How Much is an Ounce of Weed?
28 Nov 2022
No matter if you’re a budding cannabis enthusiast or if you recently applied for a medical marijuana card, it can get confusing when you’re measuring the amount, price, and weight of cannabis. Between the different terminologies or slang that one uses for cannabis to order, depending on your location, or measurements such as “five-gram eighths” found on menus, sometimes you might feel slightly lost, especially if it’s your first time ordering or buying.
One of the most exciting things about weighing cannabis is that it always starts with the metric system. This means that you measure by the gram. Then it gradually switches to ounces and pounds when weighing them again. However, plenty of countries around the globe will cap the amount of cannabis that you can purchase in one go, at a single ounce of cannabis. So we have to focus more on the various amounts of cannabis that you can buy for personal use or selling to leave the quarter pounds and pounds to the hands of distributors and wholesalers.
How to Measure an Eighth of Weed?
When people still measured cannabis from a local salesman, “the eighth” is a word that usually got thrown around. The legalization of cannabis in Canada has since changed how people can enjoy this herb, but some still want to keep their old habits. Suppose you plan to walk into a legal cannabis dispensary or browse through a website’s online menu of cannabis-related goods. In that case, there’s a considerable chance that you’re going to hear or see more about the good old eighths.
And if you have been buying cannabis for the longest time and discuss “the eighth” with your favorite seller, they will surely understand the terminology. However, some recreational cannabis shops have sent new or inexperienced buyers out to discover their own green experience. If this happens to you, you could ask a few questions. How much is an eighth of cannabis? How much does an eighth of cannabis weigh, and exactly how much cannabis is that? Not to worry, though – It’s not as complex as it sounds.
An eighth of cannabis is at least an eighth of an ounce. For reference, we will look at an empty soda can. This weighs at least half of an ounce. And when measured in grams, an eighth of an ounce will come out in at least 3.5 grams, which is just slightly more than the average penny, which has a measurement of 3 grams.
Just by explaining the weight, you might think that this amount of cannabis is small. But it would be best if you considered the fact that once cannabis is grown, cured, processed, and ready to be shipped into stores for consumption, it’s pretty surprising how much it’ll take for manufacturers to make a single gram.
There’s always a variety when it comes to the size of cannabis since some strains can have lots of resin concentrations, different looks and textures, as well as shapes. Certain types of cannabis pack together nicely into a bit of nugget. Some nuggets look fluffy, while others fall between tightly packed and fluffy. For example, a strain such as Girl Scout Cookies might be more tightly packed than Silver Kush. In general terms, an eighth of cannabis is about as good as two or three blunts, so this is pretty much a decent amount.
Price of Weed in Canada This 2022
According to the Ontario Cannabis Store’s most recent quarterly report, which was conducted from April to June 2021, sales in numbers across Ontario keep increasing. And with that, the population of retail stores in the country is expected to continue growing.
In June, Ontario had at least 834 retail stores specializing in cannabis, each selling at least an average of 4,600 grams of the product. This is worth over $342,000 in sales. The whole province then witnessed a total amount of $307 million in sales, which equals 41,900,000 grams of cannabis. This included the sales coming from online cannabis stores and brick-and-mortar stores in real life.
The sales figures gathered in Ontario accounted for just only 36 percent of Canada’s entire cannabis sales. In this 36 percent, only 11 percent of the sales in Ontario were done through the OCS’ online sales platform. Canada has sold at least 1.8 billion grams worth of cannabis from January to June 2021. Meanwhile, the province of Ontario has listed over 1,700 unique SKUs as of July 2021. Three hundred new SKUs were listed from September to December 2021. At least 160 communities found in Ontario gained access to a private retail cannabis store, with an average distance of 5.3 kilometers from the store to a person’s house. Meanwhile, at least half of those who purchased their cannabis from a real-life brick-and-mortar store have also mentioned that they used the Ontario Cannabis Store’s official online platform.
With over 160 of them scattered across the community, Toronto is the one that contains the most retail cannabis stores. The next one is Hamilton with over 38 stores, North York with 34, Scarborough with 30, and Ottawa with 27.
Depending on the quality or strain of the cannabis you purchase, the average cost will go from $100 to $200, tops. You can get cannabis for $80, but this is mostly second-tier or mid-quality cannabis. $120 is the least amount of cash you can end up paying, mainly if cannabis contains around 15 percent of THC. Meanwhile, $200 will give you cannabis with around 25 percent to 30 percent of THC. But those prices are only applicable if you want an ounce of cannabis.
Some strains go for a whopping $200 to $600, depending on the store where you purchase them or the province where the store is located.
