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What Is a Zip of Weed and Why Buy an Ounce
A zip equals 28 grams of cannabis. Learn the 3 numbers that verify weight, legality, and value—plus why hemp ounces ship nationwide while others don't.
Written by Brandon Topp
September 18th, 2025
TL;DR: A “zip” is an ounce of cannabis, which equals 28 grams.
You just read, "zips for 120" and felt that familiar uneasiness of not knowing what you're being offered.
We've all been caught between wanting a good deal and fearing that asking basic questions will make us look inexperienced.
A zip equals exactly 28 grams or one ounce of cannabis flower. The name comes from how an ounce fits perfectly into a ziplock bag, though you'll hear dispensaries use the professional term "ounce" while street dealers stick with "zip" for coded communication.
You can buy by the ounce or less across Mood’s entire selection of acclaimed Flower today.
Table of Contents
A Zip Means One Ounce (But Everyone Gets the Math Wrong)
Why Dealers Say Zip While Dispensaries Say Ounce
How to Verify You're Getting a Full 28 Grams
Hemp vs Marijuana Ounces (One Ships to Your Door, One Doesn't)
How to Calculate If Any Zip Price Actually Saves You Money
How Long 28 Grams Typically Lasts
Proper Storage for Ounce Quantities
Your Ounce Buying Confidence Starts Here
A Zip Means One Ounce (But Everyone Gets the Math Wrong)
A zip contains exactly 28 grams or one ounce of cannabis flower. Whether you're buying from a dealer, dispensary, or hemp retailer like us, this measurement stays consistent.
Here's where the math trips up even experienced users: one zip equals eight eighths or four quarters. Each eighth weighs 3.5 grams, so eight multiplied by 3.5 equals 28 grams total.
The visual confusion happens because dense indica buds look much smaller than fluffy sativa ones at the same 28-gram weight. That compact, sticky nugget might seem light compared to a bag of airy buds, but both weigh identical amounts when properly measured.
Most people underestimate how much 28 grams actually looks like.
We're talking about roughly the size of a small apple or large kiwi fruit, depending on bud density and trimming quality.
Breaking Down the Weight Math
The metric system creates the most confusion for American cannabis users.
One gram equals 1,000 milligrams, and 28.35 grams technically equals one ounce, though cannabis is rounded to 28 grams for simplicity.
Think of it this way: if you usually buy one-gram pre-rolls, a zip gives you 28 individual sessions.
You get eight separate purchases in one transaction if you prefer eighths at 3.5 grams each.
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Why Dealers Say Zip While Dispensaries Say Ounce
The terminology split reveals cannabis culture's evolution from prohibition to legalization.
Street dealers developed coded language like "zip" to communicate safely, while legal dispensaries adopted professional terminology to legitimize their operations.
Knowing both terms prevents you from seeming like an outsider in either context.
You won't confuse a budtender by asking for a "zip," and you won't puzzle a dealer by requesting "one ounce of flower."
This linguistic divide explains why the same 28-gram quantity can feel like different products depending on where you encounter it.
The terminology signals different markets, legal frameworks, and cultural expectations around the same physical amount of cannabis.
How to Verify You're Getting a Full 28 Grams
When in person, always request to see the scale before paying, whether you're dealing with a street seller or checking a dispensary purchase.
A proper digital scale should display readings to at least one decimal place and zero out entirely when empty.
The polite script goes like this: "Mind if I see it on the scale first?" Most legitimate sellers expect this request and respect customers who verify their purchases.
Red Flags to Watch For
Sellers who refuse scale verification or claim their scale is "broken" or "in the other room" often short customers by 3-4 grams.
Pre-weighed bags sitting around for hours can lose moisture weight, making them technically light even if originally accurate.
Watch for scales placed in poorly lit areas or positions where you can't clearly see the digital display.
Legitimate sellers place scales in good lighting and angle them so customers can read the numbers easily.
When buying online, you can always weigh your product upon arrival and determine the distributor’s legitimacy from there.
Watch: How To Use Cannabis Flower
Hemp vs Marijuana Ounces (One Ships to Your Door, One Doesn't)
Here's the game-changing legal distinction most people miss: hemp containing less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC ships legally nationwide under the 2018 Farm Bill, while marijuana remains federally illegal regardless of state laws.
We ship THCa flower ounces across the United States because lab reports verify federal compliance.
Due to federal banking and interstate commerce restrictions, dispensary ounces can't cross state lines, even between legal states.
THCa becomes more potent when heated, providing familiar effects once smoked or vaped.
