A joint or pre-roll is one of the most popular ways to consume cannabis. While pre-rolls are readily available at most dispensaries, knowing how to roll a joint is a handy skill for any regular cannabis smoker.

Our step-by-step guide will teach you how to craft a classic cone joint, even on your first try. As you get more familiar with the process, you may discover some techniques work better for you than others. The process sometimes requires a little trial and error, but tackling the basics is the first step.

What You Need to Roll a Joint

Before you start, make sure you have rolling supplies on hand, including:

1. Your favorite cannabis strain: We suggest starting with a half gram of ground cannabis — a smaller pre-roll will make rolling more manageable.
2. Rolling papers of your choice: Standard size papers are 1 ¼ and are the perfect size for a half gram of flower. King size papers are best for one gram of flower.
3. Filter or crutch: You can buy one pre-made or create your own out of thin card stock
4. Cannabis grinder

It’s also a good idea to have a rolling tray — or to set yourself up on another flat surface — so you have a level workspace and aren’t fumbling around with the joint over your lap. We also suggest having a pen or chopstick (or any cylindrical object) on standby to pack the flower down in the joint.

7 Steps to Roll a Joint

Step 1: Grind Your Cannabis

The first step in creating your joint is to grind your cannabis so it easily fills the paper. If you don’t have a grinder, you can also break up the flower by hand or with scissors. However, a grinder will keep your hands from getting sticky.

If you want to skip this step altogether, you can purchase pre-ground flower in your favorite strains and make the rolling process faster and easier. At Baker’s, we offer conveniently portable pre-ground pouches that come with 40 rolling papers and crutches so you can roll your own no matter you are. Shop Baker’s pre-ground pouches and discover your favorite strains, including Miracle Alien Cookies (MAC), Peach Ozz, Cereal Milk, GMO, and Lava Cake.

Step 2: Create a Filter (Crutch)

One end of your joint should have a tip (also called the filter, crutch, or mouthpiece) to give it some structural integrity. While a filter is not necessary, it will keep the shake from falling out as you smoke.

You can purchase pre-made crutches — some rolling paper packs even include material for the crutch. Or, you can make your own. To do so, you will need a piece of thin cardboard or cardstock. An old business card often works well.

To create the crutch, start by folding one end of the cardboard in 5 to 6 accordion style folds. Then, roll the remainder of the cardboard around the folds and keep rolling until the crutch is at your desired thickness (a.k.a. The same thickness you want your joint to be).

Step 3: Fill the Joint with Cannabis

Once your crutch is ready, you’re ready to lay out your rolling paper and start filling your joint with ground cannabis. To do so, hold your paper, with the crutch placed at one end of the joint, between your thumb and index finger; this position will naturally help form the shape of your joint. Then, sprinkle in your ground cannabis while being sure not to overfill.

Step 4: Roll the Joint

Now that your joint is loaded, it’s time to roll it. To start, pinch the paper between your fingertips and gently roll it back and forth to pack the cannabis down — at this point, it should resemble a hot dog or taco. Then, you’ll want to keep sifting the paper around until you’ve formed a cone shape. At that point, you’ll want to tuck the unglued side of the rolling paper over the layer of flower and keep rolling until the joint is ready to seal. More on that below.

Step 5: Seal the Joint

Sealing the joint is usually the trickiest part of the process. After you have your rolled joint in hand, you’ll need to add a bit of moisture to the glue strip (by giving it a lick) and tack it down on one side of the joint. It is usually easiest to start on the crutch end since it has some stability. Then, slowly work your way down the entire seam until it is completely sealed.

Step 6: Pack the Open End of the Joint

Once your rolled joint is sealed, you will need to pack the buds down through the open end. This step will ensure that your joint burns evenly. A pen or other cylindrical object that fits easily into the open end will also work for this task. Once the flower is packed down, you can twist the open end to close the joint.

Step 7: Smoke and Enjoy

It’s time to light your joint and enjoy!

Pro Tip: Make sure to light your joint in an enclosed area to avoid an uneven burn — even the tightest of joints can canoe if they’re lit in a drafty area.

If you don’t want to put in the work to roll your own joint, shop our full line of products and find pre-rolls in all your favorite strains.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you roll a joint with just kief?

Kief refers to the resin glands on the outside of the cannabis flower that contain the terpenes and cannabinoids. Kief is more potent than the flower itself, and you can add extra kief to the inside of your joint for more potency.

Many companies brush the outside of the joint with cannabis oil and roll it in kief to give the pre-roll a higher THC level. There are called “infused pre-rolls.” However, filling a joint with just kief may be difficult since kief burns much faster than flower. (Not to mention, you’d need an abundance of kief to accomplish this.)

What are the different joint shapes?

A cone-shaped joint is the most common. However, as you become more comfortable with joint rolling, you may want to experiment with other shapes, such as a pinner (a thin cigarette type joint) or an L joint (tulip-shaped).

What are the different types of rolling papers?

Hemp paper and rice paper are the most common papers for joint rolling. Both of these paper types are strong, burn evenly, and do not impact the flavor of your weed.

If you are looking to roll a blunt (a cannabis cigar) or a spliff (a mixture of cannabis and tobacco), you will need heavy tobacco paper used for cigars.

Ready To Get Rolling?

Remember, there is no right or wrong way to craft a joint, but these basics will help you find the process that works best for you. Over time, you will find tips and tricks that will help. Have fun with it and keep trying till you get it exactly how you want it.