You likely have a budget you need to stick to for all of life’s expenses. You know how much your house and car payments will be, and you may have a set amount you try to spend on groceries, gas, and other fun costs like eating out and going out.
If you use cannabis, you may even have a budget set aside to purchase cannabis and its various products. Or perhaps you are trying to make a cannabis budget.
Knowing how much you can spend on cannabis is important so you don’t spend more than you can comfortably afford. But how much should you plan to spend? And how much is realistic for you to get the products you want at a good quality?
Figuring out how much a gram of weed costs is just part of the equation. A lot goes into determining the price of various cannabis products.
Below, we’ll break down what you need to know about the pricing of cannabis edibles, concentrates, and flowers—including what the price can tell you.
The Price of Cannabis Edibles
Cannabis edibles are among some of the most popular cannabis products on the market. And they come in many different forms. Cannabis edibles include products such as:
- Cookies
- Brownies
- Gummies
- Chocolates
- Candies
- Drink mixes
- Capsules
With their continuing popularity, companies continue to add products to their edible lineups and even offer a more comprehensive range of products, such as low-fat cannabis candies and even sugar-free or keto products, to meet people’s dietary needs.
Edibles are popular for many reasons, including:
- They are discrete. If you pop a cannabis gummy or two while out and about, nobody is the wiser unless you tell them what it is. Edibles allow people to be discrete when using cannabis so they can be used as needed.
- They are travel-friendly. Edibles are easy to toss into a purse or bag as you head out the door. They aren’t as fragile as flowers, and often their containers are a little more durable than concentrates’ are.
- They taste good. Weed has a very unique smell and taste, and not everyone is a fan of it. Edibles help mask the taste of weed, making it more enjoyable for people to use.
- They are easy to dose. Whenever you use cannabis in any form, knowing how much you are taking is essential to ensuring you don’t take more than you can handle. Edibles contain a set amount of cannabis, so users know exactly how much they are taking.
- They are long-lasting. Edibles do take some time to take effect because your body has to process them (expect to wait about 30 minutes before you feel the effects). But once the effects hit, they do last longer. Edibles can last anywhere from four to eight hours, depending on your tolerance and how much you take.
Now that you know what cannabis edibles are, how much do they cost? The answer is: It depends.
Edibles, on average, are among the cheaper options when it comes to cannabis products. But their price will vary based on what you buy, the size of the product, your location, and their potency.
In general, when it comes to cannabis, users should expect to pay for products that contain high amounts of THC. This holds true for edibles as well. So, if you see seemingly the same products at differing prices, it likely is because of their potency. To find the potency of your edibles, you’ll need to do some math.
Look at how much cannabis or THC there is in the container. Then, read the label to see how many servings the container holds. Divide the amount of cannabis by the number of servings, and then you have how potent each serving is.
So, why are edibles among the cheapest cannabis products? There are a few reasons.
- The extracts used to create edibles can be sourced from plants that are less than perfect. When buying flowers themselves, users expect a plant that is high-quality in appearance and smell. Edibles can be made from the buds that aren’t so good for smoking since they will be ground up and added to another product (don’t worry, the weed itself is still of good quality). This allows manufacturers to create high-quality edibles from discount-priced sources.
- There are fewer specialized conditions required. Growing flowers take a lot of work and require very specific conditions. Edibles don’t require this amount of work, which saves money. This savings is then passed to consumers in the price of the product.
- It is less labour intensive. Like we mentioned in number two, growing plants is a lot of work. Making edibles is not quite as labour intensive, and some parts could be automated. Because of this, they tend to be slightly cheaper.
If you aren’t a fan of the taste of weed and are on a budget, cannabis edibles are an excellent option.
The Price of Cannabis Concentrates
Concentrates are among the newest products on the cannabis market. These are very potent forms of cannabis. The specific concentrate (THC or CBD) is extracted from a flower using a solvent or heat. Depending on the consistency of the final product, you will end up with:
- Hash
- Cannabis oil
- Resin
- Shatter
- Wax
- Budder
There are many types of concentrates on the market; which one you prefer will depend on how you plan to use it, your preferences on how it is made, and more.
Concentrates are popular because they are much more potent than a cannabis flower is. Whereas a flower may contain THC amounts from zero to 20 percent (with 20 percent being considered a lot), most concentrates contain 60 percent or more THC. In fact, they often have 90 percent THC or more.
Like edibles, the more potent a concentrate it, the more they may cost. In fact, concentrates overall will be among some of the most expensive cannabis products available.
