How To Roll A Blunt

Over the last decade, new methods of consuming cannabis have emerged onto the scene including vaping and dabbing. But one thing that has never changed is the preference to smoke flower in a joint or a blunt. Although both are common, blunts are larger than joints and are rolled in either a flattened tobacco leaf or hollowed-out cigars. Some people look at blunts as an inefficient way to smoke weed (especially when traditionally rolled with tobacco), yet the opposite is true! Blunts can hold larger amounts of cannabis (vs. a joint) and can burn for a lengthy smoke that can be indulged in all at once or over an entire day. Although blunts may seem difficult to roll, it's the same as any skill -- practice makes perfect!

Why Roll A Blunt?

Blunts are a great way to enjoy weed socially, since passing it around a group of friends is an activity reminiscent of sharing a secret hideout with friends as a kid. It's covert, yet communal. Conversely, personal blunts can be a great all day smoke. One blunt will be more than enough for multiple smoke sessions, cutting down on overall prep time, as well as being easy and discreet to travel with.

Rolling a blunt is also quite the relaxing activity that lets one slow down and enjoy interacting with the herb before it's smoked. Akin to cooking dinner, rolling a blunt is all about prep work. There are many different ways to roll a blunt, some of which are more effective and consistent than others. See below for a step-by-step instructions for rolling the perfect blunt.

How Much Weed Do You Need for a Blunt?

To roll a perfect blunt, you will need anywhere between one gram to an eighth of weed -- the more weed, the easier it will be to roll. As we mentioned before, blunts are rolled using a tobacco leaf or emptied cigar, so having less than a gram of marijuana can lead to an overly tobacco-flavored smoke. Always make sure the weed is finely ground before starting to roll.

Having said this, buying a good blunt wrap is essential in the rolling process and will vary with brand and location. Some reliable brands include Backwoods or Swisher, which can all be found at your common gas station or convenience store. If one can find a higher-end cigar and doesn't mind wasting the tobacco, a whole world of exceptional leaves and wraps suddenly open up.

How to Roll the Perfect Blunt

Step 1: Split Your Blunt Wrap

Starting at the cigar's open tip, carefully put a fingernail underneath the tobacco leaf and gently pull it away from the cigar. (Note that after the initial corner lifts up, it should be easier to unwrap the entire leaf.) Place the leaf aside for later. Then using a knife, cut the inner wrap vertically (end to end) to open up the cigar and remove all the tobacco.

Step 2: Add The Weed to Your Desired Level

Next put the weed that you previously ground up into the inner blunt wrap. Fill the wrap, adding the cannabis in a line in the center of the wrap. Ensure that about a 1/2 inch of excess wrap is on either side of the marijuana to allow the leaf to fully close around the weed. Remember, the more weed you use will make rolling as easy as possible -- don't worry, the excess bud will simply fall out onto the rolling tray.

Step 3: Roll it Up

Roll this wrap as if it were a joint, using your thumb and pointer finger to bring the bottom of the wrap gently around the weed. Gently roll the wrap back and forth between the thumb and pointer finger, ensuring that the marijuana is packed tightly together. Making a gentle taper or a straight cylinder are both fine. Don't worry if thicker paper leads to a looser roll, since the outer leaf once wrapped will act to tighten up the entire blunt. This is the secret to rolling a tight blunt!

Step 4: Close the Blunt Wrap

Take the outer leaf and lick the inside leaf surface (or if sharing a blunt, take a finger and dab water very gently on the leaf). Once the inner side of the leaf is moistened, lay the entire leaf wet side up on a rolling tray or flat surface. The leaf will look like a parallelogram, similar to a stretched and angled rectangle. Locate the bottom corner (the same corner used to remove the leaf initially), then place the mouth-end edge of the rolled inner wrap onto it, making sure it's parallel to the narrow edge of the leaf.

Next start rolling the blunt together with the leaf, which will feel similar to rolling a tortilla wrap. It's okay to push the rolled wrap into the leaf with some force. Use good judgement -- tough as tobacco leaves are, they can still tear. As the wrap rolls, more and more of the leaf will wrap around and it will start to look like a candy cane striping upwards. As this happens, don't be afraid to pull the leaf tighter around the wrap. 

Lastly, cut off any excess leaf and viola, the blunt is ready to smoke!

Notes on Rolling Your First Blunt

There are a few things to remember when rolling a blunt. First, be careful with other methods of rolling that can lead to loose blunts or leaves that don't cover the whole blunt evenly, therefore causing uneven burning. This particular leaf wrapping method is the easiest way to roll a blunt properly, so even if it sounds confusing at first, practice a few times and it will feel more natural as time progresses. Second, blunt leaves are pretty tough, so there's usually more than one opportunity to wrap the leaf should the first time go awry. Lastly, after the wrap is, well, wrapped, let the blunt dry for a time. This can be done by air drying or using a lighter to heat up the blunt from a safe distance. The drying process is important, as it seals the leaves together and evaporates any leftover moisture.

Hopefully, this article will give you more confidence to start rolling your own blunts. Remember, take your time, relax and have fun!

Got any tips for rolling a great blunt? Let us know in the comments below!