HOW TO ROLL A JOINT
There are many ways to consume cannabis and cannabis products, such as inhaling, ingesting and topically applying it. Rolling dried cannabis flower in paper to make a joint and lighting it to be inhaled is the most common. And while it may look complicated, especially for beginners, rolling a joint requires just a few items and a bit of practice.
To roll a joint, you need three things: dried flower, a grinder and rolling paper. The optional filter, or tip, can be created from a small rectangle of cardboard or heavy paper, or you can purchase rolling papers that come with premade tips here.
1. Grind It
Use a good-quality grinder — steel is preferable to plastic — to make your cannabis a uniform consistency to produce an even burn and maintain the flavour. Don’t overfill the grinder, and space out the dried flower so it doesn’t clump up. The ground material should be in small pieces but not powdery.
To shop for grinders, click here.
2. Make a Filter
This step is optional, but a filter prevents the dried flower from escaping into your mouth when you inhale and protects your fingers from being burned. Some rolling papers come with filters or tips, but you can make your own with a small rectangle of heavy paper.
Here’s how: Fold one end into a W shape and then curl the rest of the paper around it, or roll the entire rectangle into a little spiral, whichever you prefer.
A filter is also called a “crutch” or “guide” because it provides a rigid surface to hold onto while tightening the paper around the rolled cannabis.
3. Fill the Rolling Paper
Rolling papers come in lots of different formats (organic, unbleached raw, rice or hemp paper) and sizes (double wide, king or slim). Likewise, joints can be made in many different shapes and sizes, but the standard one is straight, which provides the same amount of dried flower all the way to the end of the cylinder. To fill the paper, first ensure the glue, or shiny, side of the paper is facing up. If you are using a filter, place it at one end of the paper. Fill the paper with the dried cannabis, leaving a little space at the end opposite the filter.
4. Pack the Cannabis
Fold the non-glued long side of the paper up and around the cannabis, and use your thumbs and index fingers to roll it inside the paper until it is well-packed and forms a cylinder. This step makes the whole thing easier to roll and prevents gaps.
Try your best not to press directly on the dried flower as you mould it into the desired shape. You can do this by holding onto the filter and rocking the paper back and forth.
5. Roll it Up
Tuck the non-glued edge around the packed cannabis and roll the paper up tightly to secure the cannabis and filter. Moisten the glue and secure the side. You can also use a small tool like a pen to poke into the open end and tamp down the cannabis so it’s tightly packed. Gently fold and twist the open end closed to prevent any cannabis from escaping.