A dime bag is a unit of measurement meaning $10 worth of something and often literally a small bag containing approximately $10 worth of weed (typically about 1 gram). It is sometimes spelled as one word — dimebag.
Why is it called a dime bag?
The number 10, referring to the value of a dime, is where the bag derives its name. Rather than 10 cents, a dime bag represents $10 worth of weed, or about one gram. This designation, however, is outdated in many places, as marijuana can cost much more than $10 per gram.
Other amounts of marijuana have different nicknames, such as the dub sack which is about $20 worth of cannabis. On the lower end of the spectrum, a nickel bag contains around $5 or half a gram of weed, again representing an archaic calculation.
Where did the term dime bag come from?
Before the push for cannabis legalization gained steam, cannabis consumers invented code words to talk about the illegal product. Dime bag is one of those slang terms, like Mary Jane, that emerged from the black market. Dime bags were considered good bargains in their heyday, but because of the changing world of cannabis and rising prices, this term has teetered toward the annals of weed history.
How long does a dime bag last?
Assuming a dime bag contains 1 gram of weed, it can last anywhere from days to weeks, depending on how often you partake. How long a dime bag lasts also depends on whether you share it, smoke slim joints, or pack your bowls to the brim.
How much does a gram of weed cost on average?
The price of a gram of weed varies wildly depending on the region where it's sold as well as whether it's low-quality larf or premium, top-shelf weed. Tokyo, for example, has some of the most expensive cannabis in the world, averaging more than $30 for 1 gram. Meanwhile, the price of a gram in Beijing averages closer to $20. Two of the cheapest cities to buy cannabis include Quito, Ecuador, and Bogota, Colombia, where 1 gram averages less than $3.
In the United States, weed prices are also dependent on the market and other factors. In California, a gram can cost anywhere from $12 to $25, depending on the quality of the cannabis and whether it comes in the form of a pre-roll or whole flower. Seattle, on the other hand, averages less than $8 per gram, harkening back to the days of the dime bag.
The dime bag in pop culture
Heavy metal musician Darrell Lance Abbott reportedly earned the nickname "Dimebag Darrell" because of his refusal to carry more than a dime bag worth of weed on him out of fear of being caught by the authorities. Texas-born Abbott was murdered in 2004 at the age of 38 and remains a part of the legacy of this historical cannabis term.