Weed Weights: Everything You Need To Know

Miguel Antonio Ordoñez

Freelance Cannabis Journalist

Miguel Antonio Ordoñez

Last updated: October 5th, 2021

Give me an eighth… give me an ounce… give me a clue! If you're new to the cannabis game, understanding all the metrics and terminology can be confusing. Knowledge is power, and nobody wants to feel like a noob.

Luckily, we've got your back. This blog is all about giving you the information you need to navigate your weed needs with ease. Say that ten times fast after a few hits.

HOW MUCH WEED DO YOU NEED?

First, let's get one thing straight: joints vs. spliffs. In North America, a "joint" is a marijuana cigarette without any tobacco in it. A "spliff" is rolled with both tobacco and marijuana. In the UK and other places, it's the reverse. Oh, Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? Well, for our purposes, it grows with pure cannabis, baby!

When we mention joints, we mean weed, pure and simple. Keep this in mind, because if you're rolling with tobacco, these numbers will not apply.

Now let's get to it…

HOW MUCH CANNABIS DO YOU NEED TO ROLL A JOINT?

Obviously, the size of a joint can vary depending on how fat you like to roll 'em. That said, there is some science behind what makes an "average" joint. According to drug policy researchers, an average joint is filled with 0.32 grams of cannabis.

That means one gram of weed shakes out to around three joints. Depending on THC content and your tolerance, three joints should get you high about six times. How many grams you'll need depends on how frequently you smoke.

The more you smoke, the more it makes sense to get into larger quantities of measurement. Buying in bulk is usually cheaper, and cutting down on your cannabis costs only makes each toke more enjoyable. That said, make sure you're aware of local laws before you stock up for the apocalypse.

MARIJUANA METRICS

Most of the world uses the metric system of measurement. The main exception is the US, which continues to use the imperial system.

Cannabis has its own thing going on. Weed weights are traditionally measured using a unique mixture of the metric and imperial systems—clearly the work of a well-intentioned stoner. Confused yet? Don't be. Cannabis measurements may be particular, but they're pretty easy to get the hang of.

A gram is more or less the base measurement for weed. Dealing in smaller quantities is pretty rare. Even pre-rolled joints sold by dispensaries tend to either be 0.5g or full-gram roll-ups.

But we didn't come to play, so let's get into those higher metrics. "Eighth", "quarter", "half"—these are all fractions of an ounce. If it's not obvious already: grams hail from the metric system, and ounces from the imperial system. Since they don't teach marijuana metrics in school, let us lay it out for you.

"EIGHTH", "QUARTER", AND "HALF"

An eighth is standard slang for ⅛ ounce or 3.54 grams of cannabis. In some places that are heavier on the metric system, it might be casually referred to as a "three-five". An eighth will last a moderate smoker about a week and yield around 10–11 hand-rolled joints.

Likewise, a "quarter" or a "seven" is ¼ ounce or 7.08 grams of marijuana. A quarter is a solid, moderate amount to purchase at once and should shake out to 21–22 joints.

If you're a heavier smoker, consider levelling up to a "half" or ½ ounce. That's 14.17 grams and twice as many joints as a quarter.

Need even more? You might be ready for…

A "FULL O"

First, get your mind out of the gutter! We're talking plants here! An "O" or a "full O" is casual slang for an ounce or 28.35 grams of weed. While we hope you'll be able to drop these terms with the best of 'em, we also recommend just saying "ounce" for clarity.

If you're a regular user, an ounce should last you two weeks to a month. If you're stateside, it's also the maximum personal amount you can carry in most legal jurisdictions.

A CORNUCOPIA OF CANNABIS

If you're having trouble visualising how much weed we're talking about, let us paint a picture using your favourite fruits. Be warned, we can't promise that you won't get the munchies as you go! Here's a chart to remember the important stuff:

A GLOSSARY OF GANJA

We encourage you to stick with the basics, but here's a little extra slang you might hear, just in case. Keep in mind this isn't an exhaustive list!

• "Dime-bag" or "Dime"—American street slang for $10 worth of weed, usually around a gram
• "Dub-sack" or "Dub"—Similar to the above, but $20 worth
• "Blunt"—A large joint rolled with repurposed cigar paper
• "Dank"—High-quality cannabis with a potent scent and sought-after sticky quality
• "Nug"—A nugget of unground cannabis
• "Pinner"—A skinny joint containing about ¼ gram of weed
• "Roach"—The butt-end of a smoked joint
• "Teenth"—¹/₁₆ ounce or half of an eighth

BLENDING WITH THE LOCALS

So, we've defined some lingo and talked about cannabis culture's unique weighing system. Even though we love this hybrid measurement method, we still encourage you to have a "when in Rome" attitude.

If you're headed to an Amsterdam coffeeshop, it makes sense to just talk in grams. Most of Europe is a metric system stronghold, so adapt accordingly for the smoothest experience. Conversely, if you're headed to a US dispensary, eighths, quarters, and ounces are your friends.

RECOMMENDED TOOLS

All of this is great, but how can you be sure how much weed you're actually looking at? Don't worry, there's a better way than grabbing the nearest grape.

We recommend getting a high-quality scale. It's a great tool to have if you want to weigh out your homegrown stash. A good scale can also help you make sure you're not getting ripped off. Zamnesia offers a wide variety of digital scales, selected for precision and ease of use.

View Scales

You should also consider the best way to store your cannabis, especially if you're purchasing larger amounts. Bone-dry weed will still get you high, but it makes for a harsher smoke. Luckily, there are some tricks you can use to keep it fresh and even revitalise a dried-out stash.

We hope this info empowers you to get the most out of your marijuana, wherever you find yourself. Now go forth and puff, puff, pass!