You must be precise when growing and producing weed. Whether you’re packaging for sale, measuring for personal use, or crafting a specific blend, knowing exactly how much weed you’re working with is important. To do this, you must weigh it. This quick guide to weighing weed will walk producers like yourself through the tools and methods you need to get it done right every time.
Why Weigh Weed?
Weighing weed is an essential step when producing edibles, oils, and tinctures. Dosage matters—too much or too little could yield undesirable effects. Accuracy in every gram guarantees legal compliance, as well as safe and happy customers.
On the topic of compliance, most state regulations require precise weighing and labeling. Moreover, customers expect accurate quantities, whether they’re purchasing by the gram, eighth, or ounce.
Beyond these factors, measuring your yield as a grower improves your methods over time. Knowing exactly how much each plant produces can guide future cultivation decisions to be as efficient and profitable as possible.
Using a Scale
The most reliable tool for weighing weed is a digital scale. Look for one designed to measure small weights with precision, ideally down to 0.01 grams. Scales made for jewelry or kitchen use often work well, but make sure it’s accurate and designed for flat surfaces.
Additionally, keep the scale clean and calibrated to avoid skewed results. Dust, resin, or leftover debris can throw off measurements. When you shop for scales, choose between either washdown or waterproof scales, as both allow for easy cleaning.
To weigh, start by placing a container or tray on the scale. Zero out the weight using the “tare” function, then add your weed. This method ensures you measure only the cannabis, not the weight of the container. If you’re dividing into smaller quantities, weigh everything together first, then portion it accordingly to avoid inaccuracies.
Methods Without a Scale
If a scale isn’t an option, you can use alternative methods, though they’re less precise. To be clear, these methods are best for consumers measuring weed to roll joints or similar products. For producers, these methods should only be used as initial guestimates that will later be verified on a digital scale.
Compare By Size
You can match the size of buds to reference photos or objects to roughly gauge weight. For instance, a bud the size of a medium-large grape is usually about 1 gram of weed.
Use a Phone Scale
Did you know that your phone can double as a scale in a pinch? Just download an app and place your buds on the screen to weigh them.
Jury-Rig a Hanger Scale
Tie three pieces of lightweight string or wire to a hanger, one directly in the middle and two equidistant apart on each end. Tie a heavy object like a mug to the center string and two plastic cups to the end strings. Then, find something you can find the weight of (like a coin), and place it in one cup. In the other cup, place your buds. You’ll probably have to adjust the weight in the other cup until the makeshift scale levels out, and you’ve roughly identified how much your weed weighs.
Wrapping Up
Every gram affects cannabis consumers and products. Producers can refer to this quick guide to weighing weed with a digital scale. Remember to use the alternative methods only when regulations aren’t at play.
