Nail Your Edible Dosing With Simple Kitchen Math
Once you truly know how many grams in an ounce, every batch of cannabutter becomes predictable science.
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You’re standing in your Adams Morgan kitchen with a stick of butter in one hand and a bag of flower in the other, and suddenly you realize you have no idea how many grams in an ounce β welcome to the moment every homemade edible journey actually begins.
Let’s get the fundamental answer out of the way first: how many grams in an ounce? It’s 28.3495 grams, but for cannabis math, everyone rounds to 28 grams and that’s perfectly fine. This single number is the cornerstone of every dosing calculation you’ll ever do for homemade edibles. Without it locked in your brain, you’re basically baking blindfolded. And if you’re a DC medical cannabis patient who’s tired of inconsistent brownies, this is where things start clicking.
At Green Legacy, we talk patients through this kind of math almost daily β especially folks who are brand-new to making their own infusions at home. Our budtenders can walk you through THC percentages on every product we carry, which makes the dosing formulas we’re about to cover way more accurate. We’ve been doing this for six years in DC, and honestly, helping someone nail their first batch of cannabutter is one of our favorite things. It never gets old watching that lightbulb moment.
I remember one patient from Dupont Circle β retired teacher, super meticulous β who came in frustrated because her gummies were wildly inconsistent. Some were barely noticeable, others knocked her out for an entire Saturday. (We’ve all been there.) Turns out she was eyeballing her flower instead of weighing it and using a rough THC percentage she’d pulled from some random forum. Once we sat down with actual numbers and her strain’s real lab results, she started producing gummies that were within a couple milligrams of her target dose every single time. That’s the power of doing the math right.
“Getting the dose right isn’t about being a perfectionist β it’s about respecting your own experience enough to do ten seconds of multiplication before you turn on the stove.”
— Green Legacy
Dosing Essentials
Know How Many Grams in an Ounce β Then These 5 Tips
Start With Actual Weight
Invest in a digital kitchen scale that reads to 0.1 grams β they’re under twenty bucks. Knowing how many grams in an ounce means nothing if you’re eyeballing your flower like it’s oregano. Weigh everything, every time.
Use Real THC Percentages
Don’t guess your flower’s potency. Check lab-tested results from your dispensary or review a Certificate of Analysis. A 20% THC strain in a full ounce (28g) gives you roughly 5,600mg of total THC before decarb losses β that’s your starting number.
Account for Decarboxylation Loss
Decarbing doesn’t convert 100% of THCA to THC. Most home ovens get you about 85-90% conversion efficiency. So multiply your total THC number by 0.88 as a safe middle estimate. Skipping this step is the number-one reason homemade edibles disappoint β or terrify.
Divide by Servings Ruthlessly
Once you’ve got your total active milligrams, divide by the exact number of servings your recipe produces. If your cannabutter goes into 48 cookies, each cookie’s dose is your total mg divided by 48. DC Health recommends medical patients start with 5-10mg per serving.
Keep a Dosing Journal
Write down every variable: strain name, weight in grams, THC percentage, fat used, decarb time and temp, and how the final product felt. After three batches, you’ll have a personal playbook that takes all the guesswork out. Future you will be grateful.
See What’s Fresh
Need flower with verified THC percentages for your next batch? Browse the Green Legacy menu or book a consultation and we’ll help you pick the right starting material.
Best Strains for Homemade Edible Infusions in DC Right Now
All THC percentages are verified by independent labs. Check batch-specific results in our COA library before you start your infusion math.
Come Say Hey
Green Legacy sits right in the heart of DC. Whether you’re swinging by after work or making a special trip, we’re here to make it easy β and worth it. Pop in, say hey, and let us help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
4630 14th St NW, Washington, DC
Available across DC β check delivery zones
greenlegacydc.com
4630 14th St NW
Washington, DC
Frequently Asked Questions
Your Questions About How Many Grams in an Ounce & Edible Dosing, Answered
So exactly how many grams in an ounce of cannabis?
There are 28.3495 grams in one ounce, but the cannabis world rounds to 28 grams. This is the standard across every licensed dispensary in DC, and it’s the number you should plug into all your edible dosing formulas. For more details on DC’s medical program and purchasing limits, check the DC Health Medical Cannabis Program page.
How do I calculate THC per serving in homemade edibles?
Multiply your flower weight in grams by its THC percentage (as a decimal), then multiply by 0.88 to account for decarb efficiency. That gives you total active milligrams. Divide that number by however many servings your recipe makes, and you’ve got your per-serving dose. For example, 7 grams of 20% flower yields roughly 1,232mg total β split into 60 gummies, that’s about 20mg each.
What’s the recommended starting dose for a DC medical patient?
Most guidelines β and honestly, most experienced budtenders β suggest starting between 5 and 10mg of THC per serving. You can always eat another one in two hours; you can’t un-eat one. Leafly has a solid beginner dosing guide if you want a second opinion beyond what we tell you in-store.
Does the strain I choose matter for making cannabutter?
Absolutely. Different strains carry different terpene profiles, and those terpenes survive the infusion process to varying degrees. A garlicky GMO Cookies butter tastes (and feels) nothing like a citrusy Lemon Haze butter. Check your strain’s lab results in our COA library so you know what you’re working with before you start cooking.
Can I buy pre-made edibles instead of making my own in DC?
Yes β licensed DC medical dispensaries carry lab-tested edibles with clearly labeled dosages, so you skip the math entirely. If you want to explore what’s available, stop by Green Legacy in Shaw or reach out to our team. But if you love the DIY route, we’re always happy to help you dial in your process.