If you have ever been referred to the terms “dub” or “dub sack” when talking about cannabis you are probably thinking; is this a specific type of strain? A brand name? Or is this just referring to the amount of cannabis?
The answer is the latter. We will outline what a dub is, the average weight of a dub, what you can reasonably expect to spend, and the reasons behind why this classic street term has remained alive until today.
The Ever-Shifting Weight of a Dub
Since dubs are price based, their weight is completely dependent on the quality of the weed and how generous (or low) the seller will go.
The Early Days: The "Reggie" Dub
I remember being a teenager, scrounging up money with my buddies to buy a "dub". In the early 2000s, when you spent those 20 bucks on a dub, you were usually getting what we used to call "regs", "schwag," or simply bad bud. It looked like it had been sitting around for weeks - seedy, stemmy, brownish green, and it didn't even smell all that great. Despite its unappealing appearance, that $20 dub could often weigh 2 to 3 grams. It was the bulk purchase option for the budget-conscious smoker. After the first 10 minutes of sifting through your dub for seeds (you'd listen for the distinct pop of the lid on a cd case), you'd spend another 5 minutes trying to grind through the stems. A dub was really about the social aspect of getting something to smoke as much as anything else.
Modern, Dispensary-Influenced Dubs
When weed culture evolved to include high-end, exotic strains, the dub also evolved. Now, with top-shelf buds going for so much money, you can't expect to buy a dub of high quality for $20. That $20 may now only net you a single, tightly packed gram of beautiful, dense bud. I remember the first time I bought a dub of a strain called "OG Kush" from a new guy I knew. He gave me a single nugget in a tiny baggie. At first, I thought it was a rip-off. I mean, "That's it?" But that single gram of OG Kush lasted me just as long as the 3 grams of schwag I got for my $20 back in the day, and the experience was totally different. It smelled amazing, tasted amazing, and was super powerful. That was when I finally understood the quality over quantity argument.
So, What Should a Dub Weigh Today?
In a fair, modern, non-dispensary market, you should expect a dub to be somewhere between 1 and 2 grams.
- 1 gram: This is the standard for high quality, potent cannabis. Most places in many areas now consider this the minimum weight for a dub of good quality cannabis.
- 1.5 to 2 grams: This is a good deal. If you have a good connection with your supplier or if the weed isn’t top shelf but is still good, you may get this size.
If someone is selling you a "dub" for less than a gram of good bud, they are probably ripping you off. On the flip side, if you buy a large bag for $20, you should be questioning the quality and origin of the product.
The Dub vs. The Gram
There is a lot of confusion about this topic. Why do people refer to a dub of weed (which is typically 1 gram) as a “dub” instead of simply referring to it as a gram?
The reason is in the way each is referred to in the context of the sale and the cultural history surrounding the transaction.
- “Gram” refers to a specific unit of measurement. It is clinical, neutral, and used in transactions. For example, you go into a dispensary and ask them to give you a gram of Blue Dream. The interaction is transactional.
- “Dub” refers to a cultural and economic unit. It is the original street-level purchase. It implies a small amount purchased by the buyer with a $20 bill. There is a whole aesthetic to a “dub”. You fold up the $20 bill, quickly pass it to the seller, and receive a small baggie of weed to stick into your pocket. It is a term born from a time before lab tested THC percentages and childproof packaging.
The Dub's Place in a Legalizing World
With dispensaries becoming increasingly popular and licensed, the term "dub" is slowly dying. You won’t walk into a sleek, licensed dispensary and ask for a "dub sack". Instead, you’ll browse the menu and look at the prices of pre-weighed portions of eighths, quarters, and grams, along with the associated taxes. The mystery has disappeared, and with it, some of the mystique.
However, the spirit of the dub lives on in the $20 pre-roll packs or the single gram of beautifully wrapped bud for $19.99 on the shelf. These are still the gateway to trying new strains, or the perfect amount of weed for a solo evening.
Last Hit
A dub is more than just a bag of weed – it’s a snapshot of cannabis culture. It’s a malleable, constantly evolving concept that takes into account the quality of the product and the state of the market, whether you’re looking at the stem-filled bags of old or the individual, pristine nuggets of today. The next time you hear the term “dub,” you’ll understand it’s not just about weight – it’s a $20 ticket to an experience, and the specifics of which are always and will continue to be somewhat of a roll of the dice.