Have you heard of the term “smalls” before? Depending on your local cannabis regulations, you may have heard this term at a dispensary or even your neighborhood street dealer. The popularity of the term increased with the legalization of weed in various states across the country, but it has been used long before as well. So what does “smalls” mean in regards to cannabis?
What are Cannabis Smalls?
As you may have guessed, cannabis “smalls” refer to the size of the flower. Because of their popularity, cultivators aim to harvest the largest-sized nugs for their high flower yield. However, during the harvesting process, many smaller nugs, or “smalls,” can be found due to larger nugs breaking into smaller pieces. While larger nugs can be anywhere from a golf ball to the size of a phone (or even beyond), small nugs are typically about the size of a marble or dime.
Don’t mistake smalls for shake or ground flower, though. Smalls are actual nugs, while shake and ground flower are more like crumbs of cannabis.
Are Smalls Different than Whole Flower?
The great thing about smalls are that they are the same exact thing as the larger buds. The only difference is the size. This means it contains the same THC content, terpenes, flavors, effects, and everything else.
Synonyms for Smalls
While the term “smalls” is popular lingo used amongst budtenders and consumers, there are other names it is called. The term “popcorn” or “minis” is also used to describe them. Additionally, some dispensaries even make up their own word. An example of this would be Trulieve’s “TruMinis.”
Price Difference Between Whole Flower and Smalls
The best thing about smalls is that they are typically much cheaper than whole flower. An 8th of whole flower could sit around $50, but an 8th of smalls could cost half the price. Additionally, depending on your location, smalls could be substantially cheaper than that. Nonetheless, the price will always be lower than the price of larger nugs.
Image via The Cure Company
Other Benefits of Smalls
Do you ever find yourself saving your large nugs as long as you can, just to finally smoke it to find out it has become dry? Well, that is another benefit of smalls. You won’t fear throwing the little guys in a grinder, so you are more likely to enjoy them while they’re still fresh.
Moreover, since these run on the more affordable side, dispensaries often go through them quicker. This means they are stocked more often and are likely to be fresher than whole flower.