“How much for an eighth of weed” is a question that gets thrown around a lot. The answer regarding what weed costs in Canada can depend on so many factors, along with the strain of cannabis that you want to purchase. If buying an average weed strain, the price can go between $45 to $55 per eight. Once again, this will all depend on the strain, but some strains can still have high or low prices – It all depends on supply and demand.
Quick Guide on How to Measure Marijuana
You’re about to purchase some cannabis in your favorite store. But how much should you exactly get? And how many grams is equivalent in cannabis joints? How much does a jar of cannabis buds cost? And just how much cannabis does the average person consume daily? Here are a couple of reference points regarding how much cannabis you should purchase the next time you plan a trip to your favorite store. This will provide you with a great idea of how much you need to pay for your stash of cannabis. Nobody wants to pay too much money for their cannabis or buy so much stock to the point where they go bad. Always have a plan if you’re going to travel safely with your cannabis stock.
A Gram of Cannabis
Sometimes you’ll find yourself asking, “How much is a gram of weed?” at the store. In this case, a “gram” refers to the smallest amount of cannabis flower that you can buy in one go. This is just enough for an average-sized cannabis joint, typically the size of one nugget. Sometimes a gram of cannabis can end up rolling at least two and a half-gram joints, which tend to be slimmer and perfect if you want to smoke some cannabis by yourself. And likewise, one gram should be enough for at least two to three regular-sized bowls. A gram of cannabis is also referred to as a “dime bag” because back in the day, they would usually cost at least $10 to $20, depending on the location of the store, as well as the quality of the cannabis.
One-Eighth of Weed
One-eighth of cannabis, also known as one-eighth of an ounce of cannabis, is the flower that customers usually buy at cannabis dispensaries. This measurement of cannabis usually weighs at least 3.5 grams. It’s pretty much a decent handful of small-sized cannabis nuggets. You can create at least 3 to 6 joints from one-eighth of cannabis, depending on the size that you want your joint to be.
The average price of one-eighth of cannabis can go from $20 to $65. This all depends on whether the cannabis of your choice is top-shelf or not. Plenty of cannabis consumers purchase at least an eighth of cannabis (or sometimes, larger quantities) so they can be cost-effective. The more cash you spend at a cannabis dispensary or through a delivery service, the easier it is for you to save up some cash and get more bang for your buck.
Quarter Ounce Cannabis
A bigger size than one-eighth of cannabis is a quarter-ounce of cannabis or quarter of an ounce. This equals at least seven grams of cannabis. Some refer to this size as “quarter” or “quad.” This is already enough cannabis to fill up more than three joints, at least 5 to 7 average-sized blunts. But a quarter can still vary depending on the quality of the cannabis strain or its location. However, the bigger the size means, the more money you have to pay for the cannabis. So a quarter ounce has an average cost of $60 to $85. If you’re a fast smoker and go through your cannabis stash much quickly, or want to invite some people over for a smoking session, then a quarter of cannabis is just the perfect amount to buy from the store at a time.
Half-Ounce Weed
This is also known as “half” or “half-O.” It is equivalent to at least 14 grams of cannabis. A half-ounce is just the best for rolling at least 7 to 14 blunts and at least 28 average-sized joints. It all depends on your preference and if you’re planning to smoke all of your stashes by yourself. The average cost of this much cannabis goes from $100 to $160. Plenty of delivery services and dispensaries provide highly reasonable deals when you’re buying this much weed or something much bigger.
An Ounce of Weed
And finally, there’s the ounce. This is perhaps the most significant quantity of cannabis that you can purchase in plenty of legal states. An ounce of marijuana can weigh at least 28 grams. This is enough cannabis to roll a whole host of joints and blunts. Perhaps you can save some for later, so you can enjoy some good cannabis over time. An ounce of cannabis can cost a whopping $160 to $350. Once again, this will all vary depending on the age or quality of the cannabis you bought, as well as the fact that you could find some excellent deals from your store when you decide to purchase it in larger amounts.
Calculating THC Concentrations in Cannabis
How much THC is in a gram of weed, exactly? For just how popular cannabis-infused edibles are, there’s not much information out there with regards to the process of making them. Plenty of cannabis smokers have heard that one bogus story of how easy it is for someone to “overdose” after consuming too many cannabis-infused edibles, even if they happen to be a seasoned cannabis smoker. This is because there’s not much understanding when calculating just how much THC is found in a gram of cannabis. Here are a couple of guidelines that you can follow when you want to prepare or ingest your homegrown cannabis edibles.
Cannabis has always been sold in the black market until Canada legalized it in 2018. Even those who regularly consume the plant don’t have any real methods of learning just how potent it is and instead purchase it based on the weight of the dry buds. These include the one gram as mentioned above (1000mg), eighths (3.5 grams), quarters (7 grams), halves (14 grams), ounces (28 grams). This is similar to purchasing alcohol by liter or milliliter but not learning about the percentage or standard drink amount that comes with every bottle.
