Cheap Ounces in Saint John: How to Pick a Good One

A cheap ounce is a full 28 grams of flower sold at a value price, usually because the buds are smaller, the grade is a step down, or the batch moved in bulk. At Saint John Bud Express we carry a rotating value selection for people in Saint John who smoke daily and want the most weed for their money, and this guide explains how to tell a good budget ounce from a bag you'll regret.

What does "cheap ounce" actually mean?

"Cheap" doesn't have to mean bad. It means the price per gram is lower than buying small amounts, and that the flower sits in a value tier rather than a top-shelf one. Several things can put an ounce in that tier.

Smaller buds. Popcorn nugs and lower branches grow smaller than the big tops. They're the same plant and often similar in effect, they just don't look as impressive in a jar.

Older harvests. Some value flower is from a batch that's been around a little longer. If it was cured and stored well, it can still smoke nicely, though it may have lost some aroma.

Less trim work. Hand-trimmed premium buds take hours of labour. Value flower may be machine-trimmed or a bit leafier, which keeps the cost down.

Lower THC or a less famous strain. Not every good plant has a fashionable name or a record THC number. Some of the best value comes from steady, unflashy strains.

How do weed grades work?

You'll see grades like AA, AAA, AAAA and sometimes AAAA+ or "craft" on menus around Saint John. These are not official ratings. They're a shorthand sellers use to say how a batch compares to the rest of their menu, and one shop's AAA can be another shop's AAAA.

• AA and lower: the classic budget tier. Smaller buds, milder aroma, and usually the lowest price per gram.
• AAA: the middle ground. Decent bag appeal and a noticeable smell, and often the sweet spot for value ounces.
• AAAA and up: top shelf. Dense, frosty, loud-smelling buds that cost more.

Our guide to what AAAA means goes into the grading shorthand in more detail, and luxury vs budget buds covers when the step up is worth it.

What should a good budget ounce look and smell like?

Even in the value tier, there are a few things that separate decent flower from a dud.

Look

Trichomes. Look for some frost: the tiny crystal-like glands on the bud. Value flower won't be covered in them, but it shouldn't look bare.

Colour. Green with orange or purple hairs is normal. Brown, grey or washed-out flower has usually been around too long or dried too hard.

No mould or fuzz. White fuzz, grey spots or a web-like coating are a hard no, at any price.

Smell

Some aroma is good. Even a mild ounce should smell like cannabis when you open the bag: earthy, piney, citrusy, sweet or skunky.

Hay or grass is a warning. A flat hay smell often means the flower was rushed through drying and curing. It tends to smoke harsh.

Musty or damp is a hard no. That points to moisture and possible mould.

Feel

Springy, not crumbly. Squeeze a bud gently. It should bend a little and the stem should snap rather than fold. Flower that turns to dust is over-dry, and flower that feels spongy and wet is a storage problem.

Is an ounce better value than buying quarters?

For most people who smoke regularly, yes. Buying in bulk almost always brings the price per gram down. But an ounce isn't for everyone.

An ounce makes sense if you smoke most days, you've tried the strain or tier before and liked it, and you have a good place to store it.

Quarters make more sense if you want to sample a few strains, you only smoke on weekends, or you're not sure you'll get through 28 grams while it's still fresh.

A middle path. Some people buy one value ounce as their everyday smoke and a small amount of something nicer for weekends. That keeps costs down without giving up the odd treat. If you're not sure how the weights add up, see how many grams are in an ounce.

How do you keep an ounce fresh?

An ounce is a lot of weed to keep in good shape, and poor storage is the fastest way to turn a good deal into a bad one.

• Use an airtight glass jar. Plastic bags let air in and can hold static that pulls trichomes off the buds.
• Keep it dark and cool. Light and heat break down THC and aroma. A closet or drawer works better than a windowsill or the top of the fridge.
• Don't open it more than you need to. Some people split an ounce into a few smaller jars so the main stash stays sealed.
• Skip the freezer. Freezing can make trichomes brittle, and they snap off when you handle the buds.
• Consider a humidity pack. A small two-way humidity pack can help keep flower from drying out over a few weeks.

Our guide to storing weed covers jars, humidity and shelf life in more depth.

What should you know before ordering an ounce?

Check the strain type. A cheap ounce of a heavy indica is a very different week from a cheap ounce of an energetic sativa. If you're not sure which suits you, our indica vs sativa guide is a good place to start.

Expect variety. Value stock rotates faster than top shelf. If you find one you like, it may not be there next month, which is part of the fun.

Watch the weekly deals. Value flower is often where the best offers land. The promotions page lists what's running this week.

You need to be 19 or older. Drivers check ID at the door, and possession limits are set by the province, so check the current provincial rules on how much you can carry in public.

How does ounce delivery work in Saint John?

You order online, pay cash at the door and show your ID. An ounce on its own will usually clear the $50 minimum, and delivery is free over $100. Orders typically arrive in 1 to 3 hours. The weed delivery page has the run times and the areas we cover.

The Bottom Line

A good cheap ounce has some frost, a real cannabis smell and buds that spring back, and it's worth buying if you'll smoke it while it's fresh. Store it in a sealed glass jar away from light and heat. Browse the current cheap ounces to see what's in the value tier this week.