Rolling a joint is quite an art. It may seem relatively simple, but it’s not. In fact, many cannabis users lack the essential stoner skills to do it right and tend to look for a helpful hand to have their joints rolled. To stop bothering friends and start being self-sufficient, you’ll have to take a look at the amazing step-by-step guide we’ve prepared for rolling the perfect joint.
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In this noble art too, there’s more than one way to skin a cat. However, there’s a number of factors both veterans and newbies should be aware of when rolling up a joint.
How to roll the perfect joint
While the most seasoned stoners have their own arsenal of techniques and tricks perfected throughout the years, those who are new to this fascinating world will surely appreciate some tips to learn how to roll a joint that burns smoothly and evenly.
For starters, you’ll need to have some good-quality joint rolling papers. There are many different types and brands, like OCB or RAW. It's just a matter of taste, so as you get more practice, you'll quickly find your favourite one. Many experts recommend using King-sized papers (of around 100 x 55 m) since they can be easily cut out to the size you need. The most common thing, though, especially for first-timers, is to pick a regular-sized 70 mm long x 34 mm wide paper. Just like any ordinary cigarette.
But not only that. You may also need a filter (also known as crutch or tip) to smoke your weed without having to touch it directly with your lips. Here too, there’s a wide range of options available that may vary depending on the size of the paper as well as on the quality needed. Plus it makes joint-rolling way easier.
What kind of weed do I need?
Now all we have to do is get some superior weed. Before even starting to fold the paper in half, you must prepare the bud either by breaking it down with your fingers or with the help of a grinder - the choice is yours. If you're willing to feel the texture of the weed you’re about to smoke and just love the sweet aroma that remains in your hands after crushing and twisting it, you won’t need any tool. For beginners, though, grinders could make a great difference as they guarantee the bud is finely ground up with no big chunks of any kind. You can find many different types of quality grinders on the market, of various materials and prices.
A quick note: some smokers like to add a small bit of tobacco to their joints. It’s merely an option, although tokers don’t really recommend it as they claim it to alter the original taste and effect of the strain being smoked.
Once the weed is ready, it’s time to roll up our sleeves. Make sure the glued edge of the paper is facing you to avoid any last-minute problems. Now, if you’ve decided to grind up your weed using your hands, you’ll have to cover it with the paper facing your feet and flip it all over ‘till the glued strip is facing you again. If you’ve used a grinder instead, you’ll only have to place your prepared weed in your paper, distributing it in such a way that there’s an empty space on one end (on the right end for right-handers and on the left end for left-handers).
Where does the crutch go?
With extreme delicacy, put the tip on the little space left for it before starting to roll. The filter is used as a fatness guide, so the amount of weed to sprinkle depends on the size of the paper and the type of filter. If too full, the joint risks ending up being too difficult to smoke. That’s why we do not recommend it. If you come up short instead, you may have to keep adding some more weed until you get it right.
Small tip: expert smokers recommend keeping your finders near the filter. The closer they are, the better. This way, you’ll obtain perfect-sized joints with no cannabis falling out.
Distribute the prepared weed evenly moving your fingers back and forth to ensure the edge of the paper crosses over the crutch. Once you're happy with the joint shape, you'll have to slightly moisten the glued strip with some saliva and tuck it in the unglued edge making sure it doesn't fall apart.
Et voilà! Any weed that may have escaped while rolling can be placed inside through the open end. All we’ll have to do once the joint is fully loaded is gently tap the filtered end on a flat surface while holding it tightly from the other end to compact the cannabis in it.
Seal the open by twisting the extra paper until it resembles a birthday candle. Now we’ve got several options. Either cut it off with your teeth or burn it with the lighter. If you happen to opt for the first option, you risk messing it all up as the glued part could be torn off. So we strongly recommend burning the extra paper in the twisted end.
At this point, you’re ready to light your delicious hand-rolled cannabis joint. The key is to follow these instructions accurately, making sure you don’t let your need for weed lead you in the wrong direction and end up taking some bad decisions. Remember: slowly and carefully.