Among the many methods of marijuana consumption, joints are arguably the most popular among users, and for good reason. Joints are portable and easy to carry around, and you'll have no problem staying discreet while catching a buzz with them because they look just like normal cigarettes. Some people also prefer them over vapes and bongs because there’s only a few items you need to start rolling the perfect cone, plus there are no bulky bong accessories to handle and maintain.
Whether you have yet to roll your first joint or you simply want to step up your skills in this area, there’s a lot you can pick up from this article. We will go over the best papers for weed, their burning speed, and how they can affect the aroma of your weed! Let’s get started.
The Art Of Rolling A Joint
Some people just enjoy the ritual of rolling their own joints. While there are rolling machines, most joint smokers like doing it by hand the old fashioned way. They've spent years perfecting their rolling technique, and set great store in how they do it. Rolling a joint with perfectly ground weed means that it can't be too tight or too loose. If the joint is rolled too tightly, not enough air gets through, so it's harder to smoke, and may go out or not burn at all. If it's rolled too loosely, the joint will burn too quickly, canoe, and waste the weed. When you take the trouble to make sure your weed is stored safely, the last thing you want is to waste it by rolling a crappy joint. Next is the question of what kind of papers to use. Many people have a favorite brand, while others may experiment with different brands to see if there are differences in flavor and burn. The most important aspect of a joint is the quality of weed, but paper plays an important part too Before you place you weed in your paper, break up your buds will your fingers, scissors, or a grinder. You never want to grind your weed into powder. You want your weed to burn slowly and evenly. When it's ground to a proper consistency, it makes it much easier to roll a joint that is perfectly round and sized evenly from end to end.
What are rolling papers?
Rolling papers, also called blanks, cigarette papers, and joint paper, are sheets of thin paper commonly made from rice straw, wood pulp, flax, and hemp-based papers which offer the advantage of being thicker and easier to roll compared to other materials. The type of material used for making blanks matters because it can influence the aroma and burning speed of your weed - both of which directly impact the overall quality of your smoking experience.
Rolling papers are available in a variety of sizes, from king size to single wide papers that are capable of holding enough cannabis flower to fit your needs. You’ll also have the choice between flavored and unflavored joint paper. With flavored ones, there’s a unique aroma that will complement your flower. Unflavored papers are great too because you get to enjoy the natural taste of your weed.
How Are Rolling Papers Made?
Smoking rolling papers are quite different from writing papers in that they're typically made of non-wood fibers, whereas the paper you use for writing is almost always made from wood. Rolling papers are produced by extracting fiber from non-wood plants like hemp, sisal, flax, and rice straw. The fibers are then processed into a thin and lightweight paper that is ideal for the slow burn that many users enjoy.
During this process, the papers may be treated with chemicals such as calcium carbonate which allows your smoke to stay lit for longer. Dyes, chlorine bleach and titanium oxide are also combined into the joint paper to bring unique colors and flavors into the mix.
The reason why non-wood fibers are the go-to raw materials for blanks is because they're slow in igniting and burning, so you're able to relish in your joint for longer.
Bleach vs Unbleached
As you can imagine, bleached and unbleached rolling papers differ in color. Bleached papers are white, while unbleached ones have a natural light brown color from the material used. Rolling papers are bleached to remove this brown color and to make them lighter using bleaching agents like calcium carbonate and chlorine.
Because it involves harmful chemicals, the process of bleaching rolling papers can be harmful both to the user and to the environment. The good news is that you can still use bleached rolling papers as long as they're the ones that went through the oxygenation process and skipped the use of harsh chemicals like chlorine or bleach.
Joint papers produced in this manner have no residual chemicals and are therefore safe to smoke through. Still, many in the stoner circle prefer the unbleached type as it's thought to be better for your health.
Various Types of Weed Rolling Papers
Picking the right strain and having the perfect rolling paper on hand are just some of the things that make for a satisfying smoke session. If you've been toking for a while, then you probably already have a favorite strain, so the next thing you need to be familiar with are the wealth of choices you have when it comes to rolling papers.
Flax Rolling Papers
If you choose to use papers made from flax, you probably won't be getting a lot of the chemicals that can be used in making other types of rolling papers. People like using flax papers because they're smooth and silky feeling, easy to roll with, and they don't give your weed any added flavor.
Rice Rolling Papers
Compressed rice is used to make rice rolling papers. Some manufacturers of rice papers use natural ingredients, while others use additives. If you don't like the idea of chemicals in your rolling papers, opt for chemical-free. Rice rolling papers are popular because they don't flavor your weed, and they burn smoothly. However, they burn quickly and they are not easy to roll with for beginners. It's best to roll smaller joints with rice papers so you don't waste your weed.
Hemp Rolling Papers
These days, many people are concerned about environmental issues and they like the idea of using rolling papers made from hemp, which is part of the cannabis family. Hemp papers are great for beginners because they are easy to roll with. They also burn slow, which means you won't waste weed. The one drawback of hemp paper can be the taste. Some people don't mind the flavor, while others don't like it.
Blunt Wraps
A blunt is made by rolling your cannabis in a tobacco leaf. Some people that like blunts feel they can get a nicotine buzz along with the weed buzz. If you decide to try blunt wraps, be prepared because they can be harsh to smoke. Blunt wraps can be purchased in flavored and unflavored options.
