Fact Checked by Doctor NameIn cannabis culture, an “Eighth” refers to one-eighth of an ounce of cannabis flower, equivalent to 3.5 grams.
It’s a popular quantity for personal use.
What is an Eighth?
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The term eighth (sometimes also called an “eighth of an ounce” or “slice”) always denotes 3.5 grams of cannabis flower ready for use.
This amount has become a standard unit for selling and purchasing small quantities of marijuana.
An eighth is generally considered enough cannabis to regularly serve a single moderate consumer’s needs without excess.
For medical patients and those with higher tolerances, an eighth may provide less than a week’s worth of medicine.
More casual users might make an eighth last for weeks or more.
The popularity of eighths for selling cannabis stems back decades.
Buying flowers by ounce was common practice, and an eighth represented an ideal “small but substantial” portion when cannabis purchases were covert, and stashes were fiercely rationed.
What Does an Eighth Look Like?
While methods like weighing offer the only definitive way to verify you have purchased 3.5 grams, experienced cannabis users can visually inspect a flower to judge if it looks like a proper eighth.
An eighth filled a 35mm film canister quite neatly, for instance.
In volume, an eighth generally fills a small ziplock sandwich bag between one-half to three-quarters full, assuming average density bud.
Very dense or loose buds may appear slightly smaller or larger in the bag, respectively.
Eighth vs. Quarter
A quarter of an ounce, or a quad, is equal to 7 grams of cannabis flower – two eighths.
The jump from one-eighth to a quarter represents a doubling in weight, cannabis needed, and cost.
For the cannabis consumer, a quarter may be selected when:
- Buying in bulk to save costs
- Purchasing for 2 or more people
- Stocking up for extended periods between purchases
- Needing a large supply of medical relief
While the eighth serves a single user well for casual use, the quarter pound caters to higher volumes and more generous needs.
