How to Roll a Joint

Do you want to know how to roll that perfect joint? The way you roll a joint will affect the smoking quality. If you don't roll properly, the marijuana cigarette can run, burn too quickly, or not burn at all. Rolling is not necessarily intuitive, either. It is extremely easy to tear the paper or have the whole thing fall apart in your hands. To learn the proper technique, read through this guide on how to roll a joint and get the most out of your pot.

Joints are among the most economical methods of smoking weed, as `there is no expensive equipment to buy, such as a pipe or a water bong. All you need is your pot, a lighter and rolling papers, which usually only cost about a buck or two. However, rolling a joint is also far trickier than just stuffing your buds into the bowl of a pipe or bong, and you will likely need to practice quite a bit before you have mastered the art. If you have never rolled before, be sure to have plenty of papers on hand, as you are probably going to go through quite a few before you will finally achieve a smokeable result!

All you really need are some rolling papers and marijuana buds. However, it is also helpful to get a weed grinder or a small coffee grinder. The better ground your pot is, the easier it will be to roll and smoke. Also, make sure that you remove all stems and seed from your weed before you get started. Seeds and stems do not contain enough THC to induce a high feeling, and some people even report getting a headache when smoking them. In addition, getting a stem or seed rolled into your joint can create a clogging effect, as they do not burn at the same rate as the buds. This can make your joint virtually unsmokable.

Some people like to use rollers to get a perfect, cigarette-like joint. These rollers can be nice, but they are not necessary. You can roll a great joint by hand if you just take some care.

1. Break up your buds finely (using a grinder if you have one)
2. Unfold and lay it down your rolling paper with the glue side on top, facing you
3. Sprinkle marijuana evenly across the center fold, until you have a layer 1/4-1/2 inch thick
4. Pick up the paper, keeping the marijuana in the center fold
5. Use your thumbs to roll the marijuana downward, until it is cradled tightly (but not too tightly) at the bottom of the paper
6. Tuck the edges of the paper over the roll with your forefingers to keep it in place
7. Tightly wrap the paper around the roll at the bottom until you are left with just the glued tip of the paper sticking out
8. Lick the glue
9. Seal

Your first joint probably won't be perfect. That's okay-- it will take some practice to produce the results that you want. It may take you three or four, or even a dozen tries before you are able to successfully roll a joint that you can smoke with ease. Have patience, and keep trying until you get it right!

Once you have the technique down, you can begin experimenting with rolling different sized joints, and even learn to get creative by rolling with two papers, or even more! You can also try out different kinds of papers to see which ones will produce the best results. There are various novelty papers available at many head shops or even convenience stores. These include papers in flavors such as apple or cherry, and papers made out of a plastic-like material instead of standard paper.

Marijuana is still illegal under federal law, although it is legalized for medical use in fourteen states. The content in this page is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical or legal advice. Please do not think that just because it is legal in your state that you can freely smoke. You must have a medical card that allows you to smoke marijuana.