Millions of people around the world smoke cannabis. As recreational cannabis usage is legalized in more places, more people decide to try it themselves. But if you’re new to smoking—maybe trying it for the first time—there can be some confusion around what you should smoke or how to go about it.
Blunts and joints are, by far, among the most popular ways to smoke cannabis. Both are good options. However, there’s a distinct difference between the two. You may prefer one over the other depending on your preferences and situation.
This article will cover the differences between joints and blunts and offer a few tips for new smokers.
Pre-Rolls: The Easiest Way To Get Started
Rolling joints or blunts is difficult, especially for a beginner (more on this later). The simplest, quickest, and easiest way to start smoking is to purchase pre-rolls from a licensed distributor. If cannabis is legal in your area, there’s a good chance of finding pre-rolls in local dispensaries.
Pre-rolls are just joints (sometimes blunts) that come already rolled, ready to smoke. It’s like buying a cigarette or cigar, except it’s filled with cannabis instead of tobacco. There are also different types of pre-rolls—the staff at your local dispensary can recommend one based on what you want.
From there, it’s as simple as lighting it up and smoking.
Joints And Blunts
Both joints and blunts are cannabis that’s been rolled into a material to be smoked. The main difference is the material that’s used to roll them.
What Are Blunts?
Blunts are rolled with wraps—the same type used to roll a cigar. These wraps are traditionally made of tobacco. You can recognize a blunt by its wrap. They’re usually distinctly brown and thicker than regular rolling papers.
Wraps are sometimes sold individually, but many blunts are made by purchasing cigars or backwoods, unrolling them to get rid of the tobacco inside, and re-rolling them with cannabis to make blunts.
Typically, blunts are rolled with more cannabis and are bigger than joints. The tobacco wrap contains nicotine, giving blunt smokers a nicotine rush alongside their cannabis high. They’re also known to burn slower than joints, therefore lasting longer, and are often a go-to when you want to smoke with friends and pass the blunt around.
That said, blunts rolled with tobacco wraps aren’t for people who want to avoid tobacco. Not to worry, you can also buy hemp wraps made for rolling tobacco-free blunts. These blunt wraps are made from hemp instead of tobacco and contain no nicotine or THC. These are also known to burn slowly and are an excellent alternative for tobacco-free cannabis smoking.
What Are Joints?
Joints are rolled with regular rolling papers—the same used to roll cigarettes. Many brands offer various types of rolling papers made with different ingredients. They also come in different sizes, with the most coming being 1 ¼ inch, 1 ½ inch, and king size. Any paper will do, but most smokers find the few they like and stick with them.
Joints are usually smaller and slimmer than blunts, and the paper is typically white to brownish and can be somewhat translucent. Smaller joints are often a go-to for quick solo smoking sessions. Smokers tend to roll bigger joints for groups.
Rolling papers are known to burn faster than blunt wraps. However, they can be incredibly slim, allowing you to taste more of your cannabis’s terpenes as you smoke.
Some people choose to roll tobacco and cannabis into their joints resulting in what’s known as a spliff.
Tips For Smoking Blunts And Joints
- Take It Slow
Smoking cannabis generally takes effect faster than other methods, like edibles, but it isn’t always instantaneous. You don’t want to smoke too much and have a negative experience. Give each hit a few minutes to take effect before having any more. Start with one or two hits and wait about 15 minutes. If you don’t feel it’s strong enough, have another one or two hits.
- Rolling Is Difficult
Rolling a joint or blunt sounds easy, but it’s genuinely quite challenging in the beginning. Don’t feel bad if you can’t get it right the first few times—most people can’t. You’ll probably go through at least one full pack of rolling papers before getting consistently well-rolled joints. Practice, and you’ll improve. Alternatively, you can use a rolling machine or buy pre-rolls.
- There’s No ‘Best’
Joints and blunts are both popular for a reason, but one isn’t better than the other. It depends on the preference of the smoker. You might try both and decide to smoke blunts exclusively or vice versa.
Final Thoughts
Joints and blunts are both excellent ways to smoke cannabis. The main difference between the two is that blunts are rolled with a tobacco or hemp wrap, and joints are rolled with rolling papers. Blunts are usually bigger and last longer, while joints usually have better flavor delivery. Finding your preference is all about trying both and experimenting with different wraps, rolling papers, and rolling techniques.
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