How to Roll a Joint

The ability to roll a joint is a vital skill for any cannabis smoker. Perhaps that’s why many seasoned consumers make it look so easy. But don’t be discouraged by their practice! Learning to roll a joint can be tricky. Whether you’re fine-tuning your skills or trying for the first time, Fire & Flower is here to help you roll tight, well-burning joints every time.

How to Roll a Joint

Below are step-by-step instructions on how to roll a joint, including common accessories you will need, and tips and tricks to keep your joints on point.

Items You Will Need                                       

In this guide, we will roll a straight 1¼ inch joint containing about ½ gram of ground cannabis. To achieve this, we will use:

• ½ gram cannabis flower
• Herb grinder
• 1¼ inch rolling papers
• Crutch or filter
• Lighter

Step 1: Grind the Herb

Begin by grinding the cannabis flower into shreds by using an herb grinder. Herb grinders are easy to use, effective, and many of them have a kief trap at the bottom for collecting dry sift hash that would otherwise stick to your fingers. You can also opt for pre-ground flower. 

STONER TIP: If you don’t have a grinder yet, try using scissors and a shot glass. Drop a nug or two into the shot glass, then dip the tip of the scissors in and begin snipping. As the cannabis continually falls to the bottom of the glass, it will be continually cut by the scissors until it’s fine enough to roll with. If necessary, cannabis can also be pulled apart by hand, but it can be a sticky, inefficient process.

Step 2: Roll a Crutch

A crutch appears similar to a cigarette filter, and prevents any cannabis from getting in your mouth. Crutches are simple strips of sturdy paper which are bent and rolled into shape. You can purchase tips from a smoke shop or dispensary. If you don’t have any on hand, you can cut one from other scraps of paper like a business card or cereal box flap. 

Roll your crutch by folding one end of the strip back and forth a few times like an accordian, then roll the rest of the strip around those folds until the crutch is as thick as you prefer.

STONER TIP: Crutches are not necessary, but they help give joints structure and serve as a safe place to hold the joint, preventing you from having to burn a joint down to your fingertips.

Step 3: Fill the Paper

Rolling papers typically come folded with a firm crease down the length side and a strip of glue along one edge. 

Hold the rolling paper like a long boat with the strip of glue facing up and toward you. Place the crutch at one end and hold it in place, then use your other hand to fill the paper with ground cannabis.

STONER TIP: Let the crutch stick out a little from the paper. When you’ve finished rolling, the crutch can then be pushed tightly into place to help pack the joint.

Step 4: Roll it Up

This is the tricky part, and it’s such a unique motion that nobody starts out mastering it, but it will get easier with practice. 

Once the rolling paper is loaded, pinch it from beneath with both hands and gently roll the paper between your thumbs and forefingers. The goal is to spread the cannabis evenly throughout the joint so it rolls, and burns, evenly.  A little may spill out one end if it’s too full, but that’s normal.

Starting at the crutch, tuck one corner of the rolling paper over and follow the seam from there. Ideally, the crutch will help pinch the corner in place and guide the rest of the paper in place as you roll it. 

STONER TIP: As the cannabis is rolled into place, the buds will loosely stick to one another to form a cylindrical shape. To tell if the cannabis is packed and ready to roll, set the rolling paper down and see if it holds its shape. If the fluffy cannabis collapses, keep rolling it between your thumb and forefinger until it’s molded into shape.

Step 5: Seal It

Roll the joint up until only the glue strip is left facing you. The glue is pretty effective, so only a light touch is needed with your tongue to seal it like an envelope. In fact, slobbering on the joint may leave the paper too wet to light or burn evenly.

Step 6: Pack It

Once the joint is rolled and stable, there may still be loose cannabis falling from the open end. Pack this down with any utensil handy, like a dab tool or a pen. 

If you left the crutch hanging out slightly, that should be pushed in to further pack the joint. The point of packing it is to assure a tight and even distribution of flower so the joint burns evenly.

Unpacked joints are more likely to spill cannabis, burn out, and burn unevenly in a nuisance known as “canoeing.”

Finishing Touches

Most joints are finished off by simply twisting shut the open end, thus sealing them and providing a small wick to light later. A flame can also be run softly along the joint to dry any residual moisture or saliva.

If you choose to roll a cone joint, then you can help assure an even burn by “crowning” the joint. This involves twisting the joint closed like usual, but then crimping a crease around the end so it almost appears flat. When a flame is brushed lightly over this crease, it will burn and separate the center of the paper, which falls off like a little cap. The resulting joint then has a flat surface which is more conducive to burning evenly.

The Wrap Up

The joint described here will come out straight and narrow like a cigarette. These are sometimes called “pinners,” as opposed to asymmetrical cone joints. To roll a cone joint, return to step 3, “Fill the Paper.” When holding the rolling paper, slightly twist it so the corners are not parallel with each other. Keeping the corners parallel will keep the joint straight, but twisting the corners out of alignment will create a smaller hole at one end, and a larger hole at the other.

If you just need some joints rolled right and quick, a simple joint rolling machine can be picked up from any smoke shop for less than $10. Or check out our pre-rolls for ultra convenience. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is There an Easy Way to Roll Joints?

The easiest way to roll joints is with a joint roller, or a rolling machine. These simple devices cost less than $10, are simple to use, and roll tight, uniform joints with little effort.

How Do You Roll Good Joints?

Good joint rolling simply comes with practice, like learning a musical instrument. All of the guides give similar information, but each person needs to learn to navigate their own hands and fingers around the material to get better at it. And you can get better at it!

Does Honey Make Joints Burn Slower?

Reportedly. Some consumers claim that a thin layer of honey on or inside a joint will make it burn more slowly, ideally preserving some of the cannabis that would otherwise burn away between puffs.