How Much Does Marijuana Cost? A Price Guide

Public opinion of marijuana has radically changed over the decades.

In 1969, only 12% of Americans thought that cannabis should be legal. Now, two-thirds of Americans believe it should be legalized.

If you’re considering trying cannabis for the first time, you probably have a lot of questions. One of which is most likely: how much does marijuana cost?

Let’s take a deep dive into the world of the cost of marijuana.

Where Can You Legally Buy Marijuana?

There are thirty-three states where marijuana is legal for medicinal use and eleven states where recreational marijuana is legal. In a handful of additional states, cannabis has been decriminalized. There are only eight states where cannabis is still fully illegal.

The states (plus one non-state: D.C.) that have legalized medicinal marijuana are:

• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Montana
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Dakota
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Illinois
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Hawaii
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Utah
• Vermont
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California

Of these states, the following have fully legalized recreational weed as well:

• Alaska
• California
• Colorado
• District of Columbia
• Illinois
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Nevada
• Oregon
• Vermont
• Washington

The state laws vary in terms of what constitutes a qualifying medical condition. You’ll want to research your state laws if you’re looking to obtain a medical marijuana card. If you live in a state where weed is legal recreationally, generally the only qualifying factor is whether or not you’re over 21 years of age.

Location

The average cost of marijuana is going to differ depending on what state you’re in. If you aren’t purchasing marijuana through legal means, the cost could vary considerably.

The base unit used to measure the weight of cannabis is the gram. However, once you start talking about larger quantities of marijuana, it is described based on the ounce.

Marijuana prices a gram of medium-quality weed could range from $6 to $18. Overall, the cheapest state to buy marijuana is Oregon, where a gram of medium-quality weed goes for $6.65. The most expensive place to buy cannabis is Washington, D.C., where a gram of medium-quality marijuana will cost you $18.08.

Are you trying to find out where to get cannabis near you? Check out this delivery guide.

Quality

Another thing that will impact marijuana prices is the quality of cannabis you buy.

What is meant by marijuana quality, though? Let’s take a look.

Color

Color is one of the ways you can assess the quality of weed. Cannabis that is fresh and potent will typically be a variant of green or mostly green. Good weed might also contain shades of red, orange, blue, and purple. Weed that is fresh won’t ever be brown.

When marijuana turns brown it has oxidized. This means that cannabinoids, terpenes, and other chemical compounds have broken down. Cannabis that has begun to oxidize is likely to not make you feel stoned, but instead, sleepy.  Brown cannabis will also be harsher to smoke and less pleasant.

Smell

Another way to determine the quality of cannabis is the smell. Weed that is high-quality will have a strong, pungent aroma. You never want to smoke weed that smells like mold or dampness. The same goes for cannabis that smells like hay, grass, or has little to no aroma at all.

Taste

Cannabis can have a wide range of flavor notes. However, it should never taste metallic or chemical-y. It should also never taste foul as this could point to mildew or mold growth.

Trichomes

The white crystalline resin that coats quality buds is known as trichomes. Their presence or lack thereof can give you a clue as to the quality of the marijuana.

Other Factors

Other factors for judging the quality of marijuana include the feel, orange hairs, trim, and potency. The presence of tons of seeds or stems, mold, pests, or banana flowers are indications of low quality. This is cannabis you don’t want to smoke.

Quantity

When purchasing cannabis, you’ll likely be buying it in grams, fractions of ounces, or full ounces.

The quality of the marijuana and the location your purchasing it from will have some impact on the cost. However, no matter where you go, a gram will always be cheaper than an eighth, and an eighth will always be cheaper than an ounce.

The average cost of an eighth of medium quality marijuana (3.5 grams) can range from about $23-$60. An eight of weed will roll roughly seven joints. This is assuming that each of your joints contains about half a gram.

For a quarter of an ounce of weed, the cost is typically between $65 and $75. In some states, it could be as cheap as $46, while in others it might be as pricey as $120.

To buy an ounce of weed, it is usually between $230 and $380. In some places, though, it can cost closer to $500. In other states where prices are generally lower, it can be as cheap as $190.

When you buy an ounce at a time, you are usually getting a better deal. The most expensive way to buy cannabis is to buy it a gram at a time. If you are a regular smoker, it can make sense to buy your marijuana in ounces.

How Much Does Marijuana Cost? Simple Answer: It Depends

Where you are, the quality of cannabis you buy, and how much you buy is going to have a big impact on how much it costs you. That being said, the prices are much more standardized when you obtain cannabis legally rather than through illegal means.

Did you find this article answering the question: how much does marijuana cost helpful? If so, be sure to check out the rest of our blog for more informative and interesting articles!

The post How Much Does Marijuana Cost? A Price Guide first appeared on Weirdomatic.

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