How to Roll a Blunt: Your Ultimate Guide to Crafting the Perfect Smoke
These days, there are tons of different ways to consume marijuana. However, you can’t go wrong with a classic blunt. Before the days of pre-rolled cones and smoke shops with endless selections of papers and rolling supplies, people were limited to what they could find, usually at the local gas station or corner store. Those who want a smoke that’s bigger than the average joint need more than plain papers, though.
Enter the world of blunt wraps, also known as wraps, blunt papers, and several other names, depending on where you buy them and how they’re sold. Many people even use cigarillos, cutting open the shell and replacing the tobacco with marijuana before sealing it closed to smoke.
So, how do you roll a great blunt? Read on to find out more about this great smoking choice, the tools you’ll need, and a step-by-step guide to rolling the perfect blunt.
What is a blunt?
A blunt is what is created by filling a tobacco leaf or cigar wrapper with marijuana (sometimes after removing the tobacco inside). Today, many companies make blunt wraps that you can use instead to save the cutting and tobacco disposal. The main difference between a blunt and a joint, though is that a blunt uses a cigar or tobacco leaf while joints use standard rolling papers usually made of recycled wood pulp or other plant materials.
Some people also use hemp leaves to make blunts. Those using tobacco papers will notice a different high because of the added nicotine in the smoking experience.
What do you need to roll a blunt?
The beauty of the blunt is that you don’t need much—just some ground-up flower and the blunt wrapper or cigarillo of your choice. A knife or razor blade (or blunt splitter, which you can buy at local smoke shops) will be handy to help you open cigars instead of having to use your nail or try to tear them by hand.
If you want to get fancy, you can invest in a rolling tray and some premade tips so that you can take your blunts to the next level and skip the roach clips.
How to choose the best blunt weed for an optimal smoking experience
Just about any weed is good for a blunt. The grind matters more than the strain, honestly. While joints and cones roll better with finely ground weed, blunts tend to burn more evenly if you use a medium grind. Too fine will burn too hot and too quickly, so shake isn’t good here, either.
The cigar wraps or cigarillos that you use will have more of an impact on your smoking experience. Some top brands include:
- Dutch Masters
- Backwoods
- Swisher Sweets
- King Palm
- Zig-Zag
- White Owl
No matter which brand (or type of blunt wrap) you choose, look for those that are slow-burning. Many will say as much on the packaging, and brands like White Owl and King Palm even get noticed because of their slow burn.
How to seal a blunt like a pro: tips for a secure and even burn
Sealing a blunt is probably one of the trickiest steps for newbies. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be if you know what you’re doing. Here are some tips to help.
- Make sure that all the marijuana is inside the blunt and doesn’t get caught in the seam. This can make it difficult to seal or cause it to burn irregularly.
- Roll it up a few times before you commit and seal the deal to make sure that you’ve got a good alignment and enough room for it to stick.
- If you don’t want to lick the blunt paper (like most people do), you can use a drop or two of water, but be careful here—too much can ruin your blunt quickly.
- To make it easier to roll, dampen the blunt wrapper before you start putting the weed inside.
Once you seal the blunt, let it sit and dry for about five or ten minutes. You can also run a lighter along the seam quickly, but be careful that you’re keeping the flame far enough away so it’s just drying the wrap and not lighting it on fire.
Step-by-step guide on how to roll a blunt
Ok, we’ve covered a lot of information up to this point and you’re probably ready to get to rolling. Proper preparation is the key to good blunt rolling. That, combined with practice, will make you an expert in no time at all.
Ready to start rolling? Here’s the step-by-step process.
Step one: Collect your supplies
First, you need to collect everything so that you have it at hand. Once you dampen the blunt wrapper and go to fill it, you’ve got a limited window before your wrap dries up and you’re going to risk cracking it or causing a tear. Keep your papers and other supplies together for easy access.
Step two: Open (or split) the blunt wrap
First things first, you’ll need to open your blunt wrap. If it’s a cigar or cigarillo, you’ll need to cut or tear it open lengthwise. You can buy a blunt splitter, but a box knife, utility knife, or razor blade will also be effective. If you’re in a pinch, a nice, sharp fingernail could work, too.
Step three: Grind the cannabis
If you don’t already have it ground up, now is when you’ll want to grind your cannabis. If you’re adding any kief or concentrate (wax, sugar, hash, etc.), get that out, too.
Step four: Fill the blunt
Fill the blunt loosely, leaving room so that you can roll it and create a seam. You usually need about a gram for a good blunt, but again the size is up to you. If you are trying to seal the blunt and it’s too tight, try taking a little out.
Step five: Seal and dry
Now, use a little extra water (or spit, if you prefer) on the seam you’re going to seal and press it against the finished blunt. You may need to hold it for a few minutes or dry it out with a lighter, as mentioned above, before smoking.
Step six: Light up and enjoy!
If you’ve done everything right up to this point, you’ll be ready to grab your lighter and start enjoying the fruits of your labor. If you notice that your blunt is burning unevenly or the seam isn’t quite right, just make a mental note so that you can do better next time.
What are different ways to wrap a blunt?
As mentioned earlier, you can typically wrap a blunt with:
- Tobacco leaves
- Hemp leaves
- Palm leaves (King Palm brand does these well)
- Cigarillo or cigar papers
- Specialty blunt wraps (like cigarillos without the tobacco filling)
As far as the methods of wrapping, trying to keep a relatively straight seam will produce the most effective burn. Some people want to twist their blunts or do diagonal seams, but this is trickier and can lead to trouble with sealing and burning.
As with anything, practice makes perfect. Just remember that blunt papers are relatively cheap—if you screw up, don’t be afraid to toss it and start again. It’s better to re-roll than to try to smoke something that’s a mess. And when you find a method that works for you, stick with it and you’ll have a great smoke every time.