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How much to sell weed for

  • With a total of 156, Los Angeles (USA) has the most headshops .
  • Madrid, Spain has the largest amount of growshops, with a total of 68.
  • Tokyo, Japan has the most expensive cannabis , at 32.66 USD per gram, while Quito, Ecuador has the least expensive marijuana , at 1.34 USD per gram.
  • Based on the average US marijuana tax rates currently implemented, New York City could generate the highest potential tax revenue by legalising weed , with 156.40 million USD per year. New York City also has the highest consumption rate of cannabis, at 77.44 metric tons per year.

Results are also available in Euros and British Pounds upon request.

Berlin, Germany, 20/04/2018 – ABCD, a data-driven media campaign outlet, has released new data which reveals the number of marijuana head and growshops in 120 cities around the world. This research, which builds on the 2018 Cannabis Price Index released earlier this year, reveals which locations around the world are ready to embrace cannabis legalisation. The aim of the study is to illustrate the continuous need for legislative reform on cannabis use around the world, and to determine if there are any lessons to be learned from those cities at the forefront of marijuana legalization. By including extra data on the number of head and growshops in each city, this new research can be utilized to indicate which cities are prepared for an imminent cannabis reform, while also highlighting which cities are in opposition of marijuana legalisation.

The initial study began by selecting 120 cities across the world, including locations where cannabis is currently legal, illegal and partially legal, and where marijuana consumption data is available. Then, they looked into the price of weed per gram in each city. To calculate how much potential tax a city could make by legalising weed, ABCD investigated how much tax is paid on the most popular brand of cigarettes, as this offers the closest comparison. They then looked at what percentage marijuana is currently taxed in cities where it’s already legalised in the US.

ABCD decided to conduct the extra research in order to to further the discussion around the medical and recreational use of cannabis, and the potential industry and business opportunities that would follow legalisation. By identifying the number of headshops as well as growshops, this study serves as an indicator to a city’s existing cannabis infrastructure and willingness to accept such reform on a larger scale. As an indicating factor, the more head shops and grow shops a city has, the more positive their state’s and general public’s attitude towards the cannabis-related industry is likely to be.

The table below reveals a sample of the results for the 13 US cities featured in the study:

# City Legality Price per gram, US$ Taxes of cigarettes, % of the most sold brand Total possible tax collection, if taxed at cigarette level, mil US$ Total possible tax collection, if taxed at average US marijuana taxes, mil US$ Total Consumption in metric tons Number of Headshops Number of Growshops
1 Washington, DC Partial 18.08 42.54 47.51 20.96 6.18 20 8
2 Chicago Partial 11.46 42.54 119.61 52.77 24.54 91 10
3 Philadelphia Partial 11.3 42.54 68.37 30.16 14.22 41 2
4 Boston Legal 11.01 42.54 28.59 12.61 6.1 49 4
5 New York Partial 10.76 42.54 354.48 156.4 77.44 59 7
6 Dallas Partial 10.03 42.54 51.01 22.5 11.95 80 6
7 Houston Partial 10.03 42.54 89.13 39.32 20.89 125 14
8 Phoenix Partial 9.35 42.54 58.26 25.71 14.65 72 9
9 Miami Partial 9.27 42.54 16.24 7.16 4.12 67 25
10 San Francisco Legal 9.27 42.54 30.94 13.65 7.85 61 3
11 Los Angeles Legal 8.14 42.54 124.88 55.1 36.06 156 46
12 Denver Legal 7.79 42.54 20.53 9.06 6.2 61 21
13 Seattle Legal 7.58 42.54 20.59 9.08 6.39 46 10

The table below shows the top 10 most and least expensive cities for cannabis :

# City Country Legality Price per gram, US$
1 Tokyo Japan Illegal 32.66
2 Seoul South Korea Illegal 32.44
3 Kyoto Japan Illegal 29.65
4 Hong Kong China Illegal 27.48
5 Bangkok Thailand Partial 24.81
6 Dublin Ireland Illegal 21.63
7 Tallinn Estonia Partial 20.98
8 Shanghai China Illegal 20.82
9 Beijing China Illegal 20.52
10 Oslo Norway Partial 19.14
# City Country Legality Price per gram, US$
1 Quito Ecuador Partial 1.34
2 Bogota Colombia Partial 2.2
3 Asuncion Paraguay Partial 2.22
4 Jakarta Indonesia Illegal 3.79
5 Panama City Panama Illegal 3.85
6 Johannesburg South Africa Illegal 4.01
7 Montevideo Uruguay Legal 4.15
8 Astana Kazakhstan Illegal 4.22
9 Antwerp Belgium Partial 4.29
10 New Delhi India Partial 4.38

N.B. These tables are a sample of the full results. To find the complete results for all 120 cities, please see the bottom of the page.

