The Basics of Rolling a Good Joint
Being able to roll a good joint is essential to enjoy your cannabis properly. A well – rolled joint burns more efficiently, delivers a better hit and ends up saving you money that would otherwise just go up in smoke. While there’s a huge amount of different rolling techniques out there, there are some basics to joint rolling that apply regardless of the method you choose.
The essentials of rolling a good joint start with your tools. Good quality rolling paper, a decent grinder/mauler and a comfortable surface to roll on will all make a big difference in the quality of your final product
First, let’s go over some terminology:
A Joint is rolled using rolling papers, and contains Cannabis only.
A Spliff is also rolled using rolling paper, but also contains some tobacco in addition to Cannabis.
A Blunt is rolled using cigar paper.
Choosing your rolling paper
When you choose your paper, there are a few things to consider. Rolling papers differ in size, thickness, amount of flavour and burn rate. While thinner rolling paper usually has the least effect on the flavour of you cannabis, it can also be more challenging to work with if you are just starting out.
If you’re a beginner, practice using a thicker rolling paper until you get comfortable enough. For a health- conscious choice, raw, organic, or unbleached papers are most recommended. If you’re feeling adventurous, pre rolled cones come in a variety of fun fruity flavours.
The width of the rolling paper you use is also important, but is a matter of preference. Wider paper make it easier to roll a cone shaped joint, but result in more paper around your cannabis. The slim varieties of rolling paper are narrower, and result in thinner joints.
Mauling your weed
A weed mauler, also often called a crusher or a grinder, will help you maul down your weed without getting your fingers sticky. If your weed is well cured and dried, it should grind quite easily and quickly. The perfect consistency is evenly crumbled and free of stalks and hard pieces that can tear through your paper. This will result in an even burn.
Be careful not to over grind, as cannabis that is mauled too fine can result in a tight, hard to smoke joint.
Using a rolling pad or tray will ensure you don’t lose any weed when pouring the content of your grinder into your joint. It will allow you to keep your weed from spilling, and keep your leftovers safe for the next time you roll.
Adding a filter / tip
When it comes to rolling tips, you have two options. You can either purchase pre made tips, which are usually on the wider side resulting in a fatter joint, or make your own using the tips that come with your rolling paper packs. Either way, the thickness and shape of your tips will determine the thickness and shape of your joint.
Tips on rolling
- When pouring your mauled weed into your rolling paper, make sure your tip is in place and that there are no visible gaps above the tip. There is nothing sadder than a slouchy joint.
- If you are going for a straight/ pinner shape joint, spread your weed in an even quantity across the length of the paper. For a cone shape, spread the weed gradually thicker towards the top.
- When tucking in the rolling paper, tuck straight across for a pinner, and at an angle for a cone shape.
- Extra tip: if you rolled a joint for the road, you can keep it safe and smell-proof in one using a Joint Tube.
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Photo Credit:
Cover Photo by Wesley Gibbs on Unsplash
