Differences in weed laws mean that things will vary as you move from one weed-legal state to another. But one thing is consistent: weed measurement is the same in all the states. If you’ve ever visited a dispensary, you’ll notice that weed is measured in eighths, grams, and ounces. But… how much is an ounce of weed?
An oz of weed is quite pricey in some states, and if you’ve ever had a double take at the price of an ounce in your local dispensary, you probably would want to know what your pals are paying for one ounce of weed in other states.
But before we get into all that, you should know the different qualities of weed and what different weed measurements entail.
Weed Measurements: A Gram, an Eighth, a Quarter, and an Ounce of Weed Explained
Without much ado, below is a breakdown of how retailers measure weed:
- One gram of weed is the smallest measurement available in most dispensaries if not all.
- 3.5 grams of weed is equivalent to an eighth of weed, which is the most common measurement that casual weed consumers buy.
- An eighth is a synonym for one-eighth of an ounce of weed. That is, one part after 1 ounce of weed has been divided into eight parts – 1/8th.
- Two eighths, that is 7 grams of weed, is referred to as a quarter (or sometimes a “quad” depending on where you’re at).
- Four quarters, 28 grams, or eight one-eighths equals one ounce of weed.
Although no state allows medical or recreational users to possess up to one pound of weed, it is not unusual to hear of it. One pound of weed is equivalent to 16 ounces of weed or approximately 453 grams of weed.
At 8 ounces, California has the highest possession limit for medical marijuana; Missouri follows closely with 6 ounces.
Weed Quality in the U.S.: Difference Between High-Quality and Mid-Quality Weed Explained
The different qualities of weed on offer are one of the first things you might notice when you check for the price of an ounce of weed. Usually, the budtender presents you with two types of weeds: high-quality weed and mid-quality weed.
What’s the difference between both? And does it really matter?
High-Quality Weed vs. Mid-Quality Weed vs. Low-Quality Weed
High-quality weed, also known as artisanal, craft, piff, top-shelf, dank, chronic, or fire weed, refers to weed that’s been cultivated with quality over quantity in mind. Dank usually have very strong odor, pronounced trichomes, and very rich terpene and cannabinoid profiles.
Craft growers often use living soil, compost teas, 100% organic nutrients, and zero chemicals when growing high-quality weed.
When mature, the plants are usually carefully hand-trimmed to ensure that the terpene-concentrated trichomes are retained in the bud.
The result is deeply hued, leafy, and complexly aromatic weed that’s rich in flavor, cannabinoids, and terpenes — everything that makes weed hit right.
Mid-quality weed, also known as mids, regular weed, or regs, is the most common type of weed you’ll find across the U.S. They are usually mass-produced to meet commercial demands.
And that usually means that they are treated with chemicals (think pesticides), machine-trimmed, and sometimes a bit moldy, too wet, or too dry.
Unlike high-quality weed that often appear leafy, mid buds are usually rounded due to machine trimming and may lack leaves. The cannabinoid and terpene profiles of mids are average at best and not as rich as that of craft weed.
Low-quality weed, also known as schwag, brick, dirt, bottom shelf, or ditch weed, is simply meh. They’re brownish, dry, have lots of seeds and stems, and lack trichomes.
They usually look compacted because they are compressed before being transported. Nothing about low-quality weed spells proper care or hygiene.
What is the Price of One Ounce of Weed in the U.S.?
The national average for an ounce of medium-quality weed in the U.S. is $256.08, while the national average for an ounce of high-quality weed is $318.72, indicating a $62.64 difference between the two qualities.
Apart from measurement and quality, other factors, such as strain, location, local tax laws, and other fiscal effects, influence the cost of an oz of weed.
Therefore, the price of either quality of weed varies from place to place across the country, within the same state, and even across dispensaries.
Top 5 States with the Highest Price Per Ounce of High-Quality Weed in the U.S.
At $590.27 per ounce, Washington DC takes the trophy for the most expensive weed in the U.S., followed by North Dakota at $382.17
The three states that follow closely behind include:
- Virginia, at an average price of $362.88 per 1 ounce of weed
- West Virginia, at $361.13
- Pennsylvania, at $355.47
Top 5 States with the Highest Price Per Ounce of Mid-Quality Weed in the U.S.
Unsurprisingly, the District of Columbia also holds the record for the state with the highest price per ounce of mid-quality weed in the U.S. An ounce of medium-quality weed costs $494.65 in D.C. while North Dakota tags along with $336.88
The three states that follow closely behind include:
- North Dakota, at an average price of $326.81
- Illinois, at $296.32
- Maryland, at $283,26
Top 5 States with the Lowest Price Per Ounce of High-Quality Weed
At an average price of $210.19 per ounce of high-quality weed, Oregon holds the record for the cheapest high-quality weed in the U.S., followed by Washington at $233.93.
The three states that follow closely behind include:
- Colorado, at an average price of $247.49
- California, at $258.88
- Montana, at $266.13
Top 5 States with the Lowest Price Per Ounce of Medium Quality Weed
Mississippi has the cheapest medium-quality weed in the U.S. You can get an oz of weed of mid-range quality for as low as $172.11; Oregon follows at $186.78, marking approximately a $14 difference.
The three states that follow closely behind include:
- Washington, at an average price of $197.69
- Colorado, at $200.16
- California, at $209.08
Note: All the stated prices are state averages. The price of 1 ounce of weed in some cities could be significantly different from the state average. For instance, while the average price in Mississippi is $172.11, the average price in Columbus, Mississippi, is $142.53 – that’s $30 cheaper.
Is the Cost of Weed in the U.S. Ever Expected to Decrease?
In the past few years, the price of weed has steadily declined. With hopes of friendlier laws across states and possibly at the federal level soon, weed could become much cheaper than it is now.
In the early 2010s, the average price of an ounce of high-quality weed across all states was upwards of $350. Today, the national average is $318.72.
As tax laws become less imposing and the market becomes more competitive, the price of one ounce of weed would fall further. We’re already seeing this happen in some states, such as Oregon, where the price of weed hit an all-time low of $4 per gram earlier in the year.
With Biden’s administration considering reviewing the federal cannabis laws, speculations abound that the average price of an oz of weed could be well below the current average. But until federal cannabis legalization happens, all pointers are speculative.
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