The table below shows the top 10 cities who could generate the most potential tax by legalising cannabis, if taxed at the same rate as the most popular cigarette brand:

# City Country Legality Price per gram, US$ Taxes of cigarettes, % of the most sold brand Total possible tax collection, if taxed at cigarette level, mil US$
1 Cairo Egypt Illegal 16.15 73.13 384.87
2 New York USA Partial 10.76 42.54 354.48
3 London UK Illegal 9.2 82.16 237.35
4 Sydney Australia Partial 10.79 56.76 138.36
5 Karachi Pakistan Illegal 5.32 60.7 135.48
6 Melbourne Australia Partial 10.84 56.76 132.75
7 Moscow Russia Partial 11.84 47.63 128.97
8 Toronto Canada Partial 7.82 69.8 124.15
9 Chicago USA Partial 11.46 42.54 119.61
10 Berlin Germany Partial 13.53 72.9 114.77

N.B. % of cigarette tax refers to the tax percentage on the most popular brand. Possible tax revenue refers to the total possible tax collection per year, if taxed at cigarette level. For a full explanation of how the study was conducted, please see the methodology at the bottom of the page.

The table below shows the top 10 cities who could generate the most potential tax by legalising cannabis, if taxed at the average US marijuana tax rate:

# City Country Legality Price per gram, US$ Total possible tax collection, if taxed at average US marijuana taxes, mil US$
1 New York USA Partial 10.76 156.4
2 Cairo Egypt Illegal 16.15 98.78
3 Los Angeles USA Legal 8.14 55.1
4 London UK Illegal 9.2 54.22
5 Chicago USA Partial 11.46 52.77
6 Moscow Russia Partial 11.84 50.82
7 Sydney Australia Partial 10.79 45.75
8 Melbourne Australia Partial 10.84 43.9
9 Karachi Pakistan Illegal 5.32 41.89
10 Houston USA Partial 10.03 39.32

N.B. Possible tax revenue refers to the total possible tax collection per year, if taxed at average US marijuana tax rate.

The table below shows the top 10 cities with the highest and lowest consumption of cannabis, per year:

# City Country Legality Price per gram, US$ Total Consumption in metric tons
1 New York USA Partial 10.76 77.44
2 Karachi Pakistan Illegal 5.32 41.95
3 New Delhi India Partial 4.38 38.26
4 Los Angeles USA Legal 8.14 36.06
5 Cairo Egypt Illegal 16.15 32.59
6 Mumbai India Partial 4.57 32.38
7 London UK Illegal 9.2 31.4
8 Chicago USA Partial 11.46 24.54
9 Moscow Russia Partial 11.84 22.87
10 Toronto Canada Partial 7.82 22.75
# City Country Legality Price per gram, US$ Total Consumption in metric tons
1 Singapore Singapore Illegal 14.01 0.02
2 Santo Domingo Dominican Rep. Illegal 6.93 0.16
3 Kyoto Japan Illegal 29.65 0.24
4 Thessaloniki Greece Partial 13.49 0.29
5 Luxembourg City Luxembourg Partial 7.26 0.32
6 Panama City Panama Illegal 3.85 0.37
7 Reykjavik Iceland Illegal 15.92 0.44
8 Asuncion Paraguay Partial 2.22 0.46
9 Colombo Sri Lanka Illegal 9.12 0.59
10 Manila Philippines Illegal 5.24 0.6

N.B. Total consumption is calculated per annum.

