Roll a Joint

Of all the techniques used to smoke marijuana, joints are by far one of the most common and most popular, because all you need is weed and cigarette rolling papers. Joints can also be called jay's, spliffs, or doobies among other things. However, because joints burn continuously if rolled correctly, they tend to burn more weed, faster. If you are looking for conservation, pipes are good, and vaporizers are better.

Supplies needed: some good ganja, a dime sack (.5 grams) is a typical amount for a joint, but if you are experienced and want a larger jay, a dub is good (1 gram or up to 1.5 grams). Aany weed will do with a joint, but I prefer stickier weed, as it compacts and burns better. One also needs a pack of rolling papers, such as Zig-Zags. Size of paper is up to you, the bigger the papers the bigger the joint.

Step one: Break up the weed. Take the herb in question and using your fingers seperate the weed into small chunks. When you get to the stem, remove it and set it aside, stems do not burn well and also do not get one as high as the leaves or hairs. If you have a grinder, use it. Note: Removed stems can be used later on in brownies or in tea.

Step Two: Put the broken up weed or shake into the paper, spreading it out evenly along. If you are rolling a spliff, now is the time to add the tobacco. Then, using your thumb and forefinger, pick up the joint horizontally, and begin to work the endges of the paper up and down against one another. This will begin to form the weed into the desired cylindrical shape, and to compact it into a state that is more burnable. This step needs practice, and you will benefit from paying good attention when someone else is rolling a jay before you try this. NOTE: Roll the paper tightly to the weed. A loosely rolled jay may fall apart, and/or not burn correctly.

Step Three: Once you have rolled the weed into the joint, and being careful to keep the joint tightly held between your afore mentioned fingers so that it does not fall apart on you or get too loose to smoke, lick the gummed edge and roll it over the top of the jay, pressing it down to seal it.

Step Four: Almost there. If you have done it right, you might have some weed hanging out the sides, or some weed that fell out in the rolling process. Using a pen or shoe lace or anything else you can fit in there without ripping the paper, ram the weed (not too hard) into the jay, thus packing it together. Once it is packed you can add the weed that fell out, but pack that as well. Also, if you wish to use a crutch, this is the step at which to add it. Crutches are pieces of cardboard or stiff paper that are put in the end of joints to keep the end open during the smoking, so that the smoke continues to flow more freely. To make a crutch, simply take a small strip of cardboard or stiff paper (such as the cardboard used to make the package of the rolling papers) and roll it into a circle small enough to fit in the end of your jay after you have packed it. Filters are optional but useful, they block any unwanted chunks of burned or unburned weed from falling into your mouth, they also keep the smoke smother and less thick.

Last Step: There should be extra paper on the ends of your joint. On the side that you choose to light, first roll the extra paper into a candy wrapper style seal. Now it is ready to light! When lighting a jay, light the tip of the paper first, being sure not to put too much of the joint into the flame. Then start puffing on it to get it burning. This is called "sparking it". NOTE: If you are an inexperienced roller, during smoking your joint might "run" or "canoe". It's OK, but before you take any more hits lick your finger and get a good glob of spit and rub it onto the side of the jay that is burning too fast, right below the burning part. This moisture will slow down the speed at which that part of the paper burns, thus making it burn more evenly.