Maria LoretoIn partnership with The Fresh Toast
Joints are a basic part of the marijuana experience. Here’s how you can learn how to roll one like a pro.
Joints are marijuana’s bread and butter. They’re convenient and easy, only requiring some weed, a filter and rolling paper. Any kind of seasoned weed user has smoked a joint at some point in their life. Still, a good joint isn’t easy to roll if you don’t have the right tools or the dexterity, which only comes with tons of practice.
A decent joint should have some sort of filter and should burn evenly, ensuring that it’s a pleasant experience where no weed goes to waste. Here’s how to get started on your quest to rolling a perfect joint:
Gather your tools
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Before you start, get all of your tools in a space that’s clean with no dust or clutter. Put your grinder, rolling papers, filters and a pen nearby, and designate a small section of space for your rolling. A small tray or a clean book cover will do the trick.
Start off small
If you’re rolling your first joint, be sure to purchase normal sized rolling papers and grab a small amount of marijuana. Half a gram or a couple of pinches should be enough; it’s better for your joint to be small and well distributed than something that’s too big and breaks down mid-smoke.
Get to work
Grind down your cannabis and place it somewhere accessible, so when you’re packing the joint you won’t run out of hands. Place a filter at one end of the rolling paper, making a cone shape so that it doesn’t fall out. You can buy filters or make them from scratch by folding a piece of cardboard or a business card. A filter is important since it gives you some stability and prevents you from burning your fingers once you’ve smoked down the joint.
Add pinches of weed to your rolling paper, distributing it evenly with your finger. Pick up any bits of weed that fall off into the tray or book cover underneath you and put them back in the joint.
Start rolling
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Lastly, start rolling the joint; this step takes some practice but the best way to do it is to pinch the paper between your fingertips and roll it back and forth until it gets its joint shape. Tuck the unglued part of the paper into the roll and lick the edge that has glue, pasting it to the roll. (Make sure to moisten all the glue you can so that your joint stays glued throughout your smoke session.) Use a pen to pack the open end of the joint, pressing it gently in. Twirl that tip of the joint and you’re ready to go.
Other options
Rolling joints is a skill, one that a lot of people might not have the patience for. Luckily, in this day and age there’s no need for everyone to be an expert joint roller. You can purchase pre-rolled joints or buy a cigarette roller, which does all the hard work for you and allows you to smoke homemade joints if that’s what you’re into.
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