“The way that the legalised cannabis industry is rapidly evolving alongside new technologies shows how innovative emerging tech companies are today.” says Uri Zeevi, CMO at Seedo. “Take the way that cannabis and cryptocurrency have joined forces, with examples such as HempCoin or nezly, which manage processes and payments in the new marijuana industry. When you consider too the potential that these new technologies have to disrupt the cannabis industry, there’s no denying that these are very exciting times.”

“At Seedo, we’ve built technology that helps regular smokers to grow cannabis plants of the utmost quality from the comfort of their own home, avoiding pesticides and taking ownership of their personal supply.” says Uri Zeevi, CMO at Seedo. “We believe that by understanding the cost of weed around the world, we can help to educate smokers about the potential financial benefits of hydroponic growing technology.”

“That illegal cannabis use is so high in countries that still carry the death penalty, such as Pakistan and Egypt, those in power ought to see how desperately new legislation is needed.” comments Uri Zeevi, CMO at Seedo. “By removing the criminal element from marijuana, governments will then able to more safely regulate production, take away power from underground gangs, and as we’ve shown in this study, generate huge tax revenues.”

Publishers are allowed to publish this data and graphics; we kindly ask that you give credit to the source: Seedo
Do not hesitate to reply to this email for any further inquiries.
Spokespeople from Seedo are available for phone and radio interviews.
Please contact [email protected] for further information.

About “Seedo” : Seedo is a fully automated hydroponic growing device which lets you grow your own medicinal herbs and vegetables from the comfort of your own home. Seedo controls and monitors the growing process, from seed to plant, while providing optimal lab conditions to assure premium quality produce year-round. Seedo’s goal is to simplify the growing process, making it accessible for everyone, without compromising on quality.

The full results of the 2018 Cannabis Price Index:

# City Country Legality Price per gram, US$ Taxes of cigarettes, % of the most sold brand Total possible tax collection, if taxed at cigarette level, mil US$ Total possible tax collection, if taxed at average US marijuana taxes, mil US$ Total Consumption in metric tons Number of Headshops Number of Growshops
1 Tokyo Japan Illegal 32.66 64.36 32.14 9.37 1.53 0 0
2 Seoul South Korea Illegal 32.44 61.99 31.61 9.57 1.57 0 0
3 Kyoto Japan Illegal 29.65 64.36 4.64 1.35 0.24 0 0
4 Hong Kong China Illegal 27.48 44.43 19.72 8.33 1.62 1 0
5 Bangkok Thailand Partial 24.81 73.13 99.11 25.44 5.46 5 2
6 Dublin Ireland Illegal 21.63 77.8 29.31 7.07 1.74 4 7
7 Tallinn Estonia Partial 20.98 77.24 22.13 5.38 1.37 2 2
8 Shanghai China Illegal 20.82 44.43 49.12 20.75 5.31 0 0
9 Beijing China Illegal 20.52 44.43 43.1 18.21 4.73 0 0
10 Oslo Norway Partial 19.14 68.83 19.28 5.26 1.46 3 2
11 Washington, DC USA Partial 18.08 42.54 47.51 20.96 6.18 20 8
12 Cairo Egypt Illegal 16.15 73.13 384.87 98.78 32.59 0 0
13 Reykjavik Iceland Illegal 15.92 56.4 3.97 1.32 0.44 0 0
14 Belfast Ireland Illegal 15.81 77.8 13.55 3.27 1.1 3 2
15 Minsk Belarus Illegal 15.8 51.15 9.08 3.33 1.12 0 0
16 Athens Greece Partial 14.95 79.95 7.42 1.74 0.62 4 1
17 Auckland New Zealand Partial 14.77 77.34 106.03 25.73 9.28 9 7
18 Munich Germany Partial 14.56 72.9 50.9 13.1 4.8 5 1
19 Helsinki Finland Partial 14.42 81.53 27.12 6.24 2.31 3 6
20 Singapore Singapore Illegal 14.01 66.23 0.14 0.04 0.02 0 1
21 Berlin Germany Partial 13.53 72.9 114.77 29.55 11.64 31 20
22 Stuttgart Germany Partial 13.5 72.9 20.2 5.2 2.05 3 0
23 Thessaloniki Greece Partial 13.49 79.95 3.17 0.75 0.29 1 2
24 Stockholm Sweden Illegal 13.2 68.84 15.06 4.11 1.66 7 1
25 Vienna Austria Partial 12.87 74 59.21 15.02 6.22 9 18
26 Copenhagen Denmark Partial 12.47 74.75 20.65 5.18 2.22 1 1
27 Moscow Russia Partial 11.84 47.63 128.97 50.82 22.87 4 1
28 Hamburg Germany Partial 11.64 72.9 50.16 12.92 5.91 5 6
29 Chicago USA Partial 11.46 42.54 119.61 52.77 24.54 91 10
30 Philadelphia USA Partial 11.3 42.54 68.37 30.16 14.22 41 2
31 Bucharest Romania Partial 11.18 75.41 17.23 4.29 2.04 3 1
32 Cologne Germany Partial 11.14 72.9 28.51 7.34 3.51 8 2
33 Geneva Switzerland Partial 11.12 61.2 5.9 1.81 0.87 3 4
34 Boston USA Legal 11.01 42.54 28.59 12.61 6.1 49 4
35 Adelaide Australia Partial 10.91 56.76 41.6 13.75 6.72 12 18
36 Istanbul Turkey Partial 10.87 82.13 21.79 4.98 2.44 6 3
37 Melbourne Australia Partial 10.84 56.76 132.75 43.9 21.58 16 31
38 Sydney Australia Partial 10.79 56.76 138.36 45.75 22.59 26 14
39 New York USA Partial 10.76 42.54 354.48 156.4 77.44 59 7
40 Düsseldorf Germany Partial 10.7 72.9 15.82 4.07 2.03 3 0
41 Brisbane Australia Partial 10.63 56.76 66.88 22.12 11.09 26 12
42 Hanover Germany Partial 10.51 72.9 13.46 3.47 1.76 3 1
43 Prague Czech Rep. Partial 10.47 77.42 63.95 15.5 7.89 25 5
44 Frankfurt Germany Partial 10.29 72.9 18.06 4.65 2.41 6 6
45 Wellington New Zealand Partial 10.11 77.34 19.53 4.74 2.5 4 2
46 Dallas USA Partial 10.03 42.54 51.01 22.5 11.95 80 6
47 Houston USA Partial 10.03 42.54 89.13 39.32 20.89 125 14
48 Vilnius Lithuania Illegal 10 75.76 5.2 1.29 0.69 2 0
49 Zurich Switzerland Partial 9.71 61.2 10.33 3.17 1.74 4 6
50 Montpellier France Illegal 9.7 80.3 12.21 2.85 1.57 2 0
51 Canberra Australia Partial 9.65 56.76 10.96 3.63 2 6 1
52 Zagreb Croatia Partial 9.43 75.26 24.35 6.07 3.43 4 8
53 Nice France Illegal 9.4 80.3 15.8 3.69 2.09 1 0
54 Phoenix USA Partial 9.35 42.54 58.26 25.71 14.65 72 9
55 Paris France Illegal 9.3 80.3 102.25 23.9 13.69 6 0
56 Miami USA Partial 9.27 42.54 16.24 7.16 4.12 67 25
57 San Francisco USA Legal 9.27 42.54 30.94 13.65 7.85 61 3
