All it takes is the right technique, a little patience and practice, practice, practice. Let’s start from the beginning (for beginners) and work our way up to the final touches.
Rolling a joint is a skill that many cannabis enthusiasts want to master. A well-rolled joint provides an even burn and a smooth smoking experience. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps to roll a perfect joint, from choosing your materials to sealing it up.
The Weed: Choose your preferred strain, ensuring it's well-ground for an even burn.
Rolling papers: Select from various materials such as rice, hemp, or wood pulp papers, depending on your preferences.
Filter or crutch: A small piece of cardstock or a premade filter to create a barrier between your lips and the cannabis.
Grinder: A tool to break down your cannabis into a fine, even consistency. A pen or similar cylindrical object: To help with shaping the joint.
First, buy some rolling papers. Wood pulp paper is strong and easy to practice with, but burns quickly and tastes less than great. Hemp’s a good go-to, and burns smooth with a sweet, slightly musky flavor. Rice paper is the best way to roll a joint. It’s relatively tasteless—so you get to savor your strain—but can be delicate and difficult to use.
Use a grinder to break down your cannabis into a fine, even consistency. This will ensure an even burn and make rolling easier.
Cut a small strip of cardstock (about 1/2" x 1") and fold it accordion-style a few times. Then, roll the rest of the cardstock around the folds to create a cylindrical shape. This will be your filter or crutch, which keeps the weed from falling out of the joint and prevents your lips from getting burnt.
Then open your rolling papers, remove just one. Hold a rolling paper with the sticky side facing you and the fold at the bottom. Place the filter on one end of the paper.
Evenly distribute the ground weed across the rolling paper, leaving a small space near the filter. The amount of weed used depends on your personal preference and the size of the paper but we recommend using more green than you’ll need (so when the extra falls out, your joint is still packed evenly).
Pinch the paper between your thumbs and index fingers, using the filter as a guide. Gently roll the paper back and forth to pack the cannabis and form a cylindrical shape.
Once the weed is shaped, tuck the unglued side of the paper under the weed and the filter. Roll the paper upwards, sealing the joint around the filter. Lick the sticky side of the paper and press it down to seal the joint.
Using a pen or similar cylindrical object, gently pack the weed at the open end of the joint to ensure an even burn. Run your fingers over the J a few times to make sure the glue sticks. Twist the excess paper at the end to seal it off.