Contributor: Missy Matheny
Joints are one of the most common ways to smoke marijuana. They can be one of the better ways to get the full flavor of the cannabis when smoking. Being able to roll a good joint can transform a person into a valuable member of a smoking circle. Not everyone can roll a good joint, and being able to bust out a lovely jay, that is evenly wrapped, and smokes smoothly, without running, is a good skill that every cannabis user should have.
Step-By-Step Breakdown On How To Roll A Joint
Let’s Get Started
There are only two main components required for a joint. Papers and marijuana. When rolling a joint, a person needs to decide if they are going to roll a straight even joint, or a cone-shaped joint. Cone-shaped joints are more likely to burn evenly, if packed right, but are more difficult to roll.
Papers come in multiple sizes and many different varieties. Most convenience stores will stock basic papers, like the classic Zig Zags. Although Zig Zags are easy to obtain, and are a bit more inexpensive than some other papers, there are a lot more options out there that pair better with smoking cannabis. This really comes down to personal preference and availability.
Now, let’s talk about your marijuana flower. The consistency of the flower is the most important part of a joint. Removing any and all stems before crumbling (or grinding) the cannabis will help ensure there are no holes, or rips, in the paper when rolling. Making sure the buds are taken down as close to a powder as possible will help the jay burn evenly and smoothly. The average joint will hold between half a gram to one gram of flower.
There are optional pieces of equipment that can be used to make the rolling of the joint easier, and they can even make the joint more pleasurable to smoke.
The first thing is a grinder. Grinders come in many sizes, and can be purchased at most smoke shops, but a small one is more than adequate to grind up the herb to a semi fine powder. The finer the herb is ground up, the easier it will be to roll into the paper. Marijuana can be broken up without a grinder, and depending how crispy the buds are, some cannabis nugs can be crumbled easily with just your fingers. Some cannabis requires a bit more effort, and a grinder can be nice to have.
Next thing is a tray. Having a small tray to put the ground up herb on can make maneuvering the bud into the paper much easier. Plus, any ground up flower that falls during the process can be easily caught by this tray. Things like a piece of paper, or a plate, will work, but purchasing a little tray to handle the buds, especially if you roll a lot of joints, is a good investment.
Crutches. These are another optional piece of equipment that you could use during the rolling of your joint.
Crutches are usually little pieces of cardboard, folded like a filter, and put at one end of the joint. They can be purchased in little books that are pre-sized and perforated to easily tear apart and fold. When using these, the first fold should be a W shape, then rolled into a cylinder, making sure there are no wide gaps, allowing that air to flow freely through.
Crutches serve several purposes. First, they stop most of the little pieces of bud from hitting the smoker’s mouth. Second, they serve as a mouthpiece that is more solid and stable. And finally, they make it easier to smoke the whole joint without wasting any herb.
Pro tip: crutches can be made from any small piece of thin cardboard.
A pen or something similarly shaped is useful during the rolling process, as well. This is used to help pack the ground up marijuana into the paper as best you can. It is especially useful when getting pre-shaped coned papers.
Finally, you should think about investing in a roller.
Rollers were originally designed for homemade cigarettes, but they can be useful for rolling a joint, as well. Although some old school smokers might poke fun at someone using a roller, as being able to roll by hand is very useful. However, using a roller can make a joint come out perfectly without much effort.
Pro tip: A dollar bill can work the same as a roller in a pinch.
Let’s Roll
Now that we have our cannabis that’s been turned into a fine shake, and our papers, let’s roll a joint.
Use one hand to hold the paper. Then, with the other hand, load the paper with the crutch (if using one), and the ground-up cannabis. Once the paper is loaded, pinch the paper between the fingers, and roll and pack the joint into its final shape.
Make sure the unglued end of the paper is on the bottom, and tuck it under the glued side of the paper. Once the paper is wrapped around the cannabis, apply a little moisture to the glued edge. A light tongue lick is the most common way to do this. Then, simply secure the glued edge to the rest of the paper.
If rolling a cone-shaped joint, load more at the tip of the joint, and less at the end. Take time to form the shape of the joint. These joints take more practice to perfect than the classic joint, so don’t get frustrated.
Pro tips: Using a crutch will make cone-shaped joints easier to form and roll. Also, buying pre-shaped cone papers, that ground-up cannabis can be packed into, is a good option.
If using a roller, put the crutch at one end (if using one), then load the ground-up cannabis into the roller. Fold the roller together, and roll the cannabis to make sure it’s evenly distributed. Secure the roller with one hand, and load the paper, making sure to put the unglued end into the roller. Use the roller to pull the paper around the cannabis, leaving the glued end sticking out slightly. Apply moisture to the glued end, and roll the paper the rest of the way into the roller.
Pro tip: turn the roller a few times after the paper is all the way in to help seal up the edges.
Once the joint is rolled, take the pen (or similar object of that nature), and pack the marijuana gently into the joint. More shake can be added at this time, if needed. Be careful not to over pack the joint, however, as it can make the joint burn unevenly, or make it harder to smoke. Leaving a little space at the tip, and then adding a little twist to the leftover paper, can make the joint easier to light, and it helps secure the herb from falling out of the joint, if it isn’t going to be smoked right away.
Enjoy!
Light the tip of the paper, and breathe in the accomplishment of rolling a quality joint.
It doesn’t matter if a roller was used, or if you did this by hand. It also doesn’t matter if it’s shaped like a cone, or if it’s super traditional-looking. Joints offer a very classic way to smoke cannabis, and it’s one of the most beloved smoking mediums in the cannabis community. With only papers and cannabis needed to enjoy marijuana with a joint, it’s a very economical way to smoke flower. And, although there are many options when it comes to marijuana mediums in this modern age, nothing compares to a joint.
Don’t Get Discouraged
Rolling a good joint takes practice. When trying to tackle rolling for the first time, take it slow, and don’t get upset if a few papers get ruined in the first couple tries. Some people seem born with the ability to roll amazing joints, but even the masters had to practice at one time. Once the art of rolling a basic joint is mastered, the world of possibilities is endless. Social media has lots of pictures of joints shaped like animals, spaceships, and much more. So, why not take it to the next level, and make a smokable piece of art? Sounds pretty cool, if you ask me.
Happy rolling, my fellow cannabis enthusiasts!