58 London UK Illegal 9.2 82.16 237.35 54.22 31.4 35 23
59 Colombo Sri Lanka Illegal 9.12 73.78 3.98 1.01 0.59 2 0
60 Riga Latvia Illegal 9 76.89 10.23 2.5 1.48 0 0
61 Bratislava Slovakia Illegal 8.92 81.54 7.24 1.67 1 4 2
62 Milan Italy Partial 8.85 75.68 46.06 11.42 6.88 8 9
63 Varna Bulgaria Illegal 8.83 82.65 4.84 1.1 0.66 0 0
64 Marseille France Illegal 8.69 80.3 36.23 8.47 5.19 1 1
65 Glasgow UK Illegal 8.65 82.16 15.21 3.47 2.14 9 8
66 Toulouse France Illegal 8.62 80.3 18.67 4.36 2.7 1 0
67 Birmingham UK Illegal 8.58 82.16 27.73 6.34 3.93 8 19
68 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Illegal 8.54 55.36 6.61 2.24 1.4 0 0
69 Monterrey Mexico Partial 8.45 65.87 4.17 1.19 0.75 3 1
70 Edinburgh UK Illegal 8.41 82.16 12.22 2.79 1.77 8 5
71 Lisbon Portugal Partial 8.36 74.51 4.69 1.18 0.75 3 3
72 Strasbourg France Illegal 8.35 80.3 11.13 2.6 1.66 0 0
73 Warsaw Poland Partial 8.31 80.29 29.27 6.84 4.39 3 4
74 Lyon France Illegal 8.2 80.3 19.45 4.55 2.95 1 0
75 Los Angeles USA Legal 8.14 42.54 124.88 55.1 36.06 156 46
76 Liverpool UK Illegal 7.94 82.16 10.86 2.48 1.67 9 16
77 Amsterdam Netherlands Partial 7.89 73.4 20.94 5.35 3.61 18 20
78 Manchester UK Illegal 7.88 82.16 58.99 13.48 9.11 7 13
79 Rome Italy Partial 7.86 75.68 88.16 21.86 14.82 8 15
80 Toronto Canada Partial 7.82 69.8 124.15 33.38 22.75 10 37
81 Denver USA Legal 7.79 42.54 20.53 9.06 6.2 61 21
82 Naples Italy Partial 7.75 75.68 29.82 7.4 5.08 2 5
83 Leeds UK Illegal 7.67 82.16 16.93 3.87 2.69 14 11
84 Seattle USA Legal 7.58 42.54 20.59 9.08 6.39 46 10
85 Madrid Spain Partial 7.47 78.09 93.4 22.45 16.01 8 68
86 Calgary Canada Partial 7.3 69.8 52.23 14.05 10.25 42 5
87 Luxembourg City Luxembourg Partial 7.26 70.24 1.62 0.43 0.32 1 1
88 San Jose Costa Rica Partial 7.23 69.76 7.84 2.11 1.56 0 1
89 Buenos Aires Argentina Partial 7.13 69.84 25.32 6.81 5.09 22 48
90 Brussels Belgium Partial 7.09 75.92 15.5 3.83 2.88 21 2
91 Santo Domingo Dominican Rep. Illegal 6.93 58.87 0.67 0.21 0.16 1 0
92 Graz Austria Partial 6.84 74 4.81 1.22 0.95 7 2
93 Budapest Hungary Illegal 6.74 77.26 7.7 1.87 1.48 4 3
94 Sofia Bulgaria Illegal 6.66 82.65 12.83 2.91 2.33 0 0
95 Ottawa Canada Partial 6.62 69.8 35.43 9.53 7.67 30 6
96 Vancouver Canada Partial 6.4 69.8 23.44 6.3 5.25 35 10
97 Sao Paulo Brazil Partial 6.38 64.94 68.55 19.81 16.55 11 7
98 Rotterdam Netherlands Partial 6.33 73.4 12.75 3.26 2.74 3 8
99 Ljubljana Slovenia Partial 6.32 80.41 3.43 0.8 0.67 4 6
100 Barcelona Spain Partial 6.23 78.09 39.59 9.51 8.14 22 23
101 Montreal Canada Partial 6.15 69.8 60.52 16.27 14.1 13 9
102 Kiev Ukraine Partial 6 74.78 14.73 3.7 3.28 1 0
103 Abuja Nigeria Illegal 5.88 20.63 7.4 6.73 6.1 0 0
104 Lima Peru Partial 5.88 37.83 12.28 6.09 5.52 4 0
105 Mexico City Mexico Partial 5.87 65.87 22.58 6.43 5.84 6 5
106 Cape Town South Africa Illegal 5.82 48.8 2.47 0.95 0.87 12 4
107 Karachi Pakistan Illegal 5.32 60.7 135.48 41.89 41.95 0 0
108 Manila Philippines Illegal 5.24 74.27 2.32 0.59 0.6 0 1
109 Rio de Janeiro Brazil Partial 5.11 64.94 28.82 8.33 8.69 14 2
110 Mumbai India Partial 4.57 60.39 89.38 27.78 32.38 5 1
111 New Delhi India Partial 4.38 60.39 101.2 31.45 38.26 3 2
112 Antwerp Belgium Partial 4.29 75.92 4.1 1.01 1.26 7 3
113 Astana Kazakhstan Illegal 4.22 39.29 1.78 0.85 1.07 0 0
114 Montevideo Uruguay Legal 4.15 66.75 19.54 5.5 7.06 1 18
115 Johannesburg South Africa Illegal 4.01 48.8 3.76 1.45 1.92 5 4
116 Panama City Panama Illegal 3.85 56.52 0.81 0.27 0.37 3 0
117 Jakarta Indonesia Illegal 3.79 53.4 1.92 0.68 0.95 0 0
118 Asuncion Paraguay Partial 2.22 16 0.16 0.19 0.46 1 1
119 Bogota Colombia Partial 2.2 49.44 15.8 6 14.53 6 3
120 Quito Ecuador Partial 1.34 70.39 0.56 0.15 0.6 1 0

