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A zip of weed is an ounce — 28 grams. The slang ‘zip’ comes from the fact that an ounce typically fit into a Ziploc-style bag in the illicit market era. At Social Dispensary, the zip is still the top of the weight hierarchy, and our deli-style flower program makes it one of the best-value purchases in cannabis.
Key Details
What ‘Zip’ Means and Where It Comes From
A zip is slang for an ounce of cannabis — 28 grams. The term dates back to the pre-legalization era, when ounces were typically sold in small Ziploc bags (the kind you’d use for sandwiches). Ounce → Ziploc → ‘zip.’
The slang has stuck around even in legal markets, where ounces now come in properly packaged jars and bags — but a budtender or customer saying ‘zip’ is universal cannabis shorthand.
Zip Math
1 zip = 28 grams = 1 ounce.
1 zip = 2 half ounces = 4 quarters = 8 eighths = 28 grams.
4 zips = 1 quarter pound (QP) = 112 grams.
16 zips = 1 pound = 448 grams.
The ounce sits at the top of the standard consumer purchase tier. Anything larger (QP, pound) is wholesale territory, not typical dispensary consumer purchases.
Why the Zip Is a Value Purchase
Dispensaries almost always price zips at the lowest per-gram rate they offer. The math generally goes: a gram is the most expensive per gram; an eighth is cheaper per gram than a gram; a quarter is cheaper than an eighth; a half is cheaper than a quarter; and a zip is the cheapest per gram of all.
If you’re a regular smoker and you’ll use it before it loses freshness, buying at the zip tier is usually the best dollar-per-gram value you can get.
The Deli-Style Zip Advantage at Social
At most dispensaries, a zip is simply 28 grams of one strain, pre-packaged.
At Social Dispensary, our deli-style flower program changes the equation. Because we sell 5g eighths (vs the industry-standard 3.5g) and 10g quarters (vs the industry-standard 7g), buying ‘a zip’s worth of flower’ from our deli counter gives you options:
Option 1: Buy a 28g pre-packaged zip of a single strain.
Option 2: Build a zip from multiple 5g deli eighths — you’re at a full ounce in about 5.6 deli eighths, but you can mix and match strains.
Option 3: Buy a combination of deli quarters and eighths, watching each one hand-weighed in front of you, smelling the jars before you pick.
The deli advantage is real: you see exactly what you’re getting, you can assemble variety into one purchase, and you get more per ‘eighth’ and ‘quarter’ label than you would at any pre-pack shop.
How Long a Zip Lasts
Heavy daily smoker (multiple sessions): 2–4 weeks.
Moderate consumer (daily but conservative): 4–8 weeks.
Casual / weekend smoker: 2–4 months.
For zips that’ll last longer than a month, store in airtight glass jars with a 62% humidity pack in a cool, dark place. See our storage guide for details.
Buying a Zip at Social Dispensary
Check the Max Value Menu for the best zip pricing each week — this menu tier almost always features ounce-level deals that are the best value in the store. Be.Social Members get first access to featured zip drops each Friday.
When you visit a deli location, ask about building a custom zip at the counter — hand-weighed, mixed strains, all from our open jars. It’s one of the things our regulars love most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a zip of weed?
A zip is one ounce of cannabis — 28 grams. The slang comes from ‘Ziploc,’ the bag size that typically held an ounce.
How many grams in a zip?
28 grams. Technically 28.35g, but the cannabis industry rounds down.
How many eighths in a zip?
8 standard eighths (3.5g each). At Social Dispensary’s deli counter, a zip is about 5.6 deli eighths (at 5g each).
How much does a zip cost?
In Colorado, zip prices range from around $100 (bottom shelf) to $300+ (top shelf). Check Social’s Max Value Menu weekly for the best ounce deals.
Why is it called a zip?
The term comes from Ziploc bags — the small plastic bags that typically held an ounce of cannabis in the illicit market era before legalization.
Related Reading
Shop at Social Dispensary
Looking for quality flower, concentrates, edibles, or vape cartridges? Social Dispensary operates licensed retail cannabis stores across Colorado with carefully curated menus and everyday value pricing. Browse our current specials, or visit any of our Denver metro locations for in-person help from our budtenders.
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Educational content for adults 21 and over. This article is informational and is not medical advice. Cannabis affects everyone differently. Statements about cannabis on this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Cannabis is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, talk with a licensed healthcare provider before using cannabis. Do not drive or operate machinery after consuming. Keep cannabis products away from children and pets.
