When it’s time to finally part with your hard-earned cash and buy some buds, it’s essential to know what to look for to make sure that you are getting your money’s worth. If you can buy from a legitimate marijuana dispensary, then you can trust that the weed is going to be stellar. The dispensary’s “budtender” will be able to detail each strain’s specific phenotypes, or they will be able to recommend a strain based on your preferences. But if you are like the majority of recreational smokers, then you will have to build a trusted network to score some dank nugs. Even still, there’s always a chance that your regular hookup could have some bad weeds from time to time, or your budget cannot afford the best.
This guide will help you to understand some of the critical things to examine and rate to determine if the buds make the grade.
Contents
LOWS, MIDS, & HIGHS
Marijuana can be broken down into three quality grades: low, mid or “regs,” and high. Here is a quick comparison of the three:
| Low Grade | Mid Grade | High Grade | |
| Bag Appeal | Poor – Lots of extra stems and seeds. | OK – Some stems and leafs, maybe a few seeds. | Great – No extra stems, leafs, or seeds. |
| Texture | Dry and compact – Coarse, lots of shake (crumbs) | Average – Some buds, some shake | Full and Well – Fluffy dense buds, no shake |
| Color | Dull, muddy | Clean, green | Rich, vivid |
| Flavor | Harsh | Mild | Smooth |
| THC Content | >1-5% | 6-14% | 15-20% |
| Price | $ | $$ | $$$ |
Pedigree
Was the Cannabis grown from a reliable source?
More often than not, you will have to take a leap of faith and take the seller’s word. Once you build a strong bond with your source, then maybe they will share more grower information with you. On the other hand, if you are buying from a dispensary, then you can always ask them about the genetics of the strains. Also, how the Cannabis was grown, and other valuable information so you can keep the tabs and refer back to the growers or breeders you trust when trying a new strain.
New Source
When you are buying from a new source, whether it be a new dispensary or new friend of a friend’s source, make sure that you buy only a small amount at first. So you can test their product before purchasing more significant amounts the next time around. Any reputable source will respect this gesture, and it would save you from wasting your time and money on a bad connection.
Weight
Was the herb prepackaged, or was it weighed in front of you?
Avoid prepackaged buds and opt for a freshly weighed amount. If you have no choice but to pick a prepackaged baggy, then make sure you examine the contents before handing over your money.
Appearance
Do the buds look appealing?
At first glance, you should be excited when you are looking at the buds. They should not be crushed or crumby looking. They should have beautiful, distinct fluffy nugget shapes, and the colors should be green with red or purple hues – can be light or dark and should look clean and vibrant, not dull and dirty. The buds should also look nicely manicured, meaning all the bigger leaves and extra stems are trimmed off nicely, not left on or hacked away.
Trichomes
Can you see tiny crystals all over the bud?
Your buds should have plenty of clear or amber-tinted resin crystals if you expect to get the most effect from them. Ideally, they should be glistening with crystals, but sometimes storing and moving can cause some to fall off, which isn’t a big deal. But if you see them in odd patches, or there are only a few crystals or none at all, then the herb was not adequately taken care of, and you should not pay top dollar for it.
Feel
How does the bud feel when you touch it?
If the bud is dried and cured correctly, then it should be neither dry or wet. Neither rock-solid nor brittle. The bud should feel dense and squishy. When you break it up, it should be easy to grind and feel sticky. It should not crumble into a fine powder (too dry) or clump into hard balls (too wet). Stems should bend then break when bent, not just bend without breaking or quickly snap off.
Smell
Does it smell appealing?
The aromas should be pleasant and appetizing to you. Chances are if you like the way it smells, then you will love the way it tastes. Just keep in mind that the smell has nothing to do with its potency, just flavor. Some of the best and most potent buds can smell very harsh and very skunk-like or can only have a slight, subtle fragrance. One exception is if the buds smell very “green” like fresh lawn clippings, then it probably wasn’t appropriately cured and won’t be tasty or portent. The other is if it smells “dirty.”
Dirty weed
Sometimes improperly grown or stored weed can grow mold or mildew. If the bud smells moldy, very muddy, or like ammonia, then the chances are it has mold. If you see white stringy stuff or an unnatural white coating on the exterior, that’s a sign of mold or mildew. Both of these are bad signs, and you should not buy it, never mind smoke it.