Further findings:

  • New York City, USA has the highest consumption rate of cannabis , at 77.44 metric tons per year.
  • Boston, USA has the most expensive cannabis of all the cities where it’s legal , at 11.01 USD, while Montevideo, Uruguay has the least expensive at 4.15 USD.
  • While Tokyo, Japan has the most expensive cannabis of all cities where it’s illegal, at 32.66 USD, Jakarta, Indonesia has the least expensive at 3.79 USD, despite being classed as a Group 1 drug with harsh sentences such as life imprisonment and the death penalty.
  • For cities where cannabis is partially legal, Bangkok, Thailand has the most expensive at 24.81 USD, while Quito, Ecuador has the least expensive at 1.34 USD.
  • Bulgaria has the highest tax rates for the most popular brand of cigarettes, at 82.65%, while Paraguay has the lowest, with rates of 16%.
  • Cairo, Egypt would gain the most revenue in tax if they were to legalise cannabis and tax it as the same rate as cigarettes, at 384.87 million USD. Singapore, Singapore would gain the least, at 0.14 million USD, due in part to the city’s low consumption of marijuana at 0.02 metric tons per annum.
  • Based on the average US marijuana tax rates currently implemented, New York City could generate the highest potential tax revenue by legalising weed, with 156.4 million USD per year . Singapore, Singapore would gain the least, at 0.04 million USD.

Methodology

Selection of the cities: To select the cities for the study, Seedo first looked at the top and bottom cannabis consuming countries around the world. Then they analysed nations where marijuana is partially or completely legal, as well as illegal, and selected the final list of 120 cities in order to best offer a representative comparison of the global cannabis price.

How much to sell weed for With a total of 156 , Los Angeles (USA) has the most headshops . Madrid, Spain has the largest amount of growshops, with a total of 68. Tokyo, Japan

Marijuana Sizes and Prices

Do you know enough about marijuana prices and the amount you can buy at one time? This is your guide to making good purchases when you visit your marijuana dispensary.

When you walk into a dispensary, do you ask for $20, $40, or $100 dollars worth of marijuana? Are you supposed to ask for marijuana by weight? How do you know if you are getting your money’s worth?

Most marijuana dispensaries use a standardized measuring system to weigh out the marijuana you purchase. Today, you’ll learn the increments in which marijuana is sold, what marijuana prices you should expect to pay, and other factors that can affect your final marijuana purchase price.

Marijuana Flower Amounts

Marijuana purchasing amounts have been largely standardized in dispensaries. When purchasing marijuana flower from a dispensary, it will typically be sold in either fractions of an ounce or in grams.

  • 1G = 1 gram
  • ⅛ ounce = 3.5 grams
  • ¼ ounce = 7 grams
  • ½ ounce = 14 grams
  • 1 ounce = 28 grams

In some instances, a dispensary may round an “eighth” up to 4 grams or promote a 5 gram eighth on certain days to drive traffic to their shop.

How Much Marijuana Should I Buy?

In most legal states, you can purchase and carry up to one ounce of marijuana flower at a time.

Many new users are curious how much marijuana flower they will need each day. This will depend entirely on how much and how often you will want to smoke. Do you just need it a once or twice a day? Or will you be smoking often throughout the day? The answer to this question often comes as you build experience with the plant.

Depending on the experience of a user, a gram can last anywhere from a single session to a day or more. Start off small – you can always visit the shop again.

*Remember, you can’t bring marijuana over state lines, so if you are traveling, only buy what you know you will need during your trip.