Concentrates can be pricey for a few reasons:
- They are very potent. Thus, they require more flowers to produce, which can lead to higher production costs.
- They are expensive to make. The extraction process requires specific products and equipment and is quite labour intensive; thus, the price will increase due to the labour required to make them.
- The creation method matters. Some concentrates are created using a solvent, while others can be created using other methods, making them solvent-free. Solvent-free concentrates can cost more because it takes more effort to make them.
In short, concentrates are potent, but it takes a lot to create them. These two factors are a big reason they are more expensive than other cannabis products.
Finally, keep in mind that although concentrates are usually more expensive, they do have a long shelf-life. Plus, due to their potency, a little bit goes a long way, so your bottle will likely last you quite a while. In the long run, they may not be as expensive as they appear to be right off the bat.
The Price of Cannabis Flowers
Cannabis flowers are often sold by the gram. But the price per gram you should anticipate spending can vary dramatically. That makes it hard to determine what you will pay. But the price you pay when it comes to cannabis buds can actually tell you a lot.
The price of cannabis is determined by many things, including:
- The specific strain you buy
- The potency of the flower
- Your location
- The flower’s quality
When you shop for cannabis, you’ll see you have options when it comes to the type of flower you want (Indica, Sativa, or a Hybrid) and choices when it comes to strains.
Each cannabis strain is unique, offering different effects, smells, and even tastes. Their different makeups allow them to appeal to almost everyone. Some will be more potent than others. And just like with edibles and concentrates, you’ll likely pay a bit more for a more potent bud.
When you buy cannabis online, you’ll likely see flowers listed with an “A” rating. This rating scale starts at “A” and goes all the way up to “AAAAA.” This rating plays a significant role in the price of the bud you are looking at purchasing.
Most online retailers do not carry flowers with an “A” rating, as this is generally used to refer to homegrown weed. Instead, most will start with “AA” flowers. This indicates a flower that they either have a lot of or that isn’t of the highest quality and thus, will have a lower price per gram.
The price of your weed will go up the higher the rating it has. Hence an “AAAA” or “AAAAA” rating means you’ll need to pay top dollar, as these flowers are as close to perfect as a grower can get.
It is important to remember, however, that the rating does not refer to the flower’s potency but rather the flower’s overall quality. A bud with excellent colour and aroma that was grown in perfect conditions will have a high rating, whereas one that is older and browner will have a lower rating.
The way the flower is grown will also play a role. Some growers may have their crops outside while others grow indoors. This can affect the price, as weather conditions can impact outdoor crops, and indoor growing can cost quite a bit to do.
While the price of cannabis will vary greatly, some dispensaries offer unique deals on their buds. Many may offer bulk pricing, offering a discount to customers who purchase cannabis in larger amounts than just a gram.
Keep in mind, however: If you buy weed in bulk, you will need to make sure you store it correctly so it stays fresh until you can use it all. Some good rules of thumb when it comes to cannabis storage are:
- Keep it in a sealed, air-tight container.
- Store cannabis in a cool, dry, and dark place.
- Date your product so you know precisely how old it is.
Finally, just like with anything else, demand can affect the price of cannabis flowers. If demand is high, the price will increase. If demand is low, it can go down. For weed grown outside, high demand and poor growing conditions can lead to even higher prices.
Because of all these factors, determining how much your favourite strain of weed costs per gram can be tricky. Instead, you’ll need to set your budget based on current conditions, the quality of the bud you are after, and the potency you prefer.
Keep in mind if the price seems too high, there are ways you can help keep your weed purchases within budget. You can buy in bulk, try different strains, and look for weed that is on sale at your dispensary.
The Cost of Weed: A Summary
Estimating the cost of your favourite cannabis product isn’t as easy as figuring how much cannabis costs per gram and determining how many grams are used to make an edible or concentrates. After all, the price of cannabis flowers themselves can vary widely.
On average, you can anticipate cannabis edibles being cheaper to purchase, with cannabis concentrates costing more. Cannabis flowers can come in a wide range, depending on their rating, quality, and potency. You will need to find products that will fit your budget.
As you look at the cost of your favourite cannabis product, be sure to keep in mind how long it will last to help you determine if the cost is worth it. Concentrates, for example, are pricey but potent and have longer shelf lives than flowers. Thus, your half a gram of concentrate may last longer than your two grams of cannabis flowers.
Some companies also offer special pricing when you buy certain products, like cannabis flowers in bulk. They may also have loyalty rewards programs that you can join and receive special offers or even gifts the more you purchase.
