Wouldn’t it be nice if a cannabis purchase was straightforward? In states like California and Colorado, where weed is legal for recreational use, it is! All you have to do is buy your Mary Jane like you would a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread. The market is regulated so sellers are not going to get away with ripping you off — simply choose your weed and they have to give you the right amount, every time.

The illicit market is a little different, as your local dealer isn’t necessarily going to be a straight shooter. After all, in states where marijuana is against the law, he (or she) is considered a criminal, and will be severely punished if caught. So if your half-ounce weed is off by a gram (or five), you can’t exactly make a complaint to the cops!

Admittedly, even in regulated markets it is helpful to know how much weed you’re buying, whether it be in the form of herb or edibles. When you can purchase the correct amount, you can curate a collection of edibles, strains and other products. In this instance, it makes perfect sense to purchase a weed scale to take the guesswork out of the equation.

Best Weed Scales for Marijuana

If you want accurate weed measurements, a scale is an essential purchase. Unless you’re a vastly experienced user who can tell what 1 gram of weed looks like with the naked eye, a drug scale of this nature will ensure you always get what you pay for. It also enables you to determine how much you’re using per a session.

There’s another very good reason to invest in a weed scale; even in states where recreational and medical use is allowed, there are limits on how much you can actually buy or sell. In Alaska for example, you’re allowed to purchase one ounce of marijuana per transaction. A scale could be the difference between a nice, easy purchase, and a serious fine!

When buying a scale, here are a few things to consider:

• Only purchase a scale that’s accurate to within 0.1 grams.
• Make sure its capacity is at least 200 grams. If you’re a seller and need to weigh significant amounts, a capacity of 1,000 grams (1 kilogram) should be sufficient.
• Buy a scale with a wall plug if you weigh weed regularly, in order to save money on batteries.
• Online stores have lower overheads and typically offer lower prices than physical stores. Use the money you save to purchase more herb!
• United States residents should buy a scale that measures in grams, although any device capable of measuring in both the imperial and metric system is very useful.

We have regularly found scales available for less than $10, so there is no need to go crazy and purchase a top of the line model that you don’t need. If nothing else, a nice scale is a sound investment that takes most of the guessing work out of buying weed and having to convert from oz to g, g to oz, and so on. Buying an ounce of weed becomes a breeze – not a dreaded chore.

What Does a Gram of Weed Look Like

It’s no secret that a gram of weed belonging to one strain might look very different from the same amount of another strain. The fact is, some nugs are more compact and dense, while others are loose and fluffy. So a gram of the latter will look significantly larger than the same amount of the former. This can make things kind of difficult (if not impossible) when crunch time comes around and you’re attempting to convert grams to ounces by the sheer skill of your naked eye.

Then, you have to, of course, consider things like the level of moisture in the bud, and the fact that it is possible for a strain to come in one large nug, or several smaller ones. The fact is, the ‘eye test’ is almost certain to be inaccurate, no matter how experienced you are.

How to Weigh Weed Without a Scale – and Convert Grams to Oz Effectively

If for some reason you don’t want to spend a small sum of money on something that will help you a LOT, never fear! We have uncovered a variety of MacGyver-esque methods to weigh your cannabis without a scale (don’t use kitchen scales though because they are nowhere near accurate enough).

While these following techniques are fun to try and can help you out in a pinch, though, it’s worth reiterating that they are no substitute for the best weed scales on the market, which will make an exact science out of your attempt to convert ounces to grams, or when you’re desperately trying to remember (through a stony haze) how many grams are in an ounce.

The Ruler & The Penny

This is a pretty simple technique that only requires a ruler and a 1982 penny. Use the ruler as a scale and place a penny on one side, and your weed on the other. Since the penny weighs exactly 2.5 grams, you’ll know you have that amount when the ruler is perfectly balanced.

Also, it’s worth pointing out that when using “streetwise” techniques like this, it pays to have all of your conversions memorized. No matter their level of “academic achievement,” most any self-respecting dealer will be able to tell you off the top of his or her head how many grams in an ounce, how to convert 1 oz to grams, or even how many grams in a kilogram.

The Plastic Hanger Method

All you need here is a plastic hanger, a long piece of string, a drill, and a pair of scissors (although a ruler will come in handy as well). Also, you need a nickel as it weighs five grams (our memorized gram to oz knowledge would tell us that this is substantially less than 1/4 oz)  and acts as a convenient counterweight.

Follow these steps for a DIY weed scale:

• Use your scissors to cut off the top of the plastic hanger, and then drill a hole in the center of it.
• Drill a hole on the left and right and use the ruler to ensure they are equal distances from the middle.
• Cut two equal length pieces from the string and one on each side of the hanger.
• Cut another piece of string and tie it through the center; this string holds a weight.
• Attach the pieces to the side, hang it up, and start weighing!