Currently (January 2018), you will find cannabis for sale at the following prices. These prices will vary depending on your location, the individual dispensary, the quality of the cannabis, and the taxes that need to be paid. Most often, the more you buy, the less you will pay per gram in total.

Typical marijuana prices:

  • One Gram : $7-$20
  • Eighth : $30-$60
  • Quarter : $50-$120
  • Half Ounce : $100-$225
  • Ounce : $170-$375

What Affects Marijuana Pricing:

When shopping for marijuana flower, there are a number of factors that may affect pricing to keep in mind.

Potency : One of the main influences on marijuana prices you pay is how potent the marijuana is. As a general rule, the higher a percentage of cannabinoids like THC and CBD in a sample of marijuana flower, the more expensive it will be. Potency can be linked to a strain’s genetics, and some marijuana strains are naturally more potent than others. It can also be linked to how well a strain is grown. Many dispensaries can provide you with independent lab testing results showing potency for individual strains they are selling.

Freshness : Another factor affecting marijuana prices will be its freshness. Older, drier marijuana will lose some of its fragrance, flavor, and even potency as terpenes and cannabinoids begin to break down from exposure to the environment around it. THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana, degrades to CBN through decarboxylation, making it less potent. You can often determine freshness by smelling and visually inspecting marijuana flower. Fresh, carefully stored marijuana should be fragrant and smell fresh.

Quality of buds : Finally, the overall quality of the marijuana buds themselves can affect how much you pay. If a strain is mostly larger, thumb sized buds, it can command a higher price. Popcorn buds or smaller will often see a reduction in price. How well a strain is trimmed can also affect price since excessively leafy buds can negatively affect the smoke.

Often, dispensaries will categorize their offerings by “shelf”, taking the above factors into consideration. Top shelf signifies a premium product which will command a higher price, while bottom shelf denotes a lower quality product which will be offered at a discount price.

Marijuana Taxes:

State and local marijuana taxes will also affect the final price of marijuana flower in a legal dispensary.

Recreational marijuana states have added specialized marijuana taxes to all purchases.

  • California: 15% sales tax, $2.75–$9.25 cultivation tax per ounce.
  • Oregon: 17% sales tax
  • Washington: 37% sales tax
  • Nevada: 15% sales tax
  • Colorado: 15% excise tax, 10% sales tax
  • Alaska: $50/ounce
  • Maine: 10% sales tax
  • Massachusetts: 3.75% sales tax

These taxes may exist along with standard retail sales tax, excise taxes, and any local taxes that are added, which can significantly drive up final costs to users. According to the Tax Foundation , consumers in Colorado may face up to 5 taxes:

  • 15 percent excise tax
  • 10 percent state tax on retail marijuana sales (falling to 8 percent as of July 1, 2018)
  • 2.9 percent state sales tax
  • local sales taxes (the average rate in Colorado is 4.6 percent)
  • local excise taxes on marijuana, such as the 3.5 percent tax in Denver

Some states also levy a tax on medical marijuana. California has added a 15% sales tax on all cannabis sales, including medical marijuana. Similarly, the following states have added taxes to medical marijuana.

  • Arizona : 6.6% medical marijuana sales tax
  • Colorado : 2.9% generic sales tax
  • Hawaii : 4.5% generic excise tax on Oahu; 4% generic excise tax everywhere else
  • Illinois : 1% sales tax under the state’s pharmaceutical rate; 7% privilege tax paid by sellers and growers
  • Maine : 5.5% medical marijuana sales tax
  • Nevada : 2% medical marijuana excise tax
  • New Jersey : 7% generic sales tax
  • New York : 7% medical marijuana excise tax
  • Pennsylvania : 5% medical marijuana excise tax
  • Rhode Island : 7% generic sales tax; 4% medical marijuana surcharge paid by the seller
  • Washington, D.C. : 5.75% generic sales tax

Getting Started with Marijuana

You can find all the information you need about marijuana, including how to get a medical marijuana card, how to grow your own cannabis at home, and which strains are the most popular on our Cannabis 101 page .

Marijuana sizes and prices vary depending on multiple factors. Click to read about what can affect the price of cannabis and about common marijuana sizes.