How Much Does A Quarter Pound of Weed Cost & How Long Will It Last?

A quarter pound equals 4 ounces or 113.4 grams of weed, and it’s probably an excessive amount for personal use unless you have a medical condition. Also, most dispensaries don’t allow bulk sales without a medical card.

In this article, we’ll try to estimate the price of a quarter pound of weed, explain the factors that could influence it, and give you some general advice on weed storage. You’ll also learn of the legal implications should you get caught carrying such an amount.

Related: Cannabis 101 | How Much Does Weed Cost?

How Much Does a Quarter Pound of Weed Cost?

Since dispensaries can’t legally sell quantities above an ounce of weed, there are no exact reference prices for quarter pounds across the U.S. You could reverse engineer its approximate price by multiplying the cost of an ounce or “zip” by four.

Typically, West Coast states have cheaper weed, and a quarter pound could cost around $600. In Southern and East Coast states, which tend to charge more, it could total over $1000.

Dispensaries haven’t wholly displaced the black market yet, so you can also get an estimate of a QP’s price from online forums [1]. Reddit users, for example, report paying between $200 and $800 for illegal quarter pounds of weed. 

Still, they are generally dissatisfied with the weed’s quality. Most users own a scale to avoid being shortchanged, but quality control and transparency are still issues with black market purchases [2].

Generally, prices fluctuate from state to state, with many users claiming that legal states have the cheapest cannabis, no matter its source.

Other Common Weed Portions:

• 1 gram of weed (0.035 oz)
• An eighth of weed (3.5 g)
• A quarter of weed (7 g)
• A half-ounce of weed (14 g)
• An ounce of weed (28 g)
• A quarter pound of weed (114 grams)
• A half pound of weed (227 grams)
• A pound of weed (454 grams)

Factors That Can Influence the Price of Weed

We can’t speak specifically about a quarter pound’s price, as there isn’t a legal way to purchase this amount. Instead, we can discuss some of the most important factors that shape weed prices from state to state.

1. Quality of the Cannabis

Much like anything that grows in the ground, cannabis plants can yield different quality buds depending on how they are tended to.

Haphazardly grown buds cost much less than ones with a more involved production. Carefully selecting the seeds, investing in high-tech equipment, and properly drying and storing the harvest hike the price but also significantly raise the quality [3].

Weed’s growing conditions can also significantly influence its final price. Most weed users are willing to pay extra to ensure their cannabis is pesticide-free, as these chemicals transfer to the smoke and can make it harmful to your health [4].

Pesticide use is poorly regulated, and many farmers use strong chemicals that the World Health Organization classifies as hazardous [5]. Interestingly, marijuana’s Schedule 1 drug classification impedes the Environmental Protection Agency from publishing guidelines for safe pesticide use on cannabis plants.

Another growing concern in the cannabis community is the use of plant growth regulators, or PGRs, which are chemicals that increase the plant’s yields exponentially. While they are beneficial for producers, they can make the weed toxic if misused [6].

As a trade-off, PGR weed is cheaper, but users claim it has lower THC content and a skunkier smell. Due to their shorter growth cycle, you can easily spot PGR buds by their density and suspicious lack of trichomes.

2. Supply & Demand

The interplay between supply and demand shapes the price of all goods, including weed. With an increasing number of states legalizing cannabis, there’s a rising demand for it, and naturally, the supply should respond by increasing as well.

Legal states that can manage this rise in demand, such as California, create a competitive market with low prices. Those that impose bureaucratic hurdles to the licensing process create a situation where a handful of companies corner the market.

3. Taxes & Overhead

With legalization, states often apply taxes to marijuana sales. While it’s another tool to gain revenue, some go overboard and end up distorting weed prices, making it inaccessible for most citizens.

These measures can backfire to the point of pushing consumers into the black market. As mentioned in the previous section, this is an unfortunate situation. Not only can you get scammed, but you may pay hundreds of dollars for sub-par weed.

