Cannabis is sold by weight, and the names come from the imperial system even though the scale reads in grams. Here is what a gram, eighth, quarter, ounce and zip actually mean, and what each costs in Washington.
Cannabis is sold by weight, and the names come from the imperial system even though the scale reads in grams. Here is the whole system in one place.
An ounce is technically 28.35 grams, but the industry rounds to 28. Everything else divides down from there.
A zip is 28 grams, which is one ounce. The name is widely believed to come from the one-ounce quantity fitting a standard Ziploc bag, and it stuck.
A zip is also the legal purchase limit for recreational flower in Washington, so it is the largest amount of flower you can buy in a single transaction.
An eighth is 3.5 grams, or one eighth of an ounce. It is the most popular purchase size in most dispensaries because it is enough to get a real sense of a strain without committing to a larger quantity.
For a rough sense of what that means in practice, an eighth yields roughly seven half-gram joints, or around ten to fourteen bowls depending on how you pack them.
A quarter is 7 grams, two eighths, or one quarter of an ounce. It is the common step up for people who have found a strain they like and want better per-gram value.
Washington prices vary by quality tier more than by anything else. Value shelf flower and craft top shelf can differ by a factor of three for the same weight. Typical Bellingham ranges:
Two things to keep in mind. Washington adds a 37 percent cannabis excise tax plus sales tax, and in most shops that is already built into the shelf price you see. And buying larger almost always lowers your cost per gram, which is the entire reason the tiers exist.
Run the math on a mid shelf strain and the pattern is obvious. A single gram at $12 is $12.00 per gram. An eighth at $35 works out to $10.00 per gram. A quarter at $60 is $8.57. A half ounce at $110 is $7.86. An ounce at $180 comes to $6.43 per gram, roughly half the single-gram price.
The trade-off is freshness. Flower is at its best within roughly six months to a year, so an ounce only saves you money if you will actually get through it while it is still good. Store it in an airtight container somewhere cool and dark.
Washington caps how much a recreational customer can buy in a single transaction. All four categories are separate, so the limits do not trade against each other.
Qualifying medical patients entered in the state database have higher limits, and our staff can walk you through medical card creation on site. You must be 21 or older with valid government-issued ID, and cannabis purchased in Washington cannot legally be taken across state lines.
The gram and eighth system applies to flower. Other categories have their own conventions.
Pre-rolls are usually sold as single 0.5g or 1g joints, or in multipacks. A five-pack of half-gram pre-rolls is 2.5 grams total, less than an eighth.
Concentrates are sold in much smaller increments because they are far more potent. A single gram is standard, with half-gram options common. The 7 gram legal limit reflects that concentration.
Vape cartridges are typically 0.5g or 1g of oil, and count toward your concentrate limit.
Edibles are measured by THC content, not weight. Washington caps a single serving at 10mg THC and a package at 100mg.
Buy for how much you will actually use before it dries out, not for the best headline price.
28 grams. A zip is another word for an ounce.
Yes. They are interchangeable terms for 28 grams of flower.
Eight. Each eighth is 3.5 grams, and eight of them make 28 grams.
Four. A quarter is 7 grams.
Commonly $20 to $60 depending on quality tier, with value shelf options below that. Bellingham prices tend to be competitive because of the number of licensed retailers in the area.
About seven half-gram joints, or three to four full-gram joints.
One ounce of flower, 7 grams of concentrate, 16 ounces of solid edibles, or 72 ounces of liquid edibles per transaction if you are 21 or older.
The most commonly cited explanation is that an ounce of flower fills a standard Ziploc bag. The slang has been in use for decades.
We carry one of the largest cannabis selections in the Northwest across every price tier, and our budtenders are happy to help you figure out what size makes sense for you. Check current pricing on our menu or see our daily specials before you come in.
2018 Iron St, Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 746-3440. Open Mon-Sat 8am-11pm, Sun 8am-10pm
1706 Mt Baker Hwy, Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 746-3442. Open Sun-Thu 8am-9pm, Fri-Sat 8am-10pm
4770 Pacific Hwy, Bellingham, WA
(360) 746-3443. Open Mon-Sat 8am-11pm, Sun 8am-10pm
Must be 21 or older with valid ID. Prices and availability change daily and are subject to change without notice. This article is for general informational purposes only.
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