How to Roll a Perfect Joint – HØJ
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How to Roll a Perfect Joint

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Estimated 6-minute read

You won’t always have that gifted friend next to you to help you, and it is better to train those motor skills early and refine the art of rolling a joint. 

One of the most traditional ways to consume cannabis is the joint, and it is a perfect way to appreciate the flower's flavor. That is why any cannabis user should learn how to roll a joint. A premium strain of cannabis smoked in joint form is only fully appreciated when you roll it correctly. 

We know you could buy packs of fancy, top rated pre-rolls, or staying in the comfort zone smoking weed out of a trusty old pipe. Still, rolling joints by hand can’t be replaced, as it is a must in every stoner list. Besides, it is much appreciated when you are in a group smoking session so you get to brag a little about it.

A joint should have a form that allows it to burn uniformly for a smooth smoke, but it takes skill to roll a good one, and this guide will gladly show you how to get the hang of it. We think all joints should burn effortlessly and with consistency. Otherwise you are wasting product, time and money.

How to Roll a Perfect Joint For Beginners

What you will need to roll a perfect joint are pretty basic items that we already expect you to have before you begin. However, we included some alternatives throughout the instructions in case you lack something. Here’s a list of what you’ll need:

  • Grinder (check out our KLIP to make your life easier)
  • Crutch/filter
  • Rolling papers
  • Cannabis strain of your choice
  • Pen or a similarly shaped object to help pack the joint
  • Rolling tray. This is more optional but highly recommended, you’ll see why.

We suggest using about 1/2 gram of cannabis and a regular or 1 1/4 size rolling paper before moving forward to higher levels. For many experienced stoners, this is a decent amount of herb since focusing on the smaller side would make the joint more manageable for rolling when you barely know how to handle the situation. If you're nervous about screwing up your first attempt, do not choose some top-rated flower. Better to be honest with yourself and grab some mid-range flower the first time. You can upgrade your joint with king size papers and full-gram joints as you get good at rolling and your smoking circle grows.

Step 1: Grind your cannabis

In addition to purchasing the correct rolling papers, the most important thing you can do is to bring your flower to the correct consistency. If you want the final product to burn uniformly, you want your ground-up herb to be crispy and with no stems on the way. Place one nug in the grinder’s chamber and twist 10-12 times, or until you can twist without a lot of resistance. 

Note: You can help this process by breaking the nug into smaller pieces before dropping it in the grinder.

If your cannabis is well-dried, it should break down fast. A grinder prevents the hand from getting sticky and therefore sticking to the joint paper later when you roll it up. You might as well grind the nugs down by hand, using scissors, or a wide range of other breakdown methods if you don't have a grinder.

When you have a three chamber grinder, you will notice that there’s some powder at the bottom chamber. This is called kief, and it's full with THC, so do not get rid of it because you can take advantage of this and either sprinkle it on top of a packed bowl or add it back to your joint for an extra punch.

Step 2: Get a crutch 

Also known as a tip or filter, you can make a crutch out of almost anything, but thin cardboard or business cards are effective options. It is not mandatory to buy them, but they are definitely easier to roll than random ripped-up pieces. What’s better is that lately, some packages of rolling paper include these filters.

Start at the end of the cardboard with a few zig-zag folds, imitating an accordion shape, then roll the material. The width and length of the cardboard piece is cut considering your joint's desired thickness. The crutch is not completely necessary, but when you smoke, it helps to prevent the shake from dropping out of the end or into your mouth. It also gives some stability to the joint and allows you to enjoy every little bit of cannabis without burning your fingertips and lips.

Once again, be mindful of the fact that how thin or thick you roll the filter will decide the size of your joint, so prepare accordingly.

Step 3: Fill the paper up

First, pick the rolling paper of your preference. Joint papers come in different types and flavors. Hemp papers, such as HAMP are recommended because they appear to be thin yet solid, and burn evenly without affecting your weed's quality.

Now, to collect excess marijuana, put a new sheet of rolling paper on a tray, board, plate or magazine. Take your rolling paper out and hold it so that your feet are facing the glue side and the fold is facing you. Gently fold the paper in the shape of an inverted ‘U’ and roll it between your fingers until it stays still with the form you need.

With one hand, put some of that freshly ground herb along the crease, spreading it in such a way that there is less at the end where the crutch would be. You are aiming  to end up with a cone-shaped joint, similar to a baseball bat. Straight joints are easier to roll, so this is okay with the first attempts. In the end, a cone-shaped joint can provide a form for smoother smoke.

Step 4: Roll  your joint

The moment of the truth has come. The trick to roll a perfect joint is to grasp with your thumbs and forefingers the filled paper at both ends, pinch the tips of the paper, and rub your fingers together in an up-and-down movement from left to right.

Insert the filter tip you folded into one end of the paper before and get to rolling. Here you can also use our convenient rolling tray to make the situation simpler.

If you efficiently position the flower the same width as the filter into a tight little log, you are ready to tuck the unglued side of the paper around the filter and roll. A good thing to do is to focus on keeping the paper tight around the filter as it is a great guide to follow the rest of the joint. Because this part takes patience and finesse, don't expect to get it right the first time.


Step 5: Lick, pack and twist.

It is time to seal and close your joint. Continue to roll between your fingers until the paper is firmly squeezed. When the paper is completely tacked down, you can proceed to slightly moisture and sealing the joint to the end by licking the glued side. You wouldn't want to seal it too tight, because it is going to be really hard to smoke and get the desired effect. However, if it is rolled too loose, it can burn irregularly or too fast.

To help ensure an even burn, pack the end of the joint. Use a pencil, marker, or similar shaped object to pack the flower in after you tap the filter against a hard surface to help the flower settle in. A pen is fine, but there are a lot of objects you can use. Additionally, the bits that fell on the tray can be put inside the joint again while you’re packing.

Finally, to hold everything in place, twist the excess paper at the top of your joint so it resembles a candle wick. If you are not going to smoke it right away, you can keep your joint stored away like that. Once you find the right time to smoke, your point of light will be the twisted end. 

You are now the proud owner of a perfect joint. 

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