So now that more Canadians are becoming increasingly aware of legal cannabis products, they’re slowly beginning to understand that the potency of cannabis has something to do with the concentration of cannabinoids in the product. CBD and THC are the most popular cannabis products. The cannabinoids found in products are measured in percentages or milligrams.
Where previously you’d only purchase at least a gram of dry cannabis, you can now buy a gram of cannabis with a THC potency of at least 30 percent. You can now purchase THC and CBD oils per milligram. A small bottle of tincture oil usually contains 20 milligrams of CBD and 5 milligrams of THC. Instead of measuring it in grams, the potency that comes with several milligrams of THC or CBD is measured according to milligrams – At least one-thousandths of a gram. A potent cannabis-laced edible can carry at least 5 milligrams of THC to over 500 milligrams, or much higher.
As more places around the globe begin legalizing cannabis – Either for medical or recreational reasons, the amount of THC and CBD in cannabis-infused products has since changed. Back then, people would still lean on the golden rule that a single gram of cannabis contains 1000 milligrams of THC.
But the truth here is that THC and CBD levels in cannabis are pretty hard to measure, especially when you get your cannabis from black market sellers. This is because nobody knows the estimated THC content seen inside the strain. Many cannabis strains contain at least 10 percent to 30 percent of THC inside the buds. And if we go by that measurement, we can assume that a single gram of cannabis includes around 100 milligrams to 300 milligrams of THC.
You can now make a rough estimation on how much THC you want in your cannabis when you want to prepare your edibles or for smoking it in a bong, a joint, or a vape. Other factors include how you want to ingest that singular gram of cannabis. This is because the average joint wastes at least 40 percent to 50 percent of the THC in cannabis while you smoke it. You lose around 50 percent of the 100 to 300 milligrams of THC found inside a gram of cannabis when you smoke a joint.
The best way to check a cannabis strain’s potency device is to test the amount of CBD and THC with every gram of the strain’s flower. When you’re purchasing a cannabis-infused product, the manufacturers will list down the percentage of CBD and THC in the packaging. There are plenty of ways to learn more about the potency of THC inside your cannabis.
What is Premium Branded Weed?
Even though cannabis has been legalized in Canada since 2018, the industry is still so young, and sometimes it’s hard to tell the excellent cannabis from the bad cannabis. And sometimes, it’s so hard to develop a national brand. Sometimes, what’s great for one part of the country might not be good for the rest. Some states might also have more mature cannabis markets, and these states are where you can get the best cannabis.
Here are some places where you can buy some of the best weed strains in Canada.
- Afghani Bullrider – This is a strain grown by a company called Bullrider. It is a Toronto-based cannabis brand founded by cultivator Jef Tek, alongside his business partner, Grammy-award winner Noah “40” Shebib. Shebib is also the founder of OVO. Bullrider is famous for its wide, market-leading cannabis generics, together with producing their cannabis in small batches. They have also developed special cut strains, with most of them being super rare and costing a hefty price at stores.
- Platinum Punch – Platinum Punch, made by Simply Bare, contains plenty of terpenes, and this can be very important when picking a good strain of cannabis to smoke. Platinum Punch has citrus notes from limonene terpenes, which are sure to pull you in. Aside from that, there’s also a good mixture of linalool and caryophyllene added in. This strain is sure to hit the right notes when you smoke it, placing you in the zone. This is a strain that focuses strongly on the terpene content, and it’ll give you something that you will really like, whenever you open a jar.
- High Seas – This is a whole cannabis flower made by Reef. It is a cultivar from the Ghost Train Haze strain. Smelling it gives you potent notes of sweet pine and sour citrus, with a fuel-scented backend. It’ll surely hit you when you open up a jar. Smoking gives you a sweet and smooth burn, and the high has been described as being “energetic” and lovely. The company behind this strain, Reef, produces nothing but organic cannabis, and you can taste the difference when you ingest it compared to other cannabis strains. This product also comes in a rosin form, which is excellent for those who use cannabis for medical purposes. Smoking the rosin in a vape pen gives off a strong and wonderful flavor. Its effects are also quite consistent. The rosin, which is a type of cannabis concentrate i.e cannabis rosin, has high levels of terpinolene terpene, and it provides you with a beautiful lift while you slowly taper off into relaxation.
- Nice Cream – The flower of this strain, made by a Ness company, carries a pungent yet sweet aroma. Those who love cannabis Indica-based strains will enjoy this one. It provides you with the best combination of a heavy body high, ensuring that you get a good night’s rest ahead. It’s an excellent strain to smoke when you’re tired from work.