The key difference lies in legal status: our hemp ounces travel legally through USPS while dispensary purchases must stay within state borders.
Understanding THCa Hemp Products
THCa hemp flower provides identical experiences to traditional cannabis once heated, but ships legally because it contains minimal Delta-9 THC before heating. This creates opportunities for bulk buyers in prohibition states with no legal access.
Our premium THCa flower demonstrates this perfectly—lab-tested hemp that provides potent effects while maintaining federal legal shipping and possession compliance.
Drug Testing Considerations
THCa becomes more potent when heated, converting to Delta-9 THC. Consumers report that THCa products can affect drug test results similarly to traditional cannabis.
Employment policies vary regarding hemp-derived products.
Many workplaces maintain standard drug testing policies regardless of a product's legal status.
How to Calculate If Any Zip Price Actually Saves You Money
The universal formula works everywhere: divide the total price by 28 to get your per-gram cost.
This number tells you whether bulk buying actually saves money compared to smaller purchases.
A THCa flower ounce at $129 breaks down to $4.61 per gram. Compare that against a typical $40 dispensary eighth at $11.43 per gram, and the bulk savings become obvious.
When Bulk Buying Makes Sense
Daily users who consume 0.5-1 gram per day benefit most from ounce purchases.
The math works in their favor because they'll consume the entire amount before quality degradation becomes an issue.
Occasional users should stick with smaller amounts when trying new strains or products. An ounce of something you don't enjoy becomes expensive storage that loses potency over time.
Hidden Costs to Factor In
Dispensary ounces often include taxes that can add 15-30% to advertised prices.
Hemp products like ours ship with standard sales tax only, making the true cost comparison more favorable than initial price comparisons suggest.
Storage containers, humidity packs, and proper curing equipment add $20-40 to your total investment but protect the quality of your bulk purchase over time.
How Long 28 Grams Typically Lasts
Daily users report consuming a zip in 3-5 days to 2 weeks, depending on their consumption patterns and preferred methods.
Occasional users stretch the same amount across 2-3 months of weekend use.
Consumption speed depends heavily on method: smoking burns through material fastest, vaping conserves more, and making edibles requires larger amounts per session but fewer sessions overall.
Realistic Timeline Expectations
A heavy daily smoker consuming 2-3 grams per day finishes an ounce in about two weeks.
Moderate daily users at 0.5-1 gram daily make an ounce last 4-8 weeks.
Weekend-only users consuming 1-2 grams per session can stretch an ounce across 3-4 months, though storage quality becomes more critical over longer timeframes.
Proper Storage for Ounce Quantities
Large quantities typically require different storage approaches than small amounts.
Many users find glass mason jars work for amounts up to 14 grams, while ounces often need larger airtight containers or multiple smaller jars.
We vacuum-seal our ounces and include humidity control packs, though many customers transfer contents to their preferred storage containers upon arrival.
Extended time in the original shipping materials can affect product quality.
Environment Control
Many cannabis users store containers in cool, dark places away from temperature fluctuations.
Common storage locations include basements, closets, and cupboards rather than areas near heating vents or windows.
Humidity levels between 55-62% help prevent mold while maintaining texture.
Humidity control products like Boveda packs can help maintain storage conditions over time.
Quality Preservation Over Time
Cannabis stored in proper conditions typically maintains quality for 6-12 months, with peak freshness generally occurring within the first 2-3 months.
Terpene profiles tend to fade gradually over time.
Many users divide large purchases into smaller portions immediately after purchase. This approach limits air exposure to current consumption while keeping unused portions sealed.
Your Ounce Buying Confidence Starts Here
Every successful zip purchase comes down to verifying three numbers: 28 grams on the scale confirms full weight, 0.3% Delta-9 THC threshold determines legal shipping status, and per-gram cost calculation reveals true value.
This verification system works identically whether you're evaluating street dealers, dispensary purchases, or hemp retailers like us.
The numbers don't lie, and confident buyers always check them before completing transactions.
Your Purchase Checklist
Many buyers request scale verification for in-person purchases and check certificates of analysis for hemp products to verify compliance numbers.
Calculating per-gram costs helps compare value across different sources and quantities.
Our THCa flower collection includes detailed lab reports, accurate weights, and clear per-gram pricing that makes value comparison straightforward.
We built our hemp program around eliminating the guesswork that often makes bulk cannabis purchasing stressful.
Lab verification, legal shipping, and transparent pricing address the traditional barriers between customers and confident ounce purchases.
