Eighth of Weed: Scaling Your Flower

While the legalization of cannabis and hemp-derived cannabinoids - including our favorites like delta 8 products - represent a new and exciting market in our economy, weed has been a staple of our medicinal—and recreational—enjoyment for centuries.

The history of cannabis dates back to ancient civilizations, with Chinese, Greek, and Egyptian societies discovering the plant’s medical benefits centuries before our modern scientists. Today, with weed’s slow but sure immersion into the mainstream, savvy entrepreneurs passionate about legal marijuana have entered the scene in the form of dispensaries—government-regulated stores or offices where patrons can purchase medical or recreational cannabis. 

Before any fancy dispensary, however, friendly neighborhood dealers had been tapping the underground marijuana market for decades, and they still are today! These low-key locals are the trailblazers for the now-booming hemp economy—and they also pioneered some of the most well-recognized units of marijuana measurements that we still use today, including the ever-famous “eighth of weed.” 

What Is An Eighth?

Eighths are perhaps the most popular weed measurements among dealers and dispensaries today. Also known as a cut or half quarter, an eighth of weed refers to an eighth of an ounce of cannabis, or 3.5 grams. Remember, an ounce is approximately 28 grams, so all these measurements are really just simple fractions.

There are many reasons the eighth is the most popular measuring scale, but the most prominent is that this is truly the perfect amount of weed: it’s enough to pack bowls, roll joints, and get you high for a few days, but it’s not so much that you have to worry about the flower going stale and losing or diminishing its psychoactive potency. 

If you’re into sharing your weed with friends or just go through eighths way too damn fast, you may want to look into going a little bigger. If you’re a rookie with low tolerance, on the other hand, an eighth could last you a lot longer than a few days, but we’ll get into the specifics of other measurements a little later.

What Does An Eighth Of Weed Look Like?

In the cannabis world, we don’t measure our goods based on looks; we calculate based on weight. An eighth of weed may look different depending on many variables, such as strain, bud density, and moisture. A bag of green fluff may look like a way better deal than a densely packed couple of nugs, but at the end of the day, those tightly packed nugs could weigh much more than lots of loosely packed weed—the point is, never judge a book by its cover.

If you want to get technical, an eighth of marijuana only looks like a 3.5 on a scale. There isn’t a definitive size or shape to go from if you’re eyeballing it. 

How Much Does An Eighth Cost?

There’s no set price for an eighth; how much you pay depends on where you are, where you get it, and the quality of the strain you’re looking for. That said, there is an estimated range that your purchase should fall under. 

At dispensaries, eighths are usually anywhere between $35 and $55, depending on the strain. Prices could fluctuate based on demand and age of the flower. The higher the cannabis quality, the higher the price tag. Similarly, older strains may be on the lower end of the spectrum as they are less fresh and closer to losing their properties.

If you’re a little bit of a weed snob and only want the best of the best, you may be looking at a bill closer to $70 or $75; these strains are typically considered boutique or “craft” and are sold at a much higher price point than regular eighths. 

Location is one of the most important aspects of price—as with everything else in life. California and Colorado, for example, have two of the largest weed markets in the country, and their costs tend to be much cheaper than those in states with less developed markets. 

How Long Does An Eighth Last?

As previously mentioned, an eighth of cannabis can last you anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks, depending on how much you smoke and your tolerance level. Eights can pack several bowls or anywhere from seven to ten joints, depending on how hefty you like your Js. 

Newbies building up their tolerance may be unable to sit through a whole joint and get buzzed enough from one really good bong hit. In this case, an eighth should last plenty of time! If you’re a hardcore toker, however, we both know an eighth won’t last you any longer than a romantic evening with your grinder. That being the case, keep reading to learn about your other measurement options. 

Other Measurements of Cannabis

Eighths may be the most popular units of cannabis measurements, but they sure aren’t the only ones. The cannabis industry has different names for key amounts of weed, making it simpler for buyers to make informed and accurate purchases. 

The Gram

Also known as a “G,” a gram is the smallest amount of weed you can buy, and it is precisely what it sounds like: a single gram of weed. Mathematically, a gram is one twenty-eighth of an ounce (1/28)—and it’ll last you around two small joints or a handful of reasonable bowl packs. 

