If you have frequented dispensary menus or forums where marijuana is discussed, then you’ve likely encountered the term “QP.” This is one of those terms that initially seems mysterious until you understand its meaning, and it immediately makes sense. A QP is right at the top of the list when it comes to quantity that any average consumer can ever expect to buy.
In this guide, we’ll be learning exactly what a QP is, how much it weighs, how much it costs, what it actually looks like, and how to store it properly and legally buy it.
What Is a QP of Weed?
QP stands for “quarter pound,” which simply means one-fourth of a pound of cannabis bud. This is a commonly used measurement in the cannabis business world and is ranked higher than the typical retail measurements such as the eighth, the quarter ounce, and the whole ounce.
Using mathematics, a QP is equivalent to 113.4 grams or 4 ounces because a pound consists of 16 ounces; hence, dividing it by four brings us to a quarter pound. Below is how it fits into other cannabis weight measurements:
| Measurement | Grams | Ounces |
|---|---|---|
| Gram | 1g | 0.035 oz |
| Eighth | 3.5g | 0.125 oz |
| Quarter | 7g | 0.25 oz |
| Half ounce | 14g | 0.5 oz |
| Ounce | 28g | 1 oz |
| QP | 113.4g | 4 oz |
| Pound | 453.6g | 16 oz |
The QP is also one of the highest quantities that an average consumer would purchase. Not all dispensaries will sell this quantity to every buyer, and this will usually depend on the laws governing your state and whether you are purchasing recreationally or medically.
How Much Does a QP of Weed Cost?
The cost of a QP varies wildly based on where you purchase it, the quality of the marijuana flowers, and the way through which you buy it. A rough guide to the prices of QPs is that they can be categorized into any of the following three price ranges:
| Tier | Price Range | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $300 – $600 | Lower potency, basic cultivation |
| Mid-range | $600 – $900 | Balanced quality and consistency |
| Top-shelf | $900 – $1,200+ | Premium strains, high THC content |
Selection of strain and the market conditions prevailing in your state will push these figures up or down. In established and mature cannabis markets, the dispensaries can often provide discounts on the quantity purchased that make the unit price much less than buying in small quantities at different times.
This is precisely the main advantage of purchasing a QP in the first place – the figures work out to be more advantageous with large quantities. Usually, an ounce of the product costs somewhere between $150 and $300, which equates to a unit price of $5-$10 per gram. However, when you purchase a quarter-pounder, the cost per gram often comes down to $3-$8. Patients seeking treatment have the greatest benefit due to the fact that they pay much lower taxes for the same products.
What Does a Quarter Pound of Weed Look Like?
The QP occupies a lot of physical space compared to what most first-time buyers would imagine. It is helpful to get an idea that one QP resembles a zip-lock bag, slightly bloated from being filled loosely with the flower. The amount of cannabis in person will be quite surprising as compared to the rather small volume of a usual eighth or ounce.
The volume occupied by the QP depends largely on the bud density. The density varies from strain to strain – sativa strains produce lighter and airy flowers; thus, 113 grams of such a flower would appear in a rather large volume. On the other hand, the indica strains produce dense and well-packed flowers; therefore, 113 grams of them will occupy visibly smaller amount of space.
The quality is also easy to recognize visually. Well-developed flowers have a bright green color, orange or amber hairs, and are covered with trichomes on the surface. The trim should be neat and uniform throughout the whole batch. Poor-quality flowers look dull and slightly brown, have more loose stems and broken pieces – a sign of aging or improper transportation/storage of the product.
How Many Joints Does a QP of Weed Make?
Given that a QP provides an exact weight of 113 grams, the distance it will go depends almost entirely on your smoking and preference. Below is a quick look at how the figures work out:
| Format | Amount Per Use | Sessions from a QP |
|---|---|---|
| Small joint | 0.5g | ~226 |
| Standard joint | 1g | ~113 |
| Bowl | 0.25–0.5g | ~226–453 |
| Blunt | 1–2g | ~56–113 |
As can be seen, the idea here is quite obvious: small joints and light bowl packs will make a QP last much longer than large joints and blunts will. As far as bulk prices are compared to a full pound, the ratio will be multiplied by four.
For those people who use edibles rather than smoke or vaporize cannabis, a QP will still have a lot of material to process – it all comes down to your recipe, extraction methods, and dosage.
Is Buying a QP of Weed Legal?
Here is where things really become dependent on the state, and it is good to give this a careful read before assuming that a QP buy will be easy.
In almost all states that legalize marijuana recreationally, the amount that an adult can have is limited to about 1 ounce (28 grams). A QP is 4 times that amount, making it too much for the recreational purchase limit in almost all legalized states. In those states where cannabis remains illegal, there is no way to purchase any amount legally.
Medical marijuana programs generally allow for larger quantities, but there can be major differences between the states. For instance, in Oklahoma, medical patients may legally carry up to 3 ounces of cannabis on their person at any one time. In Oregon, the amount is even greater, allowing medical patients to legally hold up to 24 ounces of cannabis at a private residence.