How Long Does a Quarter Pound of Weed Last?

If you aren’t a frequent smoker or have a condition that requires a daily dose of cannabis, a quarter pound of weed could last you a long time. For most people, it would likely last a month or more.

Let’s assume a joint contains around 0.5 grams of cannabis. On average, someone who smokes regularly might go through a gram or more per day, which means a quarter pound would last them between 30 to 60 days.

While this sounds like a good thing, it isn’t. The longer your buds sit, the more their cannabinoids degrade, stripping them of their potency and aroma. 

Before you even consider buying a large amount, make sure you know the basics of proper weed storage to make the most of your purchase.

How to Store Weed So It Lasts Longer

Storing weed properly is the key to extending its freshness. Excessive light and warm temperatures are mortal enemies to your buds. Avoid them as much as possible by storing them in a dark, cool place.

One study delved into how marijuana’s composition changed when stored in different conditions for four years. They found that 100% of the THC degraded in the samples stored in both light and darkness at room temperature.

While shielding your weed from light is enough to preserve its freshness in the short term, freezing it would prevent its cannabinoids from deteriorating in the long term [7]. 

You should also pick the right container to store your flowers. Your best bet is to vacuum-seal the buds; otherwise, use a glass jar with an airtight lid [8].

It won’t transfer any flavor or odor and can help prevent mold growth, especially if it has a titanium or food-safe stainless steel lid rather than an aluminum one. Also, pick an appropriately sized jar since your weed will keep longer if it’s packed tightly and there’s less oxygen present.

What Happens If You’re Caught With a Quarter Pound of Weed?

Since marijuana legislation is different from state to state, the legal implications of getting caught with a quarter pound of weed range from moderate to severe. The first thing you should know before running around with large amounts of weed is your state’s limit for marijuana possession.

Most states have a limit for misdemeanor offenses, and any amount exceeding that can be considered a felony, such as in Alaska, Mississippi, Florida, or Georgia.

Your situation could get even more complicated if law enforcement officers can determine if you have the intention to distribute — although sometimes the amount alone is enough to implicate that. Storing the marijuana in individual packaging and having a considerable amount of cash on you are other things that would point to distribution.

Even carrying less than a quarter pound could get you in trouble if you have a previous conviction for marijuana possession.

Penalties are less severe in states where marijuana is legal for recreational consumption or decriminalized, and the limit for misdemeanors is generally higher. States like California, Kentucky, Maine, or New Mexico may impose fines of up to $1000 for carrying a quarter pound of weed.

In the worst-case scenario, you could end up doing time behind bars, ranging from 45 days to 6 months. Luckily, sentencing for simple possession of marijuana has been on a declining trend for the past decade.

FAQs About Weed

Next, we’ll answer some common questions regarding weed..

1. What can I do with weed besides smoke it?

Fortunately, there’s quite a bit you can do with it. With a little time and minimal supplies, you can make tinctures or cannabutter, and those alone provide a world of opportunities. 

Check out our instructions for making cannabutter — complete with a few recipes — or test one of our weed brownie recipes.

Tinctures take a little more time but consist of letting the weed sit in a sealed jar with high-proof grain alcohol, glycerin, or coconut oil for at least four weeks, shaking occasionally. The longer it sits, the better. Once you’ve waited, strain the liquid and use it sublingually, or add it to your food.

2. How many joints can you roll with a quarter pound of weed?

If you put 0.5 grams in each joint, you can roll around 230 joints with a quarter pound of weed.

3. What is “decarbing” weed?

The term “decarbing” refers to decarboxylating weed or heating it to the point where the THCA is converted to THC. Until this happens, you won’t feel much. 

You only need to do this when you’re using the raw flower and want the psychoactive effects — for example, in tinctures, drinks, and many foods. 

Luckily, the process is simple. Spread the ground buds on a cookie sheet and bake them in a preheated oven set at 220°F (or 105°C) for about an hour. Stir often, and don’t let them bake for too long.