Marijuana is a psychoactive drug, also known as “weed” or “pot,” that comes from the cannabis plant.
The street price of marijuana, or marijuana that’s bought through the unregulated drug market, can vary according to a range of factors.
Based on the most recent data available, here’s what to know about the street price of marijuana in the United States in 2022.
How Much Does Marijuana Cost?
The average price of street marijuana varies according to the form of marijuana purchased, and the measurement or amount.
Common forms of marjuana include:
- crumbly parts of the marijuana parts
- marijuana rolled into a cigarette (a “joint”)
- marjiuana rolled into a cigar (a “blunt”)
- marijuana edibles
- blend of marijuana and tobacco (a “spliff”)
Street marijuana (as opposed to medical marijuana or legal cannabis) is typically purchased by the gram, ounce, or sometimes by the eighth (3.5 grams).
How Much Does A Gram Of Marijuana Cost?
Marijuana costs anywhere between $7 to $15 per gram on the street, on average. There are approximately 28.35 grams of weed in an ounce.
What Does Marijuana Cost Per Ounce?
Marijuana costs anywhere from $200 to $400 per ounce on the street, depending on a wide range of factors, including whether it’s high-quality and your state of residence.
What Does Marijuana Cost Per Eighth Of An Ounce?
An eighth of marijuana is about 3.5 grams, or an eighth of an ounce. The average street price of an eighth of marijuana is about $25 to $50.
What Factors Can Affect The Street Price Of Marijuana?
The average street price of marijuana can vary according to a wide range of factors, much like other commonly used drugs such as illicit opioids and cocaine.
Top factors that can affect the street price of weed in 2022 include:
Drug Source
Where you buy your marijuana from can play a role in how much it will cost you.
For instance, if you buy through an online retailer, a dispensary, a grower, or someone you know such as a family member or friend.
Quantity
The price tag of marijuana bought on the street will depend on the quantity purchased. For instance, a single joint, an ounce of marijuana, or a gram.
Smaller quantities of marijuana may cost more than larger quantities.
Product Form
The form of marijuana you buy can also affect price. For instance, if you’re buying edibles, a joint, spliff, blunt, or the dried, crumbly marijuana plant.
Blunts, which are marijuana rolled into cigars, contain more marijuana on average than a joint. This may affect price, as well as the effects of your smoking.
State Of Residence
Where you live in the United States can play a big role in how much your marijuana will cost when bought through the unregulated black market.
Some of the most expensive states/territories to buy marijuana include:
- Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia)
- Virginia
- North Dakota
- New Jersey
Some of the least expensive states/territories to buy marijuana include:
- California
- Oregon
- North Dakota
- Colorado
- Washington
- Mississippi (medium-quality)
- Nevada
- Arizona
Legal Status Of Marjiuana
Average cost data shows that the legal status of marijuana, as well as CBD and other cannabis products and where you live, may affect its street price.
As of November 2021, 18 states – including California and New York – and two U.S. territories have marijuana legalization laws.
Thirty-seven states – including Florida and Oklahoma – and four territories have legalized medical marijuana, but not recreational use.
Data shows, some of the least expensive states to buy marijuana products are those that have legalized recreational marijuana use. For instance, Washington, Oregon, and Colorado.
City And Local Laws
Laws dictating the legal status of marijuana in any given place can also vary by city and county in some parts of the United States.
For instance, cities or counties may pass ordinances concerning marijuana decriminalization, or the legalization of small amounts of marijuana to reduce drug arrests for possession.
High Grade Or Low Grade
Drug characteristics such as the quality or strain of marijuana purchased will also affect the street price.
High-quality weed will be more pricey on average compared to low-grade marijuana, which will generally be less expensive.
Drug quality may be gauged based on:
- drug potency
- how it’s manufactured
- its smell or fragrance
- appearance or texture
- more or less cannabinoids present
Supply And Demand
The availability of a drug (supply) and the demand for marijuana may affect its cost on the street.
If the supply is high, and demand low, the price may fall. If the supply is low, and the demand is high, the price of marijuana on the street will be higher.
How Common Is It To Buy Street Marijuana?
Millions of people in the United States report using marijuana each year, according to the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).
It’s one of the most commonly used drugs in the United States, along with alcohol. But how many people buy weed illegally each year is not fully known.
Why Do People Buy Marijuana?
Marijuana is a drug that contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive ingredient that can cause a “high” or feeling of calm, relaxation, and pleasure.
Research shows marijuana can also have some medicinal use. For some, however, marijuana can also become a drug that’s abused for non-medical purposes.
Understanding Marijuana Abuse
Marijuana is not known to be highly addictive, but it can be misused. Marijuana may be abused as a way to self-medicate or for its euphoric effects.
Signs of marijuana abuse include:
- frequent, excessive marijuana use for non-medical purposes
- increasing your use of cannabis over time
- unable to cut down on or control your marijuana use
- using marijuana to self-medicate depression, anxiety, or other mental health symptoms
- developing a high marijuana tolerance
- using marijuana in combination with other drugs to enhance drug effects
Treatment Options For Marijuana Abuse
For many, marijuana is not the only drug of abuse. People often abuse cannabis alongside other, more severe drugs of abuse, such as opioids, heroin, or cocaine.
There are a number of treatment options available if you or a family member are facing substance abuse issues.
Some treatment programs include:
Find Help For Marijuana Abuse Today
Thousands of people across the United States seek treatment for marijuana abuse, or marijuana use disorder each year.
If your marijuana use, or that of a loved one in Massachusetts, has become a problem—we may be able to help.
Call Bedrock Recovery Center today to learn more about marijuana abuse treatment options at our leading Massachusetts drug rehab center.
- DISA Global Solutions — MAP OF MARIJUANA LEGALITY BY STATE https://disa.com/map-of-marijuana-legality-by-state
- Price of Weed United — States Weed Prices https://www.priceofweed.com/prices/United-States.html
- United Nations Office on Drug Use and Crime (UNODC) — Drug Market Trends: Cannabis and Opioids https://www.unodc.org/res/wdr2021/field/WDR21_Booklet_3.pdf
- U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) — Marijuana Research Report https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/marijuana-addictive
- https://medlineplus.gov/marijuana.html https://bedrockrecoverycenter.com/street-price-of-drugs/illicit/marijuana/U.S.%20National%20Library%20of%20Medicine:%20MedlinePlus%20%E2%80%94%20Marijuana
