How to Roll a Joint: A Step-By-Step Guide
How to roll the perfect joint: A step-by-step guide
With our comprehensive guide, there’s no doubt you will soon be the life of the party when it comes time to puff, puff, pass! Not only will you know the ins an outs of joint rolling, but you'll know what tools you need in order to roll the perfect joint and where to get them. Whether you're looking to have some fun at a music festival or just want to be the “one who’s great at rolling” at the next get together, our guide will have you up and rolling in no time.
Why it’s important to know how to roll a joint
Rolling a joint can provide several benefits, including:
It’s Cost-effective: Rolling your own joints can save you money compared to buying pre-rolled joints or buying marijuana at a dispensary or cannabis retailer. If you are a frequent cannabis smoker you’ll be shocked to see how the savings add up once you’ve mastered the rolling process.
Control over quality: When you roll your own joints, you have control over the quality of the marijuana you use. You can choose the strain, potency, and freshness of the marijuana. Sometimes pre-rolls are made with a variety of budget-friendly buds, and pre-rolls made using high-end strains are often taxed heavily.
Social activity: Rolling a joint can be a social activity, especially if you're rolling with friends. It can help to build relationships and create a relaxed atmosphere. You can even make new friends if you come across a group of people who are looking to smoke a joint but can’t roll one!
Improved smoking experience: Rolling your own joints allows you to customize your smoking experience. You can adjust the size and thickness of the joint, mix your cannabis flower with concentrates or tobacco, or add filters or other smoking accessories to enhance the experience.
Smoke anytime, anywhere: It’s a simple fact that you can’t take your favorite bong or glass pipe with you wherever you go. Knowing how to make exquisite hand-rolled joints will allow you to light up wherever you go. A pack or rolling papers is easy to carry with you, and having possession of joint papers isn’t illegal.
Increased knowledge: By learning how to roll a joint, you gain a deeper understanding of marijuana and its various forms. This knowledge can help you make informed decisions about your smoking habits.
Note: It is important to be aware of the laws and regulations surrounding marijuana in your area, and to only smoke it in a safe and legal place. Here at Purple Haze we’re committed to setting the example of how your local smoke shop should function. We believe that means not only giving you advice, but also words of caution. Sadly cannabis is not legal everywhere, and only by everyone working together to enjoy it in a responsible manner can we positively bring about change.
What do I need to get started?
"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." - Benjamin Franklin
Taking the time to properly prepare for something, whether it be a task, event, or situation, will increase your chances of performing well and avoiding mistakes or difficulties. Especially if it’s your first time doing something. The same is true when it comes to rolling the perfect joint, so before we get rolling let’s go over the gear you’ll need to do so.
Dried Cannabis Flower
The dried buds of the cannabis plant. It is typically green and has a strong, pungent aroma. It’s important for beginners to know that fresh cannabis cannot be used for smoking. Drying removes excess moisture from the buds, which helps to prevent mold and spoilage. It can also increase the potency of the cannabis by breaking down some of the chlorophyll and cellulose in the buds, which can result in a more flavorful and potent smoke. Lastly, the drying process also concentrates the terpenes and other aromatic compounds in the cannabis, which enhances the aroma and flavor of the smoke.
Rolling papers
You can buy rolling papers at Purple Haze Smoke Shop in Denver, Colorado or online at shoppurplehaze.com. We offer a variety of rolling papers in different sizes and materials too.
A Proper Crutch
A joint crutch, also known as a filter or tip, is a small piece of cardboard or other material that is inserted into one end of a rolled joint. A lot of seasoned stoners simply make one but tearing off a small piece of the packaging their rolling papers come in. The crutch helps to support the joint and prevent it from becoming crushed or breaking, especially when it is being passed around or stored. It also helps to regulate the airflow through the joint, making it easier to smoke and reducing the risk of inhaling loose pieces of cannabis. For those worried about hygiene in social situations, they can also serve as a mouthpiece, providing a more comfortable and hygienic surface to hold and smoke the joint. Maybe most importantly, a good crutch can help to prevent the “roach” (the end of the joint that has been smoked) from getting too small and falling off. This helps to reduce waste and prevent bits of burned paper from being inhaled.
Grinder
A good grinder will help you break down the buds into smaller, more uniform pieces, making it easier to pack and roll the joint. The uniformity also ensures a more even burn and reduces the risk of wasted cannabis. Grinding the nugs also increases the surface area of the cannabis, allowing for a smoother and more consistent burn. A fine grind also ensures that the smoke is easier to inhale and less harsh. The process of grinding also releases the trichomes, which contain the majority of the marijuana plant's psychoactive compounds. This allows for a more potent and flavorful smoke. Let’s not forget grinding the buds by hand can be time-consuming, sticky, and inconsistent. Click here to see some of the great grinders we have available for purchase in store and online.
