Weed and Blunts

A cigar that has been hollowed out and filled with ground cannabis. Typically, blunts are rolled with the same tobacco leaf wrappers used for cigars.

Roll me a blunt from that tobacco leaf wrapper over there.

I’m in the mood for a long, slow smoke and the head rush that goes with it, so I’m going to roll a blunt.

What is a Blunt?

A blunt is a cigar that has been hollowed out and filled with ground cannabis. To construct a marijuana blunt, consumers can either purchase blunt wraps or manually empty a pre-rolled cigar or cigarillo (like Swisher Sweets) and replace the tobacco with cannabis.

What is a Blunt Made of? 

Typically, blunts are rolled with the same tobacco leaf wrappers used for cigars.

Why Do They Call it a Blunt?

The term blunt originated with an American brand of cigars, Phillies Blunts, which helped popularize this method of consumption throughout cannabis culture. The Phillies brand manufactures a cigar called a blunt — and, over time, the term became tied to the practice of emptying the cigar of tobacco, filling it with cannabis, and smoking it.

What is the Difference Between a Blunt and a Joint?

Not sure what’s the difference between a blunt and a joint? There are a few, including:

Appearance

Perhaps the most noticeable difference between blunts and joints is their appearance. The tobacco leaf wrappers used for blunts are usually dark brown or tan — while rolling papers, which are used for joints, are typically white if bleached or a lighter shade of tan if unbleached. 

Combination of Tobacco and Cannabis

While it’s not uncommon for people to combine tobacco and cannabis in a joint that’s also known as a spliff, blunts are filled strictly with cannabis. Because there is already tobacco in the cigar paper used to roll a blunt, there’s no reason to add additional tobacco. 

Do Blunts Have Nicotine? 

Yes. There is a good chance that blunt smokers will be exposed to certain levels of nicotine from the tobacco leaf. In a 2016 study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, researchers analyzed the wrappers of five different cigar brands commonly used for rolling blunts. The total nicotine content across the cigar wrapper samples ranged from 1.2 to 6.0 milligrams per cigar. 

Amount of Cannabis Used

Blunt wrappers have a heavier weight and are much sturdier than rolling papers. This allows much more cannabis — often 2 grams or more — to be wrapped in a single blunt than a joint.

Consumption Experience

Because of the thicker cigar paper, blunts burn much more slowly than joints, making for a longer smoking session. Combined with their larger size, blunts are a popular consumption method for larger groups. 

How Much Does it Cost to buy a Blunt?

The price of a blunt or blunt wrap will vary depending on the brand, the amount per package, the size of the blunt, and the location where it’s sold. You can usually find blunts or blunt wraps at a gas station, convenience store, tobacco store, or head shop. Typically, the price will vary somewhere between US$1 and US$3.   

Do Pipes Get You Higher than Blunts? 

Some cannabis consumers may also wonder whether there’s a difference in the high created by blunts and other cannabis paraphernalia, such as pipes. The tobacco used in the production of blunts could create a head rush effect in some users, giving them the impression that blunts get you higher than pipes. However, the more realistic reason blunts tend to generate a more potent buzz is because they can hold more cannabis than your average pipe.  

How to Roll a Blunt

Ready to take a shot at rolling a blunt? Here’s how it’s done:

Step 1: Grind Your Cannabis

Before you can start rolling a blunt, you need to break down your cannabis. You have two options: You can either grind down your buds in a grinder, or you can break it down with your fingers.

Some people prefer grinders because it breaks down the cannabis more evenly, leading to a more even burn. However, grinding down your weed too much can cause your blunt to burn more quickly. That’s why others prefer to break down their cannabis by hand. Either method works; it’s just a matter of personal preference.

Step 2: Empty Your Cigar

(Note: if you purchased a blunt wrap, there won’t be any tobacco to deal with, so you can skip this step.)

Use a sharp knife to cut along the edge or point of your cigar or cigarillo lengthwise. Once you’ve made the incision, use your fingers to gently pull apart and unroll the cigar. Then, empty the tobacco from the center of the cigar and throw away or set aside for later consumption if you want to use the tobacco for spliffs.

Step 3: Moisten Your Blunt Wrap

Cigar paper can be challenging to work with, but moistening it can make the paper easier to shape, wrap, and work with. Plus, it can help to seal any micro-tears that may have occurred during splitting and emptying.

If you’re rolling the blunt for yourself, you can use your saliva to moisten the entire paper. However, if you’re rolling for others or a large group, you can also moisten the paper with a bit of water. Just put a few drops on your index finger and spread across the surface of the paper.

Step 4: Fill Your Blunt

Add the ground cannabis to the center of the tobacco leaf paper, spreading it evenly lengthwise until you’ve filled the paper with your desired amount of cannabis. While there is no “set” amount of cannabis to add to your blunt, typically, 1 to 2 grams should be sufficient to fill your paper, although certain blunt wraps may be able to hold more. After you’ve added your cannabis, roll between your fingers to ensure the weed is packed evenly before sealing.

Step 5: Roll and Seal Your Blunt

Once your cannabis is evenly distributed, it’s time to roll and seal your blunt. Tightly tuck one edge of the blunt wrap under the other. Then, lick the exposed edge lengthwise and seal your blunt. If your blunt rips or cracks during the rolling process, you can use a small piece of excess tobacco leaf paper to seal the tear.

To further seal your blunt and ensure a more even burn, you can “bake” it by running a lighter around the exterior of the blunt. Just make sure to keep the lighter a safe distance from the paper. You only want to use the heat to dry out the moisture and seal the blunt, not actually light the blunt and start smoking.

Once you’ve rolled and sealed your blunt, you can either spark it and start enjoying your blunt or save it for later consumption.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Roll a Blunt and then Store it for Future Use?

Yes, once you’ve rolled a blunt you can store it for future use. Depending on how long you’re planning on waiting to light up your blunt, you may want to store it in an airtight container to maintain freshness and retain active cannabinoids. 

How Much Weed Do You Have to Put in Your Blunt?

The standard base amount is 1 to 2 grams of weed used to sufficiently fill a blunt wrap. Depending on the size of the blunt wrap or cigar paper you’re using, you may be able to add more. 

Are Blunts Addictive?

Blunts wraps and tobacco leaf contain nicotine, which is a physically addictive substance. Regardless, when it comes to blunts and other cannabis products, regardless of whether or not they also contain nicotine, addiction is not a black-and-white issue. 

While the notion of marijuana addiction is controversial, historically used for anti-marijuana messaging and propaganda, cannabis use disorder (C.U.D.) — in which an individual experiences withdrawal symptoms when they stop using cannabis, or cannot stop even when it interferes with daily life — is a growing concern as researchers learn more about the benefits and side effects of the plant. 

Frequent use of high-potency cannabis at high doses may increase your risk of developing C.U.D., but it’s important to remember that everyone’s body is different and reacts differently to cannabis as a result. If you’re worried about the risk of cannabis use disorder, consider taking a tolerance break or consulting with a physician or cannabis specialist. 

Are Cigarettes Worse than Blunts?

Smoking blunts, especially in moderation, has not been sufficiently linked to any of the major health risks associated with regular cigarette smoking. However, it’s important to note that the consequences of long-term marijuana use are not known due to lack of research. Furthermore, the act of smoking marijuana blunts could also result in potential health hazards, and more research is needed to understand the effects of marijuana smoke on the cardiovascular system and the body as a whole.