Before states started legalizing the use of medical and recreational cannabis, consumers were rolling their own joints. Now, cannabis companies and dispensaries are making ready-to-smoke options. This takes care of the work for you and provides you with more options. Pre-rolled joints or “rolls” are a relatively new product, providing cannabis smokers with a more convenient alternative. Plus, let’s face it, sometimes it’s just nicer when you want to sit down to smoke that the work is all done for you.
If you’re new to cannabis, there are three broad categories that rolls fall under: joints, blunts, and spliffs. Each can be defined by their content (cannabis-tobacco ratio) as well as the rolling material, tobacco, hemp, etc. The difference between joints, spliffs, and blunts can be confusing for new consumers. Taking a little time to be educated on joints vs bluffs or blunts can result in getting more of what you want when you visit a dispensary.
It is important to note that these terms are considered informal/slang terms that can vary from different smokers and dispensaries. Below we have broken down each type of roll and their benefits.
What is the Difference Between Blunts and Joints?
Because blunts, joints, and spliffs have different properties, it helps to look at them separately.
What is a Blunt?
A blunt is a roll with cannabis inside a cigar or blunt wrap. These wraps are made out of tobacco, which adds a buzz and energy to your cannabis high. Typically, they’re bigger than joints and last a lot longer. Blunts combine a sensation of tobacco and weed together with just enough cannabis to feel it. Rappers from New York City used to talk about it in their songs about rolling blunts. Some tips on how to roll bigger blunts:
- Remove interior tobacco
- Fill the wrap with weed, twist the end and protect product from falling out
- Most good rolls can hold as much as a gram or more of cannabis in a single wrap
Flavors tend to be sweet. Sometimes their size makes it a great sharing experience with friends
What are Joints?
Joints are smaller than blunts which make them portable. You can take them anywhere to spark up where you please. They consist of cannabis rolled up inside a thin rolling paper that is usually white, but novelty papers come in all colors and flavors. Papers can be big, small, made out of hemp, rice, paper, etc. There are all kinds of variants.
Joints vs Blunts
Although it is hard to compare joints and blunts, there are some differences to keep in mind. In the United States, the joint is probably the most common term used to describe rolled up cannabis. A joint is just that, weed and nothing else, rolled up in cigarette form using rolling papers. Some other ways joints differ from blunts:
- Joints vary in size depending on the type of paper and the amount of cannabis that is used for the roll.
- Papers are usually light and almost translucent and can be flavored, colored, or made from natural hemp. All that is needed to roll a joint is the weed and the paper.
- Rolling trays and cigarette rollers are available, but not necessary. A piece of thicker paper folded back onto itself and rolled into a cylinder can be used as a filter, but this also is not a total necessity.
- Filters serve the purpose of keeping the cannabis from getting into your mouth. It gives the joint more stability and helps keep your fingers from getting burnt.
A joint is easy to roll, with practice, and is easy to transport to your favorite smoking area. A well-rolled joint provides a wonderful way to enjoy a beautiful sunset while reaping the benefits of a medicated smoke.
Blunts have an extra kick from the tobacco leaf paper, which may contain nicotine. Joints can burn more quickly than blunts for a faster smoke. This is due to the thinner rolling paper. Blunts are a slower, more steady burn for a longer period of time.
What is a Spliff?
A spliff is like a joint, but it has tobacco and cannabis mixed together in a rolling paper. They usually have more tobacco than a blunt, so will have even more of the energetic, buzzy effects of tobacco. Spliffs usually have crutches too. Spliff smokers can alter the ratio of cannabis and tobacco to their preference—lots of cannabis with a little tobacco, lots of tobacco with a little cannabis, or somewhere in between.
Alternative to Joints or Spliffs
Not interested in blunts or spliffs? Maybe you want an alternative to the joint once in a while. Look no further. The options are endless to choose from some varieties out there on the market. A few of them include cannabis baked goods like brownies or cookies. Some people like to try vape pens so you know how much THC you’re getting each hit. Want something sweeter? Try some cannabis candy, an edible that is taking the market by storm. It is easy to portion the candy and figure out how much THC is in each bite. They taste like regular candy but with that extra hit you will love. There are also cannabis drinks, dabs, and more to wet your palate but it all depends what you’re looking for out of your experience. Each one is unique.
Paper for Smoking
Paper choice is important to your smoking experience; it’ll impact the amount of weed you need (the size of the paper), the flavor (tobacco papers are notably sweeter than hemp paper), and burn (thicker papers tend to burn slower than thinner papers).
Papers and blunt wraps can be flavored, but they aren’t for everyone. Some consumers think flavored papers meddle with the complex tastes and aromas of cannabis, while others are loyal to specific brands because of their distinct flavor additives (this is more common among blunt aficionados).
Consumers also choose papers based on rolling ease and functionality. The best papers don’t tear, seal seamlessly, handle well between your fingers, and burn uniformly. Nothing is a surer sign of a failed roll than a joint that runs, i.e., burns lengthwise along one side.
You’re going to choose a joint, blunt, or spliff for different reasons but the end game is the same. To get a hit, feel something amazing, or maybe even chill out a bit. End of the day, the choice is yours. With so many options, there are lots of ways to go. Why not try one or the other a few times or just have a few handy when you want some variety? Do what works but also venture out and try something new. You never know when you might find yourself enjoying an experience you never thought you would try.
FAQ
What is the difference between a joint, a blunt, and a spliff?
The primary difference between joints, blunts, and spliffs lies in their contents and the type of paper or wrapper used.
- Joints are made with thin rolling papers and contain only ground cannabis, making them a pure form of cannabis consumption without tobacco.
- Blunts use tobacco-based wraps, often repurposed from cut-open cigars or tobacco leaf blunt wraps, and contain only cannabis inside. They provide a smoking experience with a unique flavor from the tobacco leaf.
- Spliffs mix ground cannabis with tobacco mixed in varying ratios and are rolled in thin rolling papers like joints, combining the effects of cannabis and tobacco for a different smoking experience.
Are joints healthier than blunts or spliffs?
Yes, smoking joints is generally considered healthier than blunts or spliffs because joints do not contain tobacco products, which are linked to tobacco-related health risks. Blunts and spliffs involve smoking tobacco or tobacco-based wraps, which can increase the risk of lung irritation and other health concerns. The absence of tobacco in joints makes them a cleaner way to enjoy marijuana smoke.
Do spliffs get you higher than joints or blunts?
The effects of spliffs compared to joints or blunts depend on the ratio of cannabis to tobacco in the spliff. Spliffs may feel less potent due to the tobacco mixed, which can dilute the psychoactive effects of cannabis. However, for some smokers, the combination of cannabis and tobacco creates a synergistic high that feels more stimulating. In contrast, joints and blunts with pure cannabis provide a more traditional cannabis high.
Why is it called a spliff?
The term “spliff” originates from cannabis culture and is thought to have Caribbean or Jamaican roots. It refers to a joint with tobacco mixed, emphasizing the combination of cannabis and tobacco to create a distinct smoking experience. The word gained popularity globally through the cannabis community and music.
Is a Backwood considered a blunt?
Yes, a Backwood is considered a blunt. Backwoods are rolled using a tobacco leaf, making them a tobacco-based wrap that contains cannabis. Many in the smoking cannabis community favor Backwoods for their thick papers and the unique flavor they add to the smoking experience.
