It may be hard to believe, but there are actually hundreds of smokers out there who, despite their years of lighting up, still do not know how to roll their own joint.
These people have had to rely on others to roll for them, and while this means they get to sit back and relax, it is so much easier when you know how to roll your own.
Are you one of these people? Or, are you a complete beginner to the smoking game?
Either way, don’t worry: in this article, we have created a quick and easy step-by-step guide that will teach you everything you need to know about rolling joints, from which papers to use to what tools to buy.
So, let’s get started!
The Difference Between A Joint And A Blunt
If you’re new here, you may be reading this title and thinking, ‘Huh? There’s a difference?’
Yep. A joint is not the same as a blunt, and the blunt is not the same as a joint. In fact, there are a handful of differences between the two that makes it quite obvious that they are not the same product.
A joint is, essentially, a cigarette with marijuana inside: it is created by rolling ground up weed inside a thin rolling paper.
They are typically quite small and thin, and aside from the color of the rolling paper, the outside appearance can be often mistaken for a rolled cigarette.
A blunt, on the other hand, is much larger than a joint, resembling a cigar more than a cigarette. Instead of using a rolling paper, a blunt is made from a much thicker paper called tobacco paper, or a blunt wrap.
Blunts also tend to contain a lot more weed than a joint, so if you couldn’t tell the difference from their exteriors, you would definitely be able to tell while smoking one.
Not only are blunts stronger, but they also taste different due to the blunt wrap being used instead of a rolling paper.
Additionally, a spliff is something entirely different to both aforementioned smokes: while joints and blunts only contain marijuana, a spliff contains both weed and tobacco (or other herbs of your choice).
Otherwise, it is pretty much rolled in the same way as you would roll a joint.
In this article, we are going to learn how to roll a joint.
If you would like to learn how to roll a blunt, you may want to check out a different article.
A Guide To Rolling The Perfect Joint (For Beginners)
Now, let’s get to the good stuff.
Below, we have put together a simple, step-by-step guide on how to roll the perfect joint, even if you have never done it before. We will go over everything you need to know about rolling a joint, including what tools you’ll need, how to choose the right papers, and how to smoke a great joint.
We will also cover some tips and tricks that will help you make sure that your first few attempts at rolling a joint turn out just as well as our last!
So, without further ado, let’s begin.
What You Need To Roll A Joint
Before you even think about rolling up, you’re going to want to make sure that you have everything you need beforehand.
To roll a joint, you are going to need:
a joint paper
a pre-rolled filter or material to create a filter/roach
a grinder
a pencil/straw/something long and thin
a rolling tray
and, of course:
weed
Some of the best joint papers you can get are from RAW: these are 100% organic, made from hemp paper. RAW papers are some of the most popular papers available today. They come in a variety of sizes and colors, and are very easy to use.
RAW papers are ideal for beginners because they don’t require any special equipment, and they are extremely durable.
You can purchase pre-rolled papers if you desire: this will make the process easier if you have never rolled a joint before. You can get pre-rolled RAW papers, as well as other brands.
Another thing to consider is what flavor you want for your joint. If you’re cool with smoking a normal paper, then you can skip over this part, but there are flavored papers out there that will make your joints taste like bubblegum, cherries, and even chocolate.
The most popular flavored papers available for purchase are, without doubt, Juicy Jays. They’ve got hundreds of flavors to pick from, and they can all make your joint taste amazing.
So, now that you are fully prepared, let’s get into the 7 steps to follow to roll your own joint.
Let’s go.
Step 1: Grind The Weed Up
The first thing you’re going to want to do is grind up your weed. There are many ways to do this, but the easiest and, by far, most effective way is by using a grinder.
Most grinders have three compartments:
The top compartment, under the lid, in which you place the buds inside.
The middle compartment, where the ground up weed is collected.
The bottom compartment, where the keef/dust is collected.
So you’re going to want to pull the lid off, and place the buds in the top compartment. You will notice that there are small ‘teeth’ that will crush the buds when you close the lid.
When you close the lid, rotate it clockwise and anti-clockwise, grinding the weed up. Do this for a couple of seconds to make sure that it has completely crushed up.
Following this, twist the grinder open, so you can see inside the middle compartment. You should see a pile of crushed up weed.
