How to Roll a Classic Joint Step-by-Step

woman rolling a joint with cannabis

Learning how to roll a joint the right way isn’t an exact science. I’m sure you’ve enjoyed some bud in a joint that’s just falling apart. (I know I have, unfortunately)

Everyone has their own way of doing it and the little tricks they use.

This is more for people who are looking to get a good ground-level way to smoke their sticky-icky and maybe be the designated joint roller at the get-together.

Without further ado, a step-by-step joint rolling guide to making you feel that you did right by your green and all fellow stoners.

How to Roll a Joint Video

Step-by-Step Joint Rolling Instructions

Step 1: Grind the Weed

weed that is being placed into grinder

This is a no-brainer, grab your finest selection of herb and get it into your fancy grinder and get to cranking. Make sure to hold it, and be grateful for the herb you are about to receive before you grind it into tiny little pieces.

PLEASE do not be the guy/gal that throws in whole pieces of bud and stems into the joint.

You’re probably curious how to grind weed without a grinder.

If you are lacking a grinder, you can always use something that will cut it up as small as possible. This being a pair of scissors, rolling the bud with your hands to a crumble. (Please refrain from this, you’re going to lose a lot of good THC, and also make your hands hella sticky when you go to roll the joint)

Also, a grinder is just going to be the most efficient way to avoid lumps and having your spliff end in a horrible canoe accident.

Step 2: Make a Filter (Optional)

putting a filter on one side of joint

It’s really up to you on this step and entirely to your benefit if you choose to make a filter for a joint.

The perks of making one include not burning your lips, getting some tiny bits of green in your mouth, and also adds a tad bit of structure to your joint. (Put some pride in your weed smoking – jeez!)

Ultimately this is going to give you the maximum amount of bud smoking from your joint. I’d recommend finding a small piece of firm paper and make an accordion and fold on one end to form a cylinder.

See a drawn example here.

Step 3: Fill Joint Rolling Paper with Bud

sprinkling weed into joint wrap

Now that your weed is nicely broken up (and possibly a filter) at this point. It’s time to get to some anticipation rolling.

Pick a strip of rolling paper from your favorite brand and on most, you’ll see a little crease down the middle. This is going to be your way to contain your bud in a little V-trap.

Start by holding on to the paper at one of the ends and begin sprinkling your flower into the crease.

If you decided to make a filter let’s put the crutch at the end of one of the ends of the paper while you fill the rest of the paper evenly.

Step 4: Pack the Joint Tight (but not too tight)

preparing weed joint for rolling

Once you’ve spread the bud across the joint evenly, the next step is to shape your masterpiece.

To make this happen, you want to pinch the paper between your fingertips and then begin to roll back and forth to make the weed take the shape of your paper.

In doing this, you’ll make the final steps seamless as bud can be a pain sometimes, as it’s not evenly shaped everywhere in the joint.

Step 5: Roll Your Joint

a man rolling a weed joint

Let’s put the final touches on your next soon to be roach. This step is essential to make your joint burn evenly.

Begin with keeping your fingers on the back of the joint and your texting fingers (thumbs) in front and start to slowly roll the paperback and forth with your thumbs and pointer, and middle fingers.

The goal is to get all of the buds evened out across the whole joint. Then you need to tuck the paper from the front on top of the bud and under the backside of the paper.

Give your joint a good lick (don’t slobber) and close it up.

Step 6: Finish Your Spliff

a person putting the finishing touches on a joint

Most of the time you’ll find that the end of the joint is a bit loose and you could potentially lose some green gold out the tip. Packing your weed at the end makes sure that you won’t lose any from a wrong angle. Plus you’ll technically have more bud concentrated on your greens hit.

To do this, you can use a lot of objects around the house, most people use pens or if they are high already, something like the end of a string on their hoodie. Once it’s nice and tight, move on to the final step.

Step 7: Enjoy Your Rolled Joint

a man lighting a joint with a lighter

That’s it, you learned how to roll a joint!

If you are doing a bunch of these at once, we recommend folding or twisting the end of the paper to store them or add a bit of finesse to your greens hit.

If you made it to this step after rolling a ton of papers, it’s ok. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be getting asked by your friends to be the roller when you guys meet up.

Once you have the classic joint roll down. You may want to expand to other types of rolls like cones, cross joints, and other cool joint creations.