A Pen or Chopstick
A single chopstick or pen can be used to pack the cannabis tightly into the joint, which helps to ensure an even burn and reduces the risk of the joint becoming unstuck or unevenly burned. You can also use these tools to create a cone shape or helping to taper the end of the joint to make it easier to smoke.
Rolling Tray
A rolling tray is a flat, usually shallow, and often portable surface that is used to hold and organize the components used in rolling a joint. A rolling tray is useful because it provides a contained area for all the items needed to roll a joint, preventing bits of cannabis or rolling papers from getting lost or scattered. It also protects the surface of tables or other work areas from being damaged or stained by spills or debris. A good rolling tray often has raised edges, which can prevent items from rolling away and provides a place to store rolling papers and other accessories. Click here to see some of the great rolling trays we have available for purchase in store and online.
Concentrates or Tobacco
If you’re looking to infuse your joint or roll a spliff, make sure you have your favorite concentrates or loose-leaf tobacco around before you get started. Those who love to dab can have a lot of fun rolling joints by simply adding a few drops or crumbles of their favorite hash. If you are someone who smokes cigarettes and is looking to ween themselves off, a spliff is a great option.
Choosing the right Rolling Papers
Rolling papers come in different sizes, such as 1 1/4 inches, 1 1/2 inches, and king size. Choose the size that best suits your needs. If you're a beginner to rolling and smoking weed, it may be easier to start with a smaller size. Rolling papers are also made from various materials, including rice, hemp, and flax. Each material has its own pros and cons. Rice papers are thin and easy to roll, while hemp papers are durable and burn slowly. Flax papers are a bit thicker but are environmentally friendly. As we mentioned earlier rolling your own joints is a cost-friendly enterprise, a single pack of papers will cost you anywhere from $2-$5. If you can buy a variety of types of paper and sizes so over time you can find out which one is perfect for you.
You might also notice the distinction brands make between bleached and unbleached rolling papers. These are different in terms of the processing they undergo before they reach the consumer. Bleached rolling papers have been treated with chemicals, such as chlorine, to whiten and soften the paper. The bleaching process can affect the flavor and quality of the smoke, and some users prefer the more natural taste of unbleached rolling papers. Whereas unbleached rolling papers, on the other hand, are made from untreated, natural fibers and retain their original light brown color. They are generally considered to be a more environmentally friendly option, as they don't involve the use of chemicals in their production.
Step-By-Step Guide
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Gather your supplies: You will need rolling papers, ground marijuana, a filter (or "crutch"), and a tool to grind your marijuana (if needed). Also make sure you have your rolling tray or or at least rolling your joint over a flat surface that is easy to clean.
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Grind your cannabis flower: If the dried cannabis flower is not already ground, use your grinder to grind it into a fine consistency. If you find yourself in a situation where you don’t have a grinder you can use a pair of scissors or a knife to break up the buds into smaller pieces. Depending on the size of papers you are using, you should grind up anywhere from a half gram to 3/4 of a gram for your joint.
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Make the filter tip: Cut a strip of cardboard or thick paper, such as a business card or the packaging for your rolling papers to the desired length usually around 1.5 to 2 inches long. Next roll the strip of cardboard into a cylinder shape, with the edges slightly overlapping. Then use saliva or pressure to secure the overlapping edges of the cardboard cylinder. Many pros take serious time when it comes to making their crutch, and are sometimes able to make a variety of unique shapes within the cylinder of the filter. This fun video will show you how to roll a spiral crutch, an accordion crutch, and a simple hollow crutch.
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Fill your rolling paper: Place the filter at one end of the rolling paper and fill the rest of the paper with your ground cannabis. be wary of how much you are putting onto the paper, don’t get greedy or you’ll find yourself unable to roll it up.
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Roll the joint: Hold the edges of the rolling paper and gently roll the marijuana back and forth to distribute it evenly. Once it's evenly distributed, tightly roll the paper around the filter and marijuana.
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Tuck and seal: Use your forefingers to tuck one edge of the paper into the other and then seal the joint by moistening the gum strip and pressing it down. It’s easiest to get this moisture by simply licking the gum strip with your tongue. Be careful to to apply too much saliva.
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Use your Pen or Chopstick: to tightly pack the cannabis into the joint, after doing this you may have some extra room to add some more ground cannabis or maybe some of those thc-filled kief crystals that your grinder has saved for your in it’s lower chamber.
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Enjoy: Finally, light your joint and enjoy. Make sure to smoke it in a safe and legal place. Be sure to watch the way your joint burns. If it burns evenly and slowly you’ll know you’ve done a good job. However if it starts to burn fast on one side of the joint and not the other (known as canoeing) you can take notes and the next time you can work to eliminate it from happening.
Conclusion
Rolling a joint may take some practice, but with patience and perseverance, you'll get the hang of it in no time! Soon you’ll be ready to roll that crazy cross joint you saw in Pineapple Express.