Question: is a m80 a quarter stick of dynamite

Answer: No, Contrary to urban legend, an M-80 that contains 3,000 mg of powder is not equivalent to a quarter-stick of dynamite. Dynamite generally contains a stable nitroglycerin based high explosive, whereas M-80s or any other kind of firecracker contains a low explosive powder, like flash powder or black powder. Some illicits, however, contain(ed), or were reported to contain, small amounts of picric acid (similar to TNT), for greater effect.