How to roll a joint in 7 easy steps
There are countless opinions on the different ways of rolling one, but whatever you do, make sure your creation burns smoothly and evenly.
How much weed is in a joint?
When starting out, we recommend using a 1/2 gram of weed and normal or 1 1/4 size rolling papers. This is a good amount of weed for a couple people, and starting off on the small side will make rolling the joint more manageable.
For reference, most pre-rolls sold in stores are a full gram, although some come in 2-packs of half-grams.
When you get good at rolling, you can move up to king-sized papers and full-gram joints and widen your smoking circle.
Step by step guide on how to roll a joint
Here’s our simple seven-step guide on the easiest way to roll a classic cone joint, even for beginners.
Start by gathering your rolling supplies:
- Cannabis strain of your choice
- Rolling papers
- Crutch (for the joint tip)
- Cannabis grinder
- Optional: A pen or other thin object to help pack the joint
Step 1: Grind the cannabis
Using a grinder, grind down your cannabis into shake. Grinding weed makes the filling of the joint more consistent, makes rolling easier, and ensures that the joint burns evenly on all sides. A grinder also keeps your hands from sticking to the rolling paper
If your cannabis is dried well, it should break down easily. If you don’t have a grinder, you can break up herb using scissors or your hands.
Step 2: Create crutch or filter
Make a crutch, also called a tip or filter. Start with a few “accordion” folds, then roll the crutch to the desired thickness of your joint.
You can make a crutch out of just about anything, but we recommend filter tips, which are thin yet stiff pieces of paper. Business cards, rolling paper packs, or other thin pieces of cardboard are solid go-tos as well.
A crutch isn’t necessary, but it adds stability to the joint and allows you to enjoy every bit of cannabis without burning your fingertips. It also helps keep shake from falling out of the end or into your mouth as you smoke.
Step 3: Fill the rolling paper with cannabis
Put the crutch at one end of the rolling paper and fill the paper with shake. Once the paper has the right amount—a half-gram to a full gram usually does the trick—you can begin to form and shape the joint with your fingers.
A quick note on papers: There are a lot of different types and flavors of rolling papers available. Many people prefer hemp papers because they tend to be thin but strong and burn evenly without affecting the flavor of your weed, but there are different papers for every smoker.
Step 4: Roll the joint
Once you’ve loaded and shaped your joint, it’s time to roll it. Pinch the paper between your fingertips and roll it back and forth to pack the cannabis into its final cone shape.
Step 5: Seal the joint
This step can make or break the quality of your joint. Tuck the unglued side of the paper into the roll, roll it up, and lick an edge of the glued side to tack down one end of the paper, using just a little bit of moisture.
Pro tip: Start with the crutch side because it can help guide the paper as it rolls around itself.
Once the paper is tacked down on one end, you can work your way down the rest of the seam by tucking and sealing the joint.
Step 6: Pack the joint
Finally, pack the open end of the joint to help ensure an even burn. A pen is great, but you can use just about anything thin.
Some good options if you’re on the go: the tip of your shoelace, the drawstring on your hoodie, or a small stick. If you’re not planning on sparking your joint right away, give the tip a twist to close it up.
Step 7: Enjoy!
There are countless ways to roll a joint. You can roll them big or small. Get creative! Some people have even transformed joint rolling into an art all on its own, rolling their cannabis into a unique mix of functional origami.
Another trick is to use a dollar bill to help roll a joint. Simply fold a dollar bill in half and put your ground weed in it. Roll it back and forth, slip a rolling paper behind it, roll it up, and give it a lick. Easy peasy.
Other joint variants you can try rolling are 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 in t
