What weed flower is
Weed flower is the dried and cured bud of the female Cannabis sativa plant. It is raw plant material, not an extract or a concentrate. THC and CBD are the two main cannabinoids in the bud. THC causes the psychoactive effects. CBD does not.
Dispensaries sell it as whole bud, pre-ground flower, or rolled pre-rolls.
THC potency in flower
Potency varies by strain and grow. Labels in state-licensed stores list THC as a percentage of weight. Legal market flower often tests between 15% and 30% THC. One gram at 20% THC holds about 200 mg of THC. Not all of it is absorbed when smoked.
How to Smoke Cannabis Flower: A Comprehensive Guide
The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that average THC in confiscated flower rose from about 4% in 1995 to about 15% in 2018. Potency has climbed since.
How it is consumed
Smoked in a joint, pipe, or bong. Vaporized in a dry herb device at lower temperatures. Both routes send THC to the brain in minutes. Effects peak in 15 to 30 minutes and last 1 to 3 hours.
Eating raw flower does not produce a high. THC needs heat to become active. That process is called decarboxylation.
Common weights
- 1 gram: one or two sessions for a light user
- 3.5 grams: an eighth
- 7 grams: a quarter
- 14 grams: a half ounce
- 28 grams: an ounce
Price per gram drops as weight goes up.
What the label shows
- THC and CBD percentages
- Total THC after decarboxylation
- Terpene content on some products
- Harvest or packaging date
- Net weight
- License and batch numbers from testing
Storage
Keep flower in an airtight glass jar. Store it in a dark place at 60 F to 70 F. Humidity between 55% and 62% RH keeps buds from drying out or growing mold. Light, heat, and air degrade THC over months.
Legal status
Cannabis is illegal under federal law. It sits in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. States that legalized it license growers, testing labs, and stores. Sales require ID. Most legal markets set the minimum age at 21 for recreational buyers and 18 for medical patients with a card.
Possession limits, home grow rules, and taxes differ by state. Check the rules where you live before you buy. Do not carry flower across a state line.
Safety notes
Smoke from cannabis flower contains many of the same toxins and irritants as tobacco smoke.
The FDA has not approved the cannabis plant for any medical use.
Do not drive after use. Keep flower locked away from children and pets.