How to roll a joint: The easiest guide

Rolling a joint is probably the easiest way to smoke weed (especially if you are going out), as everything you need will fit into your pocket. There are no bulky devices like pipes or bongs, and it’s definitely one of the most popular smoking methods. For context, an average smoker in Washington indulges in 123 joints annually. Can you imagine how many of them are smoked all over the country?

It may seem hard to roll a perfect piece when you are a newbie. You may make it too loose or curvy or put too much weed inside. To help you roll like a pro, we’ve created this step-by-step guide on how to roll up a joint. Keep it at hand when practicing.

What you need to roll a joint

The first thing to do is make sure you have all the proper essentials. You’ll need:

• Weed. You can’t even try to roll a joint if you have nothing to put inside. Opt for premium buds for the best experience.
• Grinder. Some people prefer crumbling up their weed with scissors or hands, but using a grinder is faster and more convenient, especially for beginners.
• Rolling paper. There are several kinds of rolling paper. Some are thinner than others, some are flavored, and there is even a tree-free option for those who care about the environment. Don’t use the printing paper or a foil you take out of a chocolate bar, as this can be harmful.
• Crutch\filter. This extra addition will enhance the flow of the air during a smoking session and protect your mouth from heat or the unwanted taste of weed.
• Pen. With a pen or a pen-shaped object, you have more chances to get evenly stuffed weed.
• Rolling machine (optionally). It can speed up the rolling process and save a bit of your time.

Can’t wait to get into action?

How to roll a good joint in 5 steps

The classic way of rolling is doing that with your hands. Using a machine might be easier for beginners, but it requires an additional investment. On top of that, there may be times when you don’t have the machine with you but still want to smoke. So, we’ll start with hand-rolling to prepare you for any conditions.

Step 1. Grind your buds

The first rule of a decent joint is to have your stuff nice and ground. You can always do it with your hands, but this will make them sticky (and smelly), so you’ll have to wash and dry them before rolling. Otherwise, you’ll get stuck to the paper. To avoid that, you can use scissors or buy a pack of pre-ground cannabis.

Step 2. Make a filter

It’s quite possible to prepare a nice joint with no filter at all, but you’ll have to be careful so the weed doesn’t fall out. Besides, you’ll probably end up with small pieces of cannabis in your mouth after taking a hit. A filter (or crutch) is basically a tiny piece of rolled cardboard. You can make it out of a business card or a rolling paper package if there is no specific filter material at hand.

Step 3. Fill it in

Now, it’s time to put your weed into the joint. Attach a filter on the side of a paper and evenly distribute your cannabis. Half a gram or a gram will work, depending on how thick you want your joint to be and the sensations you’re eager to get. By the way, smoking a joint will make you less high than a bong session.

Step 4. Keep rolling

Place the paper between your fingers and roll it back and forward to fill and shape the joint. Make sure the unglued side of the paper is the upper one. Start rolling from the unglued side and have it sealed when you roll up to the glued one. 

You’ll need a bit of moisture to get it done. Wondering how to roll a cannabis joint if you can’t access water? The easiest way is to lick it slightly.

Step 5. The finishing touch

Pack your weed using a pen, a small stick, or anything that comes to your mind to make sure your joint can be burnt evenly. If you want to put it aside and smoke it later, twist a tip so nothing falls out.

How to roll a joint with a rolling machine

If all these manual steps seem too difficult or you just want to have it the easiest way, you can use a rolling machine that will do the job for you:

1. Open the rollers and put the amount of cannabis you want to have in your joint and a filter on the side. It’s hard to do without some weed falling out, so you’d better do it over a piece of paper.
2. Close the rollers and move them toward yourself.
3. Place the rolling paper between the rollers, with the glued side toward yourself.
4. Once again, roll the rollers until you have just the glued piece outside. Lick it and keep rolling to finish your joint.
5. Open the rollers and grab your ready-to-enjoy piece.

Other ways to roll a joint

Rolling with your hands and using a rolling machine are the basic ways to create your smokable, but not the only ones. To make it even easier, you can snap up pre-rolled cones that you’ll only have to pack with weed.

If you have nothing but weed with you, you can always make a joint out of a cigarette. How to properly roll a joint in this case? Take the tobacco out of the cig (tweezers will do the trick, but rolling a cigarette between your fingers can work, too), refill it with cannabis, and twist the tip.

Once you become a rolling pro, you can start experimenting with shapes and materials and create double or even cross-shaped joints to impress your friends with some rolling magic. But the main thing here is to learn the basics and, of course, enjoy the process.