Step 2: Roll Up A Filter Paper
Next, you will need to roll up a filter paper (if you don’t already have a pre-rolled filter).
The purpose of a filter paper is to not only filter the smoke as you inhale, but to also give you something to hold while you smoke. Without the filter, you would end up getting joint burns on your fingers.
This part is so simple: take a filter paper, and roll it into a tight spiral shape. Some people like to get creative with their filters, rolling them into different shapes, but for now, focus on rolling it into a spiral.
Once you have finished rolling the joint filter, keep it safe so that you don’t lose it.
Step 3: Add The Weed Into The Paper
If you are using a normal rolling paper, hold it so that the crease is facing downwards, and the paper is held open. The paper is going to act as a container, holding the weed before you roll it.
If you haven’t already done so, open up the grinder’s middle compartment. Carefully scoop the ground up weed out of the grinder, and sprinkle it into the open paper.
Add as much or as little as you like, but, obviously, the more you add, the stronger your high will be.
If you are a complete beginner, don’t worry about adding too much: you can always crush the joint out when you feel like you’ve smoked enough, and save the rest for later.
Just because the joint contains a load of weed, it doesn’t mean you have to smoke it all at once.
If you are using a pre-rolled cone, simply drop the crushed up weed into the opening. Be careful not to drop any – weed isn’t cheap!
Step 4: Tuck The Joint Paper
Depending on whether you have pre-rolled papers or not, this may be the trickiest part of rolling a joint.
It may take a little while to get the hang of rolling a joint. If you have ever rolled a cigarette in the past, it is a similar technique.
Pick up the filled paper with both hands, being careful not to spill any weed. Then, pinch the paper with your two pointer fingers on the back, and your thumbs on the front.
Move the paper in a rolling motion, using your fingers and your thumbs, to roll the contents into a thin line.
Now, this is the tricky part: you need to tuck the paper.
While rolling, when the front part of the paper is at its shortest, use your thumbs to gently tuck it between the weed and the back section of the paper, creating a tube. Once you have tucked it, roll the paper upwards into a tighter tube until the whole thing is rolled up.
You should, at this point, have a rolled up joint. Don’t worry if you can’t do this right away: it takes a little while of practicing to perfect this technique.
The joint should be a cone shape, instead of being long and straight like a cigarette: you want the end of the joint to start off small, and get gradually wider towards the top. Make sure the end is wide enough for you to fit the filter inside.
Some people prefer to roll with the filter already inside, but others prefer to slide it in once they have finished rolling. It’s all about your own preference, and what you find to be easier.
Step 5: Lick And Stick To Seal The Joint
Now that the hard part is out of the way, you have almost finished rolling your very own joint.
All you need to do now is use your tongue to lick along the gum strip across the paper. You don’t need to lick it too much: this will cause the paper to go soggy, and you’ll have to start all over again with a new one.
While holding the joint in shape, gently press the strip down to glue it. At this point, it should hold together on its own. Grab your rolled filter, and gently push it into the opening of the end of your joint. You now have a fully functioning joint that won’t fall apart!
Step 6: Pack The Joint
The last part is the easiest part. Basically, you need to ‘pack’ the joint to make sure that it is firm, rather than the weed being too loose inside.
Take your pencil, straw, or whatever long, thin item you have, and gently push it down inside the top of the joint, pushing all the contents down.
If you push too hard, the filter will pop out, so do it slowly and carefully.
Ideally, you want there to be an empty gap of about 1 cm at the top of your joint. Once that has been achieved, twist the paper around the empty gap at the top, sealing the weed inside.
Step 7: Light It Up
Congratulations!
You are now ready to light up your very own, homemade joint.
Final Thoughts
So, that was our step-by-step guide to rolling your own joint.
It may seem pretty daunting at first, but we assure you that it isn’t as difficult as it seems. It just takes practice. And, most importantly, patience. The more you practice, the better you’ll become.
We hope this guide helped you to learn how to roll a joint.
My name is David Lumis and I am a self-proclaimed smoker. Five years ago, after I had been made redundant from my job as an engineer, my anxiety hit an all time peak. I have always struggled with it since I was a teenager, but that life event sent me into overdrive.
My story is exactly why I want to educate more people about cannabis and show them that it isn’t a dirty drug, but a form of medicine. If you are struggling, I urge you to read through this site to see how cannabis can help you.
