Cannabis weights explained: gram, eighth, ounce

Cannabis is often sold and talked about in a mix of grams and fractions of an ounce, which trips up a lot of new buyers. Each term is simpler than it sounds.

The common weights

Name	Grams	What it is
Gram	1 g	The smallest common amount
Eighth	3.5 g	An eighth of an ounce, the usual casual buy
Quarter	7 g	A quarter of an ounce (two eighths)
Half	14 g	Half an ounce (four eighths)
Ounce	28 g	The largest common retail unit, sometimes called a “zip”

Why ounces?

Cannabis was traditionally measured in ounces, so even in metric Canada the old fractions stuck around. Legal stores list everything in grams on the label and menu, but you’ll still hear “an eighth” or “a quarter” in conversation. Both refer to fractions of that 28-gram ounce.

In practical terms

Weights don’t mean much until you picture them. Roughly:

• 1 gram is about two to three average joints.
• An eighth (3.5 g) lasts a casual user a week or two.
• An ounce (28 g) is a lot, the kind of amount you’d only buy to save money per gram, and only if you’ll use it before it ages.

These are rough guides; how far a given weight goes depends entirely on how much you use and how. The how much to buy tool gives a more tailored estimate, and the unit converter switches between grams, eighths, and ounces instantly.

How much you can carry

The public possession limit in Canada is 30 grams of dried cannabis, or the equivalent in another form. That’s just over an ounce. Edibles, oils, and concentrates each count differently toward that limit, which the possession calculator sorts out. For the rest of the rules, see the key facts.

Buying by weight

One last practical note: buying larger amounts almost always lowers the price per gram. A single gram is the most expensive way to buy; an eighth or an ounce brings the per-gram cost down. See how much cannabis costs for the numbers.