Getting started with cannabis can be confusing, especially when dosing and purchasing the right amount of flower you need. Walking into a dispensary and asking questions like how many grams are in an ounce of cannabis will make you look like a novice, sometimes destroying your confidence and leading to you buying way more or less than you need. Finding the correct answers to questions like this when starting your cannabis journey is essential, so you acquire and consume the right amount of cannabis flower.

In this article, we’ll help you understand the standard measurement units of cannabis and determine which amounts are right for you. We’ll also explain the ounce – the primary cannabis unit, which currently is the maximum amount of recreational marijuana consumers can lawfully purchase or hold in states where recreational marijuana use is permitted.

How is Cannabis Measured?

The Eighth System

If you are transitioning from the illicit marijuana market to the legal, like many people out there, chances are you only know the famous eighth system. The smallest amount of marijuana in the eighth system is the eighth, while the largest measuring amount is the whole. Dealers usually sell marijuana in the eighth, half, quarter, whole, and now you walk into a dispensary and see cannabis products in ounces and grams. That’s when things get confusing. How many eighths are in there? And what do these eights, halves, quarters, refer to anyway? Unless you’ve ever returned home and put your dealers’ eighths on a measurement scale, you might not know how to interpret the legal measurement units, but don’t worry. It’s way simpler than it sounds.

In the famous eighth system, eighth, halves, quarters, and whole refer to the amount of weed in ounces. One eighth is 1/8 of one ounce; half is 1/2 of an ounce, etc. One ounce is 28 grams, so one-eighth is 3.5 grams of flower – enough to roll three or four solid joints.

Eight System to Grams and Ounces

Ounce

As Americans, we always think twice or several times before we understand how different measurements translate to the metric system, and cannabis is no exception. The U.S. remains one of the few countries worldwide still using the imperial system using feet, inches, pounds, ounces to measure things. In the Imperial system, the smallest measurement of weight is an ounce. In the metric system, however, it’s the gram, which is 28 times smaller than an ounce, allowing a more precise measurement for cannabis flower. For example, one-eighth of cannabis is about 3.5 grams, and each joint needs about one gram of cannabis. Now that would be impossible for cannabis consumers to measure only with ounces and remain collectively sane.

In an ounce, there are 28 grams of cannabis, which, when you smoke, only a joint per day will last about a month, or longer if you smoke only a few bowls per week.

One ounce of cannabis is usually the maximum recreational amount you can legally purchase at a time, depending on the laws in your state. Experienced cannabis consumers who already have picked their favorite cannabis strains usually save money by buying an ounce of cannabis. Newbies prefer experimenting with different strains and purchasing smaller amounts at first.

Pounds

Pounds or 1lb of marijuana is usually used to measure large quantities of cannabis for retail purposes. One pound of marijuana equals 16 ounces and 450 grams, which will last for more than a year if you roll a joint every day. However, pounds are not used for consumer purposes, as most state laws don’t allow purchasing more than 1-2 ounces of marijuana, even for medical purposes.

Grams

The gram — sometimes called a dime bag on the illicit market, is the smallest measurement unit for cannabis you can buy. A single gram of marijuana is enough for a joint and will pack two or three average-size bowls. By appearance, one gram is almost the size of one hazelnut but measuring cannabis bud without a scale is impossible. However, one fluffy bud can weigh the same as a smaller compact one, so dispensaries will always use scales to determine precise weights of cannabis in grams.

How Many Grams Are in a Single Joint?

Although most regular experienced consumers roll a gram in a single joint, a study in 2010 determined the most common content of joint as 0.66 grams. Even though scientists might be close to the accurate number, there is no single amount to roll a joint. It depends on numerous factors, including consumers’ experience, whether smoking alone or in a group setting, the strain used, its THC content, etc.

Using one gram of cannabis for one joint makes it easier to do the math and is a popular amount to use. Still, if you are only getting started, it’s best to start with a smaller amount, closer to what science has suggested.

How to buy the right amount of cannabis?

Now that you are more familiar with the measurement units, you might wonder what the right amount of cannabis is to buy.

First things first, you probably won’t be lawfully allowed to buy more than one ounce of cannabis, so you won’t walk into a dispensary asking for a pound of marijuana. However, if you’re buying hemp flower, you can buy as much as you want. Secondly, the amount you buy significantly depends on your goals and preferences.

Are you willing to make several trips to the store per week or want to buy enough to last for weeks or months? Contrary to popular belief in choosing and stocking up on one cannabis strain, we believe it’s usually better to experiment with different strains even when you are a seasoned cannabis user.

That’s because not all strains provide the same flavors, aromas, and effects due to their varying potencies. For example, one day, you might feel like you want to smoke O.G. Kush, and the next day you might feel in the mood for gelato, and if you have an ounce of weed at home, you might not have enough budget left for other strains.

When you need cannabis for an upcoming party, or you want to save money buying larger quantities, it’s best to buy it in ounces. Some stores sell pre-rolls, and they are a convenient and easy way to try out different cannabis strains until you find the one to include in your routine.

Shop for Hemp Flower at the Hemp Doctor

At the Hemp Doctor, we sell our hemp flower starting with the smallest amount in our pre-rolls (joints), with the largest amount being 1 pound. That’s because, unlike cannabis, hemp is federally legal per the 2018 Farm Bill as long as it doesn’t contain more than 0.3% THC. All our products are made using the highest quality, farm-bill compliant hemp, and our wide inventory will allow you to experiment with various hemp strains in your preferred amounts. Shop for our hemp flower online.