How Many Grams Is a Half?

Understanding Cannabis Measurements: How Many Grams is a Half?

Newcomers to medical cannabis have a good bit of terminology to learn—especially when it comes to measurements. For new patients and seasoned pros alike, understanding cannabis weights is crucial for proper use.

If you’re new to the world of medical marijuana, you may have questions like, how many grams is a half? Or, how do I know how much marijuana I need?

In this article, we’re demystifying marijuana measurements to help you navigate your local dispensary, customize your dose, and optimize your healing journey.

Understanding Cannabis Measurements: A Gram-Based System

Cannabis is typically weighed and sold in grams, similar to many other products (including traditional pharmaceuticals).^[1]

But, when purchasing cannabis from a dispensary or pharmacy, you’ll often hear terms like “an eighth,” “a quarter,” “a half,” and “an ounce.” These terms describe ounces (and portions of ounces).

In the world of cannabis, an ounce equates to 28 grams. When budtenders, pharmacists, and marijuana doctors mention “a half,” they’re talking about half of an ounce. Since there are 28 grams in an ounce, a half is 14 grams.

Grams and Milligrams: Cannabis vs. Cannabinoids

In conversations about marijuana measurements, there are two important figures to consider:

1. The volume of product – Marijuana is typically sold by weight of the entire product. A half of flower is 14 grams of the marijuana plant itself.
2. The volume of ingredients – When talking about dosage, many medical marijuana doctors and patients discuss milligrams (mg). This typically refers to the volume of the active ingredient—THC or CBD.

So, how do you know how much THC or CBD is in your half? By looking at the concentration of these ingredients, which will be printed on the packaging and listed as a percentage.

Let’s discuss an example:

• At your local dispensary, you purchase a half of flower containing 10% THC and 10% CBD.
• If you roll a one-gram joint, that joint will still contain 10% THC and 10% CBD.
• That one-gram joint would contain .1 grams (100 mg) of THC and CBD respectively.

Understanding concentrations is just as important as understanding weights—both will help you fine-tune your dosing on your healing journey.

Other Common Cannabis Measurements

When you purchase medical marijuana, you’ll come across other standard measurements. Here’s a helpful breakdown of these measurements and what they mean:

• Gram – The smallest weight available
• Eighth – Equal to 3.5 grams
• Quarter – A quarter of an ounce, equivalent to 7 grams
• Half – Equal to 14 grams
• Ounce – Equal to 28 grams—typically the largest quantity available

The Patient’s Perspective: The Importance of Understanding Weight

Understanding cannabis measurements isn’t just about math; it’s about informed and responsible use. Knowing the weight you’re purchasing and how it relates to your consumption can guide your dosing.

For medical cannabis patients, understanding dosing is key to achieving your desired effects. As you experiment with dosing, keep these guidelines in mind:

• Start low and slow – The first time you visit a dispensary or pharmacy, consider starting at the smallest available weight (a gram) and choosing a product with the lowest concentration of your desired active ingredient. Typically, the lowest concentration you’ll find will be between 5 and 10%.
• Titrate gradually – In medical terms, “titration” describes increasing or decreasing a dose to its optimal effectiveness. What is optimal effectiveness? The perfect balance of achieving your desired effects while limiting side effects. But, as you experiment with dosing, titrate gradually so that you can adequately assess the impacts of each dose and adjust as needed.

Using Weight for Proper Dose Planning

You can use weight and concentration knowledge to help you plan your doses and your future trips to the dispensary. For instance, if you know that your perfect dose is 0.5 grams of flower each day, and you purchase a half, you’ll have enough for 28 doses (or 28 days).

But remember that weight isn’t consistent across concentrations. If you consume 0.5 grams of 20% THC each day, and you purchase a product with only 10% THC on your next dispensary visit, you likely won’t achieve the same effects as you did with the higher-concentration product.

Keeping track of these numbers is key. Consider keeping a detailed log of your dosing or ask your medical marijuana doctor or dispensary pro to help you track your ideal concentrations and weights.

So, How Many Grams Is a Half?

A half is equal to 14 grams. Once you’ve fine-tuned your dose and chosen your ideal product, purchasing a half at a dispensary or pharmacy is an excellent way to limit your dispensary trips and potentially save by buying in bulk.

But if you have yet to discover your perfect dose (or if you’re still hesitant to give medical marijuana a chance), you’ve come to the right place. TeleLeaf is a welcoming community of medical marijuana experts. As patients ourselves, we understand the truly transformative powers of medical cannabis and how it can help people get their lives back.

Check out our FAQ page to learn more about how medical cannabis can help support your healing journey.

Sources:

^[1] Business Insider. A Visual Guide to the Most Common Measurements of Weed. https://www.insider.com/guides/home/weed-measurements