Cannabis joints are one of the more iconic ways to consume the plant, and they’re a great way to experience its flavor. The art of rolling a joint should be learned by every cannabis smoker. Countless opinions exist about how to roll one, but whatever you do, make sure it burns smoothly and evenly.
How much weed is in a joint?
We recommend starting out with 1/2 gram of weed and standard-sized rolling papers. Rolling the joint with this amount of weed will be more manageable since it is a good quantity for a couple.
For reference, most prerolls come in packs of two half-grams, but some are a gram.
With practice, you will be able to roll full-gram joints and larger papers. You will also be able to smoke outside your neighborhood.
Step-by-step guide on how to roll the perfect joint (with or without a filter)
Here are seven easy steps to help you hone your roll, even if you’re a beginner. You’ll be rolling perfect joints in no time.
Begin by gathering your rolling supplies:
- Cannabis strain of your choice
- Rolling papers
- Crutch (for the joint crutch or filter)
- Cannabis grinder
- Optional: A pen, or a similarly shaped object to help pack the joint
Step 1: Grind the cannabis
Your cannabis should be broken down into shakes. You should be able to break down your dried cannabis easily if it has been dried well. The grinder prevents your hands from getting sticky and thus sticking to the joint paper.
Even without a grinder, you can break down the herb by hand, with scissors, or in any number of other ways.
Step 2: Create joint crutch/filter
An alternative name for the crutch is a tip or filter. You can make a crutch from nearly anything, but thin cardboard or business cards are good choices. The packaging of joint papers typically includes crutches.
You can start by folding the cardboard in accordion style at the end and then rolling it to the thickness you desire. Although it isn’t absolutely necessary to use the crutch, it helps prevent the shake from falling out. In addition, it adds stability to the joint and prevents your fingertips from getting burned while you smoke.
Step 3: Fill joint with cannabis
Add the shake and the crutch to the paper (if you made one). With the paper shaken to the right degree (half a gram to a gram usually does the trick), you can begin to shape and form the joint with your fingers.
A quick note about papers: There are quite a few different kinds and varieties of documents available. The paper tends to be thin, yet strong, and burns evenly without altering the flavor of the weed.
Step 4: Pack the joint
Rolling your joint follows loading and shaping. Pack the cannabis down into the final shape of the cone by pinching the paper between your fingertips and rolling it back and forth between them.
Step 5: Roll the joint
The quality of your joint depends on this step. The unglued side of the paper should be inserted into the roll, rolled up, and the glued edge used to tack down one end.
You can get a better grip on the paper by starting with the crutch side.
Having tacked down the paper at one end, you can tuck and seal the joint along the remainder of the seam.
Step 6: Finish your joint
For a neat burn, do not forget to pack the end of the joint. Any kind of writing instrument will do, as long as you have a pen to hand.
A shoelace tip, a hoodie drawstring, or a small stick are some good options when on the go. You might want to close the tip with a twist if you aren’t planning on lighting your joint right away.
Step 7: Enjoy (and innovate!)
Other ways to roll a joint
As far as rolling a joint is concerned, there are unlimited possibilities. Their size is entirely up to you. Don’t be afraid to be creative! Rolling joints into a unique mix of functional origami has even become an art form in its own right.
Rolling a joint with a dollar bill is another trick. Place your ground weed in the folded dollar bill. Give it a lick, roll a rolling paper behind it, and roll it back and forth. It’s easy peasy.
Rolling another joint variant is a cross joint (two joints crossed in the middle, giving you three ends to light), a pinner (a thin joint), or an L joint or tulip, which have extra amounts of weed on the end.
When it comes to rolling a joint, what’s your favorite way? In the comments, please share your cannabis tips and tricks.
This post was originally published on May 19, 2016. It was most recently updated on April 15, 2020.