Do you ever find yourself struggling with metric unit conversion? Have you ever had multiple tabs open on your smart device’s search engine titled, “how many grams in a ..?” Or when you’re at a dispensary, have you ever felt pressed by the inquiry “do you want a quarter or an eighth?”
If you quietly answered “yes, how’d he know?” to any of these oddly specific questions — then you’ve come to the right place. If you’re like me, math isn’t your strong suit and these questions aren’t abnormal to your reality. Rest assured, you are not alone. If you have a hard time remembering your grade school lessons on metric unit conversion, yes, the information is out there. But, no, you don’t have the time to seek it out, especially if you’re at the dispensary in a time-crunch.
“Eyeballing” how much flower or wax you’d like with the understanding that; if you buy too much, it could sit around and lose it’s freshness. Or, if you buy too little, you’ll consume it too quickly and have to make a second trip later in the week, which is a concern for even the most veteran of cannabis consumers. Familiarizing yourself with the cannabis weight metrics is all a part of the process and it can help tremendously with supply management moving forward. So…
How Much is a Gram?
A gram is the smallest and most basic unit of measurement when referencing the cannabis matrix. Also commonly referred to as a “dub” or “dime-bag,” 1 gram of flower can often resemble a healthy-sized nugget. For those who prefer smoking their supply, this is the recommended amount needed for rolling a joint [depending on your method of rolling] and should be more than sufficient to pack a pipe or bowl piece with.
How Many Grams are in an Eighth?
An eighth, also known as an ⅛ of an ounce, is the next smallest size and, likely, the most affordable cannabis metric. At your local dispensary, a retail eighth will measure out to be about 3.5 grams. You can roll two or three joints pretty comfortably with an eight, and it can last an active consumer multiple sessions. If a gram is like a beer, an eighth of weed is the six pack of the cannabis metric.
How Many Grams are in a Quarter?
A quarter, “Q,” or “quad” retails at 7 grams of cannabis. A quarter is ¼ of an ounce. To move forward with the beer analogy, a quarter of cannabis is like buying a 12 pack. Of course you could have yourself a good weekend and blow through it quickly, but a quarter is more than a comfortable amount of flower to, figuratively, ‘sit on’. A quarter, if rolled properly, could result in a whole slew of joints, or you can cook it into some fairly potent edibles.
How Many Grams are in a Half?
A half, also known as a half-ounce or half zip, is a pretty substantial increment of cannabis. It retails at 14 grams, which should last even the most impulsive of consumers awhile. A half is the 30 rack of cannabis quantities and users should consume it responsibly. To maintain optimal freshness over the time of consumption, be sure to store all product — especially amounts exceeding a quarter in size — in an air-tight jar or container. Users can roll anywhere between 10 and 20 joints with a half, pending your rolling style and preference. Consumers can also cooked multiple batches of edibles with a half.
How Many Grams are in an Ounce?
An ounce, “O,” or full zip is about as large a quantity as you can find legally in many localities. A retail ounce weighs in at about 28 grams. In nearly all states, including those where cannabis is legal for medicinal purposes, carrying more than an ounce can be viewed as “intent to distribute” by law enforcement and it is ill-advised to travel with. An ounce is the keg of the cannabis variety and, despite the analogy, should not be consumed while standing on your head with your friends holding your ankles.
Are There Quantities Larger Than an Ounce?
Yes, there are quantities larger than an ounce — but don’t get ahead of yourself, bucko. A quarter pound, half pound, and a pound are incredibly large quantities of cannabis and should be left to farmers and dispensaries to deal with. To get caught in possession of anything larger than 1 ounce without a medical designation is a serious criminal offense. However, that being said, it isn’t a crime to be educated on these quantities:
- A quarter pound, quap or QP consists of four ounces or 112 grams of cannabis.
- A half pound or HP is made up of eight ounces or 224 grams of cannabis.
- A pound or elbow is a whooping 16 ounces or 448 grams of cannabis.
A brick, which is more or less an outdated means of measurement for cannabis and isn’t legal in cannabis sales, refers to 2.2 pounds or 997.9 grams of flower vacuumed sealed into a dense brick like shape.
Allison Drew Klein says
a ‘”brick” is a kilo = 2.2lbs.
the whole article was about metrics and grams to ounces/lbs; then you write 2.2 lbs. is a brick?? 🙂