According to the 2018 Cannabis Price Index, buying legal weed in America will cost you between $7 and $11 per gram, depending on where you live. However, that won’t be much help when you’re trying to figure out whether a certain tincture or pack of gummies is a good deal. Likewise, certain strains of weed are more expensive than others—does that mean the pricier weed will give you a better experience, or does it mean you’re wasting your money?


To know what you’re getting—and whether it’s worth paying for—you need to talk to a cannabis expert. I reached out to Colorado budtender Mckayla Cecil to learn how consumers can determine whether they’re paying too much for legal weed, what type of weed gives you the best bang for your buck, and why we should always tip our budtenders.

How can consumers get the best value for their legal weed? What’s a “good price” vs. “charging too much”?

As Cecil explained, some prices should be roughly the same wherever you go—and if they aren’t, pay attention.


“Edibles are probably the easiest things to price check because brands will be consistent (statewide) and the price will depend on the shop. Those prices will be fairly stagnant across the board. So, if you find you’re paying $30 for that pack of gummies that everyone else has priced at $20, you probably aren’t getting the best value.”

Other types of weed, like flower, have different prices depending on both the strain and the shop. If you’re looking for a weed shop that meets your preferred price point, do your research in advance.

“Most shops have their menus online on sites like Weedmaps and Leafly, and more and more places are offering online ordering. A little bit of research goes a long way when trying to find the best deal.”


Cecil also notes that some of the pricer buds might be best suited for special occasions: “Bud prices are kind of like wine. You’ve got the two-buck-chuck that simply fulfills your desire to smoke weed, and then there is the good stuff that’s been aged in barrels, that’s your small batch flower grown with love and sold at a premium. So consider what occasion you are buying for when buying smokable weed.”

What’s the most cost-effective way to purchase marijuana? Edibles? Tinctures? Flower? Which method of consuming weed gives you the most bang for your buck?

“The most cost-effective way to purchase marijuana is going to depend on each person’s body and how it reacts to different forms of cannabis,” Cecil explained. “Smoking, vaping, eating, and absorbing THC all have different effects that will vary from person to person.”


Cecil noted that edibles generally give you the best bang for your buck—but if they don’t work for you, they’re a waste of money. “[For some people] no matter how many milligrams of edibles they eat, nothing happens, while at the same time when they smoke cannabis they do feel stoned.”


If someone wanted to try legal weed for the first time, how much money should they plan to invest to learn what works for them and which strains they prefer?

If you don’t yet know whether you’re an edibles person—or if you’re even a weed person—be ready to invest some cash into your marijuana discovery project.


“I’d say around $100–$200 can get you a little bit of everything in most places in Colorado, but $50 is a good minimum to come in with and expect to walk out with more than one item,” Cecil told me. “To find strains you like, find a place that will let you mix and match quantities of weed. Most shops will sell to you by the gram or eighth (3.5g) so if you can, try a few different strains and see which one you enjoy the most.”

Most importantly, remember that budtenders are on your side—and ready to help you have the best weed experience possible. “Ask questions, your budtenders are there to help you, and then tip them for their knowledge.”