What Does Smalls at a Dispensary Mean?

Maybe you’re standing in line at the dispensary to order yourself some high-quality flower when you hear the person in front of your asking for a jar of smalls. But what does smalls at a dispensary mean?

Are smalls lower quality or are they a great deal you’ve been missing out on?

• What are Smalls?

  Cannabis smalls, small nugs, or popcorn buds are small pieces of cannabis flower sold for smoking in joints, blunts, or bowls. Generally picked from the bottom of the plant where less light reaches, smalls can have the same THC, CBD, and terpene content as larger buds while having fewer stems and a lower price.

  “Smalls” is short for “small buds” or “small flowers.” Cannabis smalls are the same part of the plant as products sold as “flower.” Since small nugs are a newer product and less common, “flower” is typically used to describe weed sold in large bud or pre-rolled form.

• Are Smalls Worth it?

  Smalls are less expensive yet easier to pack and grind than large buds. Contrary to popular belief, cannabis smalls are also just as flavorful and rich in THC and CBD as larger nugs - meaning they’re absolutely worth it if you can find the smalls version of your favorite strain!

• Are Small Buds more Potent?

  Small buds are generally the same potency as large nugs of the same strain. Small nugs come from the same plants as large nugs, they’re simply pieces of flower that tended to get less light and thus didn’t grow as large.

What are “Smalls” when it comes to Weed?

The word “smalls” when referring to weed is used to describe the smaller nugs which grow close to the base of the plant. Typically small buds are marble-sized or smaller.

Whether they’re grown indoors or outdoors, it’s impossible to get the same amount of light on all sides of the plant. Because of this, there are always some buds that are smaller than others. These smaller buds usually grow near the base where there isn’t enough light for them to grow large.

Just because these little buds are small and grow near the base doesn’t mean they’re lower quality or potency; in fact, smalls can have the same amount of THC, CBD, and terpenes (which provide flavor) as buds that grow near the top of the plant. They’re just smaller!

Smalls vs flower

“Flower,” “bud,” and “nugs” are all words used to describe smokable cannabis from the flowering part of the cannabis plant. Smalls are the same flower from the same plant as larger buds and nugs - they’re just smaller in size!

Generally, though, cannabis brands mean “large nugs” when they describe a by-weight product as “flower,” as most flower sold is in large bud form.

Other terms for Small Weed Buds

Even though you might not have known what “smalls” were, you’ve almost certainly seen them before as all cannabis plants produce small buds, but not all marijuana dispensaries separate mini buds from large buds.

At some dispensaries, smalls are referred to as “popcorn buds,” not because they smell or taste like everyone’s favorite movie snack, but because they’re about the size of popcorn pieces. 

It’s important to note that while “trim” and “shake” are also terms for small pieces of cannabis, they’re usually used to describe low-quality weed that’s not pleasant to smoke.

What are the Benefits of Cannabis Smalls?

One of the main benefits of cannabis smalls is that they’re usually sold at a discount; even though the quality of small buds is almost, if not exactly, the same, many people think large buds are better so they pay more for them.

Another benefit is that smalls typically tend to have fewer stems in them - so gram for gram you get more bang for your cannabis buck when you buy mini buds. 

And because they have fewer stems and are smaller, popcorn buds are easier to grind and pack than large buds - so they save you time and hassle too!

Why are Small Buds Cheaper?

Smalls are cheaper than larger nugs for one reason - people think bigger is better. As we mentioned above, this isn’t true when it comes to cannabis buds.

In the social media era, people think larger nugs look better in their Instagram pictures or TikTok videos. Some people also believe large buds are more flavorful and potent.

But the reality is, you can get the same good quality flower when you buy small buds - so you’ll save money just because they’re less popular. And because the potency is the same, there is no reason to pay the higher price!

Small Buds vs Big Buds: Other factors

Is price really the only difference between small buds and big buds? Yes and no. Let’s cover some of the similarities and differences between these two sizes of cannabis buds.

Stem Content

One of the biggest differences between small buds and big buds is the amount of stem you get with each. The bigger the bud, the bigger the stems, it’s as simple as that. 

Because smaller buds have smaller/fewer stems, you get less smokable cannabis with big nugs vs small nugs. 

THC/CBD Content

Both large and small buds can have the same amount of THC and CBD content if they’re the same strain. Therefore the potency of either size of nugs should be the exact same!

There’s some speculation that smalls have less THC content, but this usually isn’t the case.

That being said, all marijuana dispensaries are required to list the THC content of all cannabis they sell - so you can compare the exact small buds you’re thinking about buying to the big buds on offer! 

Strains Available

Almost all cannabis plants grow both large and small buds. However, there are some strains and growing methods that tend to produce more small buds than large ones and vice versa. 

By stepping out of your comfort zone when it comes to bud sizes, you may get to try some strains that are normally sold out of large buds but have plenty of smalls available. 

At the same time, some growers don’t sell small buds of their proprietary strains yet, so it might be harder to find your favorite strain in small buds.

Taste/Smell

Worried you’ll be sacrificing taste or smell when you grab a bag of smalls?

Short answer: you won’t! You can get the same amazing flavor from your favorite strain whether you’re buying small or large buds since they’re coming from the same cannabis plant.

Our Favorite Small Nug Strains

Ready to try cannabis smalls? Here are some of the best small nug strains on the market. 

Durban Poison

Durban Poison is hand-trimmed and third-party tested to guarantee its unique flavor and quality. A Sativa with almost 30% THC, only the bravest of heart should pick up a quarter or half an ounce of these smalls. 

Wedding Cake

Named after the stoner’s favorite tasty treat, wedding cake smalls are full of rich and tangy earth flavors with undertones of pepper. Coming in at over 31% THC, the flavor and high is strong with this small bud strain! 

LarryMO

LarryMo smalls are lemony, earthy, and have a bit of pine taste for those who long for the great outdoors. Small but mighty, LarryMo is an Indica strain that packs 31% THC with guaranteed long-lasting effects to keep you a happy camper all day long. 

Strawberry Cheesecake

If you’re looking for a smoke that’s less likely to stick you to the couch on the first puff, Strawberry Cheesecake smalls have all the creamy, sugary, and fruity aromas you could want with 26% THC.

Have questions about smalls we haven’t answered here? Contact us, and we’ll gladly steer you to the strain and product that’s best for you!