- Shishkaberry – Another Indica-dominant hybrid that has a sweet and spicy scent. The flavor strongly resembles black pepper mixed with sweet fruits. It’s got a strong and distinct full-bodied flavor, with a matching aroma to boot. The buds are also sticky and dark, with a high THC potency potential, coupled with a brilliant purple shade. It’s also loaded with terpenes, from limonene to alpha-pinene, beta-caryophyllene, micrene, and humulene.
What Are Mid-Tier Strains?
Aside from top-tier cannabis strains, another thing that’s growing in popularity across Canada’s cannabis scene is mid-tier strains, or “mids.” These are cannabis strains that come in average pricing. Going shopping for mid-tier strains is similar to hunting for mushrooms or rare truffles in a forest. You can find some of these excellent strains at an affordable price across Canada. The only thing you have to do is be patient, persistent, and hone your skills in finding good cannabis. If you master those three, then shopping for mid-tier cannabis becomes so much easier.
Mid-tier strains aren’t considered the best, hence the name. They’re not “luxury” or “designer” strains. But they’re not terrible, either. The cannabis market around Canada is very advanced, not to mention competition is constantly sprouting left and right. Those who look for these mid-tier strains are usually tourists who want to get a good high while traveling to places with legal cannabis. These mid-tier strains are the best for visitors who want to try out what Canada’s cannabis scene has to offer. They’re also great for older cannabis enthusiasts who want to get back into cannabis or first-timers who are still hesitant to try out the plant.
The average mid-tier cannabis strain is much stronger than regular-grade cannabis. Testing one usually gives off at least 10 percent to 16 percent of the cannabis. Meanwhile, designer cannabis contains a THC level of 16 percent to 25 percent. Low-grade cannabis is known as “bammers.”
So why should you consider smoking mid-tier cannabis strains? In Canada, despite its legality, low-priced cannabis strains could have a much higher quality than products that ride on the top shelf of cannabis stores.
Sometimes, a weak strain such as a Lemon Tree can cost $70 per eighth. And by contrast, another store from the same area can carry a Pineapple strain at $5. There are Cookie strains that can cost $65 eighths, and that’s already a bit much, especially if this strain is missing its signature aroma. Traditionally, the taste, smell, look, and effect that come with mid-tier cannabis could be pretty sub-optimal. Sometimes the average mid-tier strain can come with tiny popcorn-like airy buds instead of giant buds in beautiful and bright colors. These mid-tier strains can sometimes be too brown or too dry, thanks to their age or how the manufacturer harvested the cannabis. Mid-tier strains are also grown outdoors underneath a “hoop house,” – Also known as a cheap covering. Sometimes the taste can be described as “grassy,” which means they haven’t been cured properly, or some leftover nutrients are still stored in the flowers. Even a good cannabis bud can become mid-tier if you store it way too long or improperly.
How to Find Mid-Tier Cannabis
To find some mid-quality cannabis, you have to go beyond THC percentages found in a dispensary menu. While browsing through a store’s stash of cannabis, be sure to examine the herb and smell it. If the store owners allow you, open up their jars and work your nose. Smell for terpenes – This is the aroma found in cannabis plant molecules, which enhance and shape the effects of THC in cannabis. A product that doesn’t contain any terpenes means that it’s a hard pass.
Don’t stuff your joint with at least $60 worth of cannabis while you underfund your 401K. Save the high-grade cannabis for a rainy day, and experience the same amount of high that you get with just two bowls of mid-tier cannabis instead of a bowl of high-grade ones. Mid-tier cannabis also makes excellent party joints. Sometimes mid-tier cannabis won’t get a person high, but being tolerant towards huge amounts of cannabis means that you have downgraded your brain’s cannabinoid receptors. This is why you will need more THC to achieve that same effect, and this results in you paying more cash to get high again.
Mid-tier strains are the future of cannabis. More and more large-scale cannabis farms are being built around Canada, and the markups for cannabis strains are becoming normal. Purchasing a high-end strain doesn’t take dollars away from one store, and it’s not a zero-sum game at all.
What to Expect When Using Cannabis for the First Time
Learning more about various terms used for measuring weed and other cannabis-infused products is an excellent starting point, especially when you’re just getting into smoking it for the first time. However, it can still feel daunting to pull up to a cannabis dispensary without knowing what to expect in terms of the other salient things about these products. So to help you out, here are some tips you can follow when you’re about to enter a cannabis dispensary for the first time:
- Bring your ID and medical card (If purchasing medical cannabis).
- Look out for good deals. Sometimes stores will offer great deals if you look closely.
- If you can, ask the store owner to give you some “shake” when browsing through their cannabis stock. “Shake” refers to tiny pieces of cannabis that fall off while being harvested from the ground.