Due to the wide variation among states for these amounts, and because these limits can be and often are changed, the best course of action would be to ensure that you are familiar with the current possession laws for your own state before making such a purchase. This may be done by consulting a licensed physician.
How to Store a QP of Weed
With so much flower to work with, storage becomes far more important than it would be with smaller eighth and quarter quantities. Failure here can easily result in a significant amount of your stash being reduced in potency, dried out, and even getting mold – all at once, rather than some insignificant amount.
There are just a few storage practices that go a long way towards proper preservation of larger quantities:
- Keep the flower in airtight glass jars, reducing exposure to oxygen.
- Store it in a cool place away from any sources of direct light or heat.
- Strive for a humidity of around 55-62%, ensuring texture and potency.
- Use humidity packs for stabilization of moisture content.
- Do not use plastic bags or other open containers that allow airflow.
Properly stored cannabis can last up to six to twelve months without losing too much of its potency. Proper storage from the very beginning makes a good QP purchase last for that entire time, and provide an enjoyable experience until you run out of the stash.
QP vs. Other Weed Measurements – Quick Reference
Since a QP sits near the top of the common cannabis weight scale, it helps to see it laid out alongside the smaller and larger amounts you’re more likely to already be familiar with:
| Measurement | Grams | Ounces | Approx. Cost Range | Approx. Joints |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gram | 1g | 0.035 oz | $5 – $15 | 1–2 |
| Eighth | 3.5g | 0.125 oz | $20 – $50 | 3–7 |
| Quarter | 7g | 0.25 oz | $40 – $90 | 7–14 |
| Half ounce | 14g | 0.5 oz | $80 – $180 | 14–28 |
| Ounce | 28g | 1 oz | $150 – $300 | 28–56 |
| QP | 113.4g | 4 oz | $300 – $1,200 | 113–226 |
| Pound | 453.6g | 16 oz | $1,200 – $4,000 | 450–900 |
Small amounts are fine for occasional use, but QP and the full ounce are more suited to the bigger order; the kind of order that’s right for someone using a lot medically or who is looking to cut costs per gram over a period of time.
Who Actually Buys a QP of Weed?
The quarter pound is definitely not the usual purchase choice for first-timers, but let’s be honest about who the best candidates for purchasing such a package are. Medical patients who need relatively high doses of cannabis because of chronic pain, neurological disorders, or any other qualifying diagnosis that requires frequent daily consumption are the best-suited people, as many medical programs have rather generous possession limits which can easily cover such an amount of marijuana.
Another common candidate would be regular customers who wish to save on costs. A regular cannabis consumer who wants to get an advantage of lowered price per gram for several months would easily manage to spend less money by purchasing a single QP than by getting his portions of eighths or quarters during this period.
A quarter pound is definitely not a reasonable choice for occasional users. Apart from the difficulties associated with storing and the initial costs, possession limit restrictions do not allow carrying such a significant amount of cannabis and flower left for a long time without consumption loses its aroma and effectiveness even with proper storage. An occasional user will benefit more from purchasing smaller packages.
The Bottom Line
A QP – 113.4 grams or 4 ounces of dried buds of cannabis – is one of the largest purchases within the legal cannabis industry, and it can cost anything between $300 and way over $1,200 depending on its quality, place, and whether it’s for recreational or medicinal use. The bigger size allows saving money when purchased in grams, but there is some additional responsibility related to storing it properly and possessing it in accordance with the limitations imposed by laws within the majority of the states, which makes purchasing QPs possible only for those who have access to medical cannabis programs. Before making such a purchase, it’s important to know all your local limitations.
In case you are thinking about applying for a medical marijuana card, talking to a licensed doctor is your best option.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many grams is a QP of weed?
A QP equals 113.4 grams, commonly rounded to about 113 grams. It’s based on one-fourth of a pound, with a full pound weighing 453.6 grams total.
How many ounces is a quarter pound?
A quarter pound equals 4 ounces. Since a full pound contains 16 ounces, dividing that by four gives you the standard QP measurement.
How much does a QP of weed typically cost?
Prices generally range from $300 to $1,200, depending on flower quality, your location, and whether you’re buying through a medical or recreational market. Medical purchases are usually cheaper due to lower tax rates.
How many joints can you roll from a QP?
Anywhere between 113 and 226 joints can be rolled, depending on how many grams of flower one rolls per joint. Typically, a joint is rolled using 0.5 to 1 gram of the flower.
Is it legal to buy a QP of weed?
It all comes down to what state you are in. Recreational dispensaries normally set possession limits at 1 ounce, which is way below a QP, although some states that have medicinal programs have set higher possession levels for registered users.
How should I store a QP of weed to keep it fresh?
Glass jars in a dark and cool environment, with the humidity between 55%-62%, will do the trick. Humidity packs can be used for extra moisture regulation.
