An 8 ball is a slang term used to refer to a specific quantity of an illegal drug, most often cocaine. It is approximately one-eighth of an ounce, ranging from 3 to 3.5 grams. The term appears to have originated in the mid-1980s, and the going rate for such an item at that time ranged from $300 to $350. The term "8 ball" is also used to refer to 3.5 grams of weight of every drug ever created besides marijuana, which goes by an "Eighth". It is important to note that the use of illegal drugs is dangerous and can lead to addiction, overdose, and other serious health problems.