of change in the long run.
Whether you smoke and toke, or bake delicious edibles, learning simple marijuana math will help you save money and look smart. Plus, understanding the weed measurements and conversions becomes easier as you increase the cannabis amount.
Using Different Units to Measure Weed
Although elementary school students learn the metric system (briefly), using this measurement unit in America is about as helpful as a car without a gas tank. However, the rest of the world, including weed smokers and dispensaries, embrace the metric system with ease.
Every weed measurement begins with one gram and generally stops at one ounce, which is 28 grams of weed. We’re going to ease into understanding how to measure cannabis and start with the smallest weed measurement.
The Humble Gram
One gram is typically the smallest amount of weed you can buy at a dispensary — many dispensaries pre-roll gram-sized joints for your smoking convenience. A gram of weed fits into the palm of your hand, and it’ll give you one or two bowls. Click to learn how many grams are in an ounce.
An Eighth of Weed
This one might be the most common weed measurement. An eighth of weed is an eighth of an ounce of weed or 3.5 grams. An eighth is enough cannabis for a fat blunt, three or four joints, or a handful of packed bowls.
A Quarter of Weed
The next weed measurement you might already be familiar with is the quarter, which is a quarter of an ounce of weed. It’s double the amount of an eighth at 7 grams. A quarter of weed is a great starter pack for anyone interested in making their own edibles. Mmm, dessert, anyone?
A Half Ounce of Weed
If you’re already high, “a half of weed” probably sounds hilarious as you imagine splitting a dandelion down the middle or something equally as silly. But you’re probably getting the hang of this now, right? A half of weed is half an ounce. That’s a lot of cannabis, about the size of a grapefruit.
An Ounce of Weed
Finally, an ounce of weed is 28 grams. An ounce is usually the largest amount you can purchase at a dispensary.
What’s a Dime Bag of Weed?
Calling a ten-dollar bag of weed a dime bag is probably one of the first cannabis slang terms you learned. A dime bag is typically one gram of weed, but this measurement really depends on the seller and the quality of the weed. A dime bag isn’t necessarily based on weight. Instead, it’s based on what you can get for ten bucks (and whatever the seller decides is worth a ten spot).
You can now probably guess how much a nickel bag costs.
Oddest Weed Measurements
With each state creating its own laws regarding marijuana, hemp, and so on, it’s only fitting that some of these weed measurements are simply out-of-this-world bananas.
Like the Ohio Tenth.
The Ohio Tenth is precisely 2.83 grams. It’s the medical marijuana standard created by the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program and the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy. These weed experts consider the Ohio Tenth as one daily dose for medical marijuana patients. This weed measurement means that cannabis users cannot purchase more than 90 doses in 90 days.
That may not sound like a lot of weed, but 90 doses of 2.83 grams are over a half-pound of marijuana. That’s about 8.99 ounces of bud.
Understanding How to Measure Cannabis Using Fruit
You might not know what an eighth or quarter of an ounce of weed looks like, but you surely know your fruit. Here’s a quick cheat sheet to help you understand how to measure cannabis using fruit as an easy visual reference.
- 1 gram = one grape
- 5 grams (an eighth) = kiwi
- 7 grams (a quarter) = apple
- 14 grams (a half ounce) = grapefruit
- 28 grams (an ounce) = coconut
- 448 grams (a pound) = watermelon
Just don’t get confused and start toking up in the produce section at Whole Foods. We’re pretty sure that’s illegal.
Different Units We Use to Measure Weed
While the imperial system says 453.52 grams in a pound, the measurements are slightly different. There are 16 ounces in a pound, and since each ounce is 28 grams, a pound of weed weighs 448 grams.
Even if you buy your weed from a dispensary, it’s still worth investing in a digital scale, especially if you want to make homemade edibles. Calibrate your scale now and then with a 5.0-gram nickel or 1.0-gram paper clip.
Whatever you do, never rely on visual judgment for an accurate measurement. While there’s no risk of being ripped off in a state where weed is legal, getting it wrong can have severe implications for creating that sweet potato high pie.
