Slang in the cannabis culture

Walking into a cannabis dispensary is an understatement to a kid in a candy store. Little nugs in little jars over here, big nugs in big jars over there, the walls covered in pretty packaging, pretty much a paradise. Getting certain slang down is going to help you get a satisfied transaction in person. But, the best dispensaries, cough cough LIV, allow you to shop online for pick-up or delivery!Shopping online for weed is something that can feel a little sketch at first. If you know exactly what you want, you’ll know exactly what to search and ask for. Once you get the bigger factors out of the way, like strain type, certain flavors and smells, and of course, potency being the biggest– you can determine how much you want to purchase.

Weed Measurements

If you have been around cannabis for a while you probably already know the basics. Back in the day, before trustworthy dispensaries came to town, we had to use lingo… or not sound like a cop. Also, manual and digital scales were mandatory if we wanted to make sure we weren’t getting ripped off.

These scales needed to be calibrated, if digital, or have a counterweight that weighed a gram. Since digital scales are typically sold as “spice” or “cooking” scales, they measure in grams and ounces… how convenient, right? If you really want to know, we commonly used nickel coins because they always weigh a half gram. Yeah, a little bit of math, but we figured it out.

A Gram of Weed | Your Typical Nug

Weed is measured, packaged, and sold by increments of an ounce. The smallest amount being one gram, or 1/28th of an ounce. Here’s that math we were talking about. A single ounce, no matter what it is, is equivalent to 28 grams. Thankfully it’s an even number!

Even though you can regularly find killer deals on bulk ounces of weed, the cost per gram is consistent all the way up. Meaning, you can buy a single gram of your favorite strain everyday for 28 days and you will still be paying as much as if you bought an ounce.

It isn’t very common to buy single grams at a time though. That’s just enough to roll you a joint or pack a couple bowls. If you are looking to find a new strain, buying a gram is enough to sample it without being stuck with weed you don’t like.

Slang Terms for a Gram of Weed

Going back to the days before there were dispos, finding a legit grower was nearly impossible. It was more common to buy little by little. A dime bag is what you’d get for $10, depending on the source, it’s around a gram. If it was payday or you wanted just enough to last you the week, you’d ask for a dub. This gets you around 2-2.5 grams of weed for $20.

A gram of weed is comparable to the size of a grape.

An Eighth of Weed | A Palm Full

Now we are getting into a little bit of a commitment to the strain. An eighth of weed, or 1/8th of an ounce, weighs 3.5 grams. It’s a popular amount for those who sparingly smoke cannabis. If you are chiefing down a couple joints everyday, you’ll be heading to the dispensary… everyday.

An eighth of weed is comparable to the size of a kiwi.

A Quarter Ounce of Weed | 2 Palms Full

Two eighths of weed equals a quarter ounce, or 7 grams. A perfect amount that balances convenience and cost for regular cannabis smokers. There are some parts of the cannabis community that use the slang term “Quad” in reference to a quarter ounce, but “quarter” is more widely known.

A quarter of weed is comparable to the size of an apple.

A Half Ounce of Weed |

If you are catching on the measurements, you probably guessed that a half ounce is double the amount of a quarter. Bingo! A half ounce is 14 grams, enough to roll and smoke a joint everyday for a month. Although that isn’t very practical for all cannabis users, a half will keep you stocked, meaning less frequent visits to the dispensary.

A half of weed is comparable to the size of a grapefruit.

An Ounce of Weed |

Ounce: Equivalent to 28 grams; slang terms include “zip” and “O.”

As far as slang terms for an ounce of weed, they aren’t really used as often as the slang for smaller quantities. The word “Zip” was used because whenever we asked for an “O” (ounce), it would come in a large Ziploc bag. This is a common amount of cannabis to purchase for more frequent smokers. Or, if you find yourself sharing with your partner, friends, roommates, or family.

An O of weed is comparable to the size of a coconut.

Larger Quantities

A Pound

As a recreational cannabis user, a pound of weed is not available for purchase. 16 ounces of weed or 453 grams is an absurd amount for personal use. Holding on to a bulk amount like this will just cause it to degrade and likely become expired. This is why larger quantities are only ever seen in movies or in industrial sales between the grower and the dispensary.

A pound of weed is comparable to the size of a watermelon.

A Kilo

Scientifically, kilograms (kg) are the most commonly used unit of measurement for cannabis, following the metric system. One kilogram is equal to 1,000 grams or about 2.20462 pounds.

The use of kilograms for measuring cannabis is more prevalent in countries that have legalized or decriminalized cannabis at a national level and in international trade situations.

This standardization in measurement helps facilitate international trade and legal compliance, simplifying the regulation and monitoring of cannabis transactions across borders for businesses and authorities.

Conclusion

Getting yourself familiar with weed slang is super handy when purchasing flower at a dispo or online. Your best bet is to monitor how much you consume in a given time, like per week or per month. There is a slight theory that having an abundance of cannabis can make you go through it faster… the thought of having to savor that last gram seems like a nightmare!