Clear Rolling Papers
Clear rolling papers are fairly new to the market, and in recent years they have become quite popular among weed smokers. Many people think it's a cool feature to be able to see the weed after they roll a great joint. Even though these clear papers look like they're made from plastic wrap, they are really made from plant-based cellulose. They also don't have many of the chemicals that can be found in other types of rolling papers. One drawback that some don't like is that it is a little difficult to roll with paper that is almost invisible! They can also be hard to use in humid conditions, because they may wrinkle or try to fold over in moist air.
Best-Selling Rolling Papers
Some of the rolling papers listed below have been around for years and are well-known to weed smokers. Other brands listed are newer to the market and are gaining popularity among older weed smokers and younger smokers alike!
Zig-Zag Rolling Papers
Almost anyone that smokes weed will recognize the Zig-Zag brand, which have been around since 1879! They are perhaps the most well-known rolling paper. They are made from flax plant fibers, and they are fairly thin. They might not be the best choice for beginners, but a rolling pro should have no problem using them.
OCB Rolling Papers
The letters OCB stands for Odet-Cascadec-Bolloré. The company was founded in 1918 by René Bolloré. These papers are a little thicker than others and are a great choice for beginners learning to roll. They are slow-burning and don't leave a lot of ash behind. They have been a favorite among weed smokers for many years.
Raw Rolling Papers
Not only do these rolling papers have a distinctive look about them, they are very high quality. They are unbleached, natural skins, and the company is committed to avoiding harsh chemicals. These papers are smooth rolling and tasting, and are run-resistant. The company also helps supply food and water to people all over the world, so that's a good reason to give them a try.
Smoking Rolling Papers
Connoisseurs of weed really like the Smoking rolling paper brand. This brand cares about the environment and it shows in their variety of tree-free selections. These papers are free of additives, and have no chemical coloring. Even though the Smoking brand has been around for almost a hundred years they have continued to improve and offer a product of excellent quality.
Juicy Jay's Flavored Rolling Papers
While flavored rolling papers are not new, Juicy Jay's rolling papers deliver a nice twist with a triple-dipped flavoring process along with their cool artwork paper designs! The last puff will taste as good as the first puff and they have lip-lingering flavor. These papers add a fun element to rolling a joint when you know the paper is great to look at and even better to taste!
Skunk Rolling Papers
If you like using a hemp rolling paper, then Skunk might be your brand. Skunk uses 100 percent hemp for their rolling papers. The Skunk brand was one of the first companies to introduce hemp into the world of rolling papers, starting in Spain in 1995. You will get a nice slow burn that allows you the time to relax and enjoy your joint without the worry of wasting your weed.
Rizla Rolling Papers
The Rizla brand has been in business since the days of Napoleon! That's a very long time. They offer a variety of choices with their color-coded selection. Rizla does not use chemicals that provide a healthier smoke, but they do use additives to make a rolling paper that is practically translucent. The papers are about medium thickness and the Rizla Red and Green are fairly standard. The Rizla Green papers have cut corners that can make rolling easier for some. Rizla Orange papers have a nice licorice flavor and were one of the first flavored papers available.
Rolling Joints VS Blunts
Joints and blunts may look similar, but they are different in terms of size and the paper used to roll each one. Blunts are typically bigger and uses tobacco wrappers that are filled with ground weed. Joints are simpler because they're basically just marijuana rolled into a thin paper.
How to Roll a Joint
To roll a joint, you'll need:
- Cannabis
- Weed grinder
- Rolling papers
- Crutch or filter
Start by grinding your chosen weed strain using the grinder. A grinder not only helps speed up the process of separating the herbs, but also lets you achieve a consistent size for the weed
Next, you will create a crutch, also known as filter, that's used to prevent the ground weed from getting into your mouth while you smoke. To make the crutch, use a thick paper or cardboard and fold the top part of it a few times to create an accordion style fold. Finally, roll the other end of the paper towards the fold you just created. Filter tips can also be bought in store if you wish to skip this step.
Now it's time to load the weed into the rolling paper, and attach the filter on one end of it. Start pinching the paper and rolling it until you form a cone shape that holds the flower tightly in place. Twist the paper at the tip to seal the joint. Once done, you're ready to light the joint and smoke from the filter.
How to Roll a Blunt
Rolling a blunt is quite similar to rolling joints. You only need a few essential items like a grinder, cannabis flower, blunt wrap, and a craft knife.
To get everything ready for your blunt rolling project, start by breaking down your buds either using a grinder or your fingers.
With the herb nicely ground up, you can proceed to preparing your blunt wrap. This can be bought at any dispensary as either flavored or unflavored papers. Or you can simply take a cigarette paper, empty out the content and fill it with ground weed.
Next, moisten your wrap by licking the top half to make it more flexible and easy to handle.
Your next step is to sprinkle the ground herb evenly onto the blunt wrap. Take care not to overstuff so you'll have no trouble wrapping the blunt and sealing it.
Now you're ready to roll the blunt. To do this, grasp the wrapper between your fingers and move it back and forth, shaping the blunt as you go. Then take one end of the wrapper and fold it over your bud. Finally, re-moisten the edge of the wrap that remains to seal your roll-up.
Finally, you can now light up your perfectly wrapped blunt and smoke your way to a pleasant high.