A gram is a perfect option for a commitment-free and easy decision if you want to test out a new strain or don’t feel like splurging on a bigger stock. 

Price: $7-$15

The Quarter

You may recall that an eighth weighs around 3.5 grams. Quarters, or “Qs,” are double the fun, weighing twice as much! At 7 grams, quarters are, as the name may suggest, a quarter of an ounce. This is the preferred measurement for heavy-duty users because it lasts a long time.

A quad will fill up around ten blunts and 14 average-sized joints, or up to 20 bowl packs if your weapon of choice is a bong or pipe. 

Price: $60-$125

The Half Ounce 

A half ounce, or half zip, weighs 14 grams—twice as much as a quarter. Asking for this measurement at a local dispensary or from a dealer should get you enough weed for plenty of bowls, blunts, joints, and even homemade edibles for quite some time.

Price: $100-$120

The Ounce 

Finally, we have the ounce. As you may have guessed, the ounce describes a full ounce of weed, aka 28 grams. Usually, this is the largest amount an individual can lawfully possess in states where marijuana is legal. Often referred to as a “zip” because it can fill a Ziploc bag, an ounce is the meaning of buying in bulk. 

Remember, the more you buy, the lower the price. An ounce could squeeze out around 56 joints, so if you’re a real deal heavy smoker, this stuff is for you!

Price: $150-$280

Grams to Ounces: The Ultimate Conversion Chart

So, with all this talk about conversions, measurements, eighths, and halves, this stuff might be getting a little bit confusing. If that’s the case, don’t sweat it! Below you can find a super easy conversion chart to reference when you don’t feel like pulling out your calculator!  

How To Convert Grams To Ounces (And The Other Way Around)

As much as we prepare ourselves, there will one day be a time when we’re all out of the necessary tools to measure our weed. If your phone dies and you just can’t remember how many grams are in a quarter or a half, it’s time to pull out some light math. 

The critical factor to remember is that there are 28 grams in an ounce!

Grams To Ounces

To convert grams to ounces, you just need to divide the number of grams by 28. 

So, for example, let’s say you want to know how many ounces are in 7 grams. 

7 ÷ 28 = 0.25

Meaning that there are 0.25 ounces in a gram, or in other words, a quarter of an ounce.

Easy enough, right?

Ounces to Grams

Now, let’s say you’re trying to convert ounces to grams. 

As we said above, an ounce of weed equals 28 grams. With that information, all you have to do to convert grams to ounces is multiply the number of ounces by 28.

Say you’re trying to figure out how many grams are in a quarter. 

0.25 x 28 = 7

With simple multiplication, you’ve successfully figured out how many ounces are in a gram. Look at you go!

These formulas work for any other measurement, whether or not it’s a staple unit in the cannabis industry. These equations will likely take you less than a minute to solve, and you’ll have the guarantee that you’re not getting ripped off anywhere you buy!

What About Pounds?

Cannabis is usually measured in ounces, not in pounds. But if you have the loot to afford it and the lung capacity to smoke it, why not buy weed in pounds? 

While shopping for weed is not the norm and is illegal in some states (unless you’re a vendor), it’s always good to know some extra conversion measurements.

There are approximately 453.6 grams in a pound of weed. This translates to 16 ounces, 32 halves, 64 quarters, or 128 eighths. Imagine the damage you could do with that!

Apart from being of dubious legality, buying a pound of weeds will also make your pockets hurt. Like, a lot. As of this year, it is estimated that the price of a pound of weed can range anywhere from $1,500 to $4,000, depending on location, strain, and quality. 

Although it is a pretty big investment, it actually saves you money to buy in bulk. So, if you have some extra cash lying around and you feel like your ounces run out way too fast, why not cut the time-consuming trips to the dispensary and save yourself a few hundred bucks? 

Scaling Your Eight of Weed: Final Thoughts 

From dealers to dispensaries, cannabis units of measurement are absolutely essential for any stoner (or stoner in training) to know. Being savvy about these measurements, the mathematics around them, and even their street names is the best way to ensure you’re not getting ripped off and make the most informed purchasing decision possible.

The eighth is the most popular unit of measurement in the cannabis world today, and therefore it could be argued to be the most important. With this simple guide to the world of eighths, quarters, halves, and more, you’re now ready to step out into the world of weed with the confidence of a pro!