Personal Taste
How did it make you feel?
Above all else, this is the most important factor to consider when buying weed. It is a very personal preference that only you can experience. Take notes and keep a journal on which strains you have tried, where you bought them, and what you enjoyed or did not enjoy about them. So you can start appreciating and recognizing all the wonderful and distinct experiences that various strains have to offer.
The negative effects
New users and experienced smokers alike might sometimes experience a few adverse effects after taking a new strain. Don’t panic; these minor side effects are temporary and should wear off quickly. Just try to relax and let the time pass. If they mess with your high, then stop using that strain and try a new variety next time. Negative effects can be dry mouth, headache, paranoia, dizziness, dry eyes, and confusion.
Quantity Terms
One of the easiest choices you can make when procuring your marijuana is the actual amount you want. The most important thing to remember is how many grams are in each amount, so you don’t get shorted. Here is a rundown of the standard weights available to purchase along with their common “code” names. The simple weed measurement guide is also a good read for this.
Gram (1 gram)
A.K.A. dub, g, grizz, piece, sock.
FAQs
Q. How many ounces in a gram? – 0.035 ounce
Q. How much is a gram in ounces? – 0.035 ounce
Q. How much is a gram? – 0.035 ounce
Q. How many grams in a half ounce? – 14.17 grams
Q. How many grams in a ounce? – 28.35 grams
1/8 Ounce (3.5 grams)
A.K.A. eighth, eighter, sack, single, slice, shirt.
FAQs
Q. How many eighths in an ounce? – 8
Q. How many grams in an eighth? – 3.5 grams
Q. How many grams in an eighth ounce? – 3.5 grams
Q. How much is an eighth in grams? – 3.5 grams
Q. How much is an eighth of an ounce? – 0.12 ounce
Q. How much is an eighth of an ounce in grams? – 3.5 grams
1/4 Ounce (7 grams)
A.K.A. bottles, pants, q, quad, quarter.
Q. How many grams in a quarter? – 7 grams
Q. How much does a quarter ounce weigh? – 7 grams
Q. How much is quarter? – 7 grams
Q. How many grams in quarter ounce? – 7 grams
Q. How many oz in a quarter? – 1/4 oz
1/2 Ounce (14 grams)
A.K.A. half, half-o, halfer, halfie.
Q. How many grams in a half ounce? – 14 grams
Q. How much does half an ounce weigh? – 14 grams
Q. How much is in a half ounce? – 14 grams
3/4 Ounce (21 grams)
A.K.A. lid
1 Ounce (28 grams)
A.K.A. jacket, onion, oscar, o, oz, ozzy, zip, zone.
FAQs
Q. How many grams in an ounce? – 28 grams
Q. How much does an ounce weigh? – 28 grams
Q. How much is an ounce? – 28 grams
Q. How much is an ounce in grams? – 28 grams
Q. How many grams in a oz? – 28 grams
1/4 Pound (4 ounces)
A.K.A. 40’s, cutie pie, q.p., quop.
FAQs
Q. How many grams in a quarter-pound? – 113.40 grams
Q. How many ounces in a quarter-pound? – 4 ounces
1/2 Pound (8 ounces)
A.K.A. h.p., half-p
FAQs
Q. How many grams are in half a pound? – 226.80 grams
Q. How many ounces are in half a pound? – 8 ounces
1 Pound (16 ounces)
A.K.A. elbow, p.
FAQs
Q. How many grams are in a pound? – 453.59 grams
Q. How many ounces are in a pound? – 16 ounces
Money Terms
Sometimes you can buy weed for a dollar amount rather than weight. These are typical “eyeballed” amounts and aren’t the best quality chronic.
Nickel (worth $5)
It should be enough for a joint.
A.K.A. fives, nick, nickel bag.
Dime (worth $10)
Should be enough for a blunt.
A.K.A. dime bag, dime sack, ten.
Dub (worth $20)
Should be enough for two blunts—i.e., double.
A.K.A. dub, dub sack, twin, twenty.
Summary
I hope this guide will come in handy when you pick up your next bud. Please let me know in the comments below.