For the uninitiated, a blunt is a hollowed-out cigar filled with cannabis. It’s an iconic symbol in weed culture and smoking one can be a rite of passage. During a Reddit AMA in 2012, Snoop Dogg confessed to smoking 81 blunts a day, seven days a week. Part of the appeal is that blunts burn slowly and make smoke tricks easy to perform. Also, smokers can choose from a vast array of blunt “wrappers.” Wrappers come from hollowing out traditional cigars until all that’s left is the outer leaf, or using prepacked blunt-wrappers, like a cigar version of rolling papers. In both categories, there are dozens to choose from.
Blunt-rolling is a tradition all its own. People claim smoking a blunt gets you higher than a smoking a regular joint. The high concentrations of nicotine in the tobacco leaf wrapper, combined with THC in the cannabis flower, provides a stronger and more pleasant euphoria. Blunts burn longer than the average joint, so they’re easily shared. Appropriate for communal celebrations, blunts have most definitely earned their place in our quickly growing canna-society.
If you ever find yourself in a social situation sitting face-to-face with the Doggfather, you’ll want to impress him with your blunt-rolling skills. Use this step-by-step guide, which features related health information, so you can decide if blunts are right for you. Pay attention.
1) Gather supplies.
You’ll need a few cigars or blunt wraps, a grinder, a rolling tray, a small knife or blade (or fingernail), and a gram or two of cannabis. You’ll want to have several extra cigars or blunt wraps handy in case you encounter difficulties. Philly’s, Dutch Masters, White Owl, Swisher Sweets, and Backwoods are all popular cigars to use for rolling blunts. Cyclones, Zig-Zag, Bambu, XXL, Shine, and many others make convenient ready-made blunt wraps, too.
2) Break up your bud.
You can use your hands, but a grinder will provide you with the most consistent product for easy rolling and even burning. Be sure not to over-grind. You want the consistency to be a little fluffy and not too fine. If you prefer a slower burning blunt, use your hands to break up your bud. Get rid of all stems and seeds.
3) Prepare the wrap.
If using a pre-made blunt-wrap, you can skip this step. If you’re using a cigar, know that each cigar maker uses a specific wrapping method in creating their cigars. Therefore, different cigars will deconstruct in different ways. One of the simplest ways to prepare your blunt-wrapper from a cigar is to slice open the cigar lengthwise using your knife or blade. Another method is to gently unwrap the outer layers of the cigar using your fingers. Some people split the cigar down the middle using their bare hands. Experiment with this and over time you’ll develop your own technique.
The idea is to neatly remove the insides of the cigar while preserving a smooth piece of outer leaf large enough to use as rolling paper. While the insides don’t matter, be careful not to tear the outer leaf. Whenever necessary, you can fuse torn sections of outer leaf using water, or saliva, to form your perfect outer wrap. Pro tip: Save the tobacco if you like to roll spliffs.
4) Fill the wrap.
Fill the wrap with your freshly ground cannabis. Pack it nice and full to avoid dents and collapsing. Adding slightly more bud to the center before gently pushing it out on either side can help keep the form even.
5) Roll it up.
Begin rolling by pressing your fingers against the cannabis to shape it. Allow your pointer fingers and thumbs to guide you as you roll the blunt to your desired tightness. Not too loose, not too tight. Most people find rolling a blunt easier and more forgiving than rolling a joint.
6) Seal it shut.
Use a careful amount of water or saliva along the seams of your freshly-rolled blunt to secure it shut. Smooth out the shape with your fingers.
7) Dry it out.
You can give it time to air dry, or help it along by drying out the blunt with warm air generated by a butane lighter.
8) Spark it up.
Once dry, light the tip of the blunt. Spin it around, just like a cigar, to heat it evenly to minimize the possibility of a run. If it starts to run, wetting the area will fix it. Ash your blunt regularly…and enjoy!
Now that you know how to roll a perfect blunt, you may be wondering, “What are the health risks of smoking blunts? Should I smoke them?” Good questions.
If you’ve ever taken a hit off a regular cigar, you know the experience can be harsh. The same can be true for blunts. A good rule of thumb is “everything in moderation.” Since blunt wraps are made from tobacco, similar lung and cardiovascular health risks are involved, including nicotine addiction. If you’re concerned about this, it’s best to reserve smoking blunts for special occasions. Additionally, you can explore alternatives like vaporizing, eating cannabis edibles, or using one of these new cannabis inhalers.
