How Much is a Zip of Weed? A Guide to Weed Measurements

If you find that you're a novice to cannabis culture and the industry as a whole, it can seem a bit overwhelming. There is so much information to absorb, whether that be which strain is right for you or which type of consumption method will get you the highest. You'll likely ponder which weed measurements will suffice for a rookie consumer and ask questions like, "how much is a zip?". We're here to break down weed weights, provide some context behind the numbers and make sure you're ordering the perfect amount for your cannabis consuming needs.

Everything You Need to Know About Weed Sizes, Measurements

Gram

A gram is defined as a metric unit of mass equal to one thousandth of a kilogram. In layman's terms, this is your base unit of measurement when it comes to cannabis. To be specific, it is 1/28 of an ounce, and this size will easily fit into the palm of your hand. This is a great amount of cannabis for someone just starting out, someone looking to experiment with some new strains, or a user who doesn't smoke often. Visualize a gram of cannabis filling up 1 to 2 joints.

Eighth

Next up is the eighth of weed, which is 3.5 grams of cannabis. It is the most popular measurement, especially if you've found a strain you love and regularly consume. With an eighth, you'll always feel like you'll have enough cannabis at your disposal - without feeling like you're going to waste any. An eighth is also so common because it's a great bang for your buck and is cheaper than buying by the gram.

Quarter

If an eighth of marijuana just isn't enough to satiate your needs, this is the next step up. A quarter is a fourth of an ounce and rounds out to approximately 7 grams of weed. This is most suitable for someone who has a big cannabis habit or has a big weekend ahead, needing plenty of weed to go around for friends. For context, a quarter will fill about 12 to 15 joints.

Half

When speaking of a "half" in marijuana, it refers to half an ounce of weed, or 14 grams. You'll likely hear a lot of slang circulating when it comes to this measurement, so it is considered "half a zip" weed when it comes to this one. Buying a half ounce of marijuana should last a few months and can be rolled to create at least 30 joints.

Ounce

The unit of measurement regarding cannabis is very important because it is the largest amount one can buy and possess at the dispensary at any given time. An ounce is technically 28.3 grams, but for the sake of industry standards, consider an ounce to be 28 grams. Don't be caught with more, as authorities will assume there is an intention to distribute. Filling close to 100 joints, an ounce can last you a long time if you're smart with it. If you've ever wondered, "what's a zip?" - it's an ounce of cannabis.

Pound

Here, without question, is the rarest measurement of marijuana. Largely seen only (legally) by growers and dispensary owners, a pound will equate to 453 grams of marijuana - not 448 grams like you may be thinking. This is due to the discrepancy between the metric system and the US customary units of measurement. A pound is 16 ounces of cannabis and would last the average smoker an entire year, so you better have a great storage system to keep this bud fresh for that long if you get your hands on this amount.

Weed Measurement Slang

The marijuana community has a vast slang culture, especially for communicating sales and distribution efforts before the dawn of legalization. To stay hip and not get made fun of for asking, "what is a zip?" keep reading for our mini glossary of slang.

Dime

A dime of weed, or a dime bag, is a small plastic bag of weed that holds around $10 worth of weed, which is about a gram.

Dub

A dub or a dub sack is 2 grams of weed, or $20 worth. It all makes sense because a dub refers to the number 20.

Slice

A slice will always reference an eighth of weed, or 3.5 grams. Why a slice, you may ask? A pizza is generally cut into 8 slices.

As stated above, a zip is an ounce of cannabis or 28 grams. A half zip is half an ounce of weed, or 14 grams. Rumor has it that it is called a zip because one ounce fills up an entire Ziploc bag. Others will say it comes from the abbreviation for an ounce, oz.

Getting It Right

If late-stage capitalism has taught us anything, it's to always double check what you're buying and do your homework on the product. When purchasing cannabis, most of us don't have a trained eye to ensure we're getting the proper number of grams we're in search of. The only way to know if what you're getting is correct is by weighing it.

If you're buying from a bulk bin at the dispensary, the budtender should always be weighing out the cannabis in front of you. Don't be afraid to ask the budtender if you cannot remember the grams conversion and are wondering, "how much is a zip of weed?". That's what they are there for. For our most weary and suspicious consumers, we recommend buying a food scale to weigh your cannabis at home, especially for those in states who have heavy regulation of flower coming pre-packaged.

Are you familiar with the weed measurements? Did you learn any new slang? Tell us what amount of weed is your go-to in the comments below.