Rolling a joint is a life skill. Like cooking an egg or changing a tire. Not everyone needs to master it, but knowing how changes things.

Your first attempts will be ugly. Loose, uneven, falling apart mid-session. This is normal. Every good roller has a graveyard of failed joints behind them.

Here's how to get from there to here.

What You Need

• Rolling papers (start with standard 1¼ size)
• Ground flower (evenly ground, not powder, not chunks)
• Filter tips / crutches (optional but recommended)
• A grinder
• A rolling tray or clean surface

Step 1: Grind Your Flower

Consistency matters. Too fine and it burns fast with restricted airflow. Too chunky and it won't roll properly or burn evenly.

A medium grind is the goal. Use a proper grinder—fingers work in a pinch, but they're inconsistent and sticky.

About 0.5g for a standard joint. More for king size.

Step 2: Make Your Filter (Optional but Recommended)

A filter—also called a crutch or tip—keeps flower out of your mouth, adds structure, and lets you smoke the whole joint without burning your fingers.

Take a small strip of cardstock or a pre-cut filter tip. Make 2-3 small accordion folds at one end, then roll the rest around those folds to form a cylinder. The accordion creates a "W" or "M" shape inside that blocks debris while allowing airflow.

Step 3: Set Up Your Paper

Hold the paper with the glue strip at the top, facing you. The sticky side should be on the inside of the roll you're creating.

If you're using a filter, place it at one end. Most right-handed people put it on the left; lefties, on the right. Experiment with what feels natural.

Step 4: Fill and Shape

Distribute your ground flower evenly along the paper, slightly more in the middle than the ends. Leave a bit of space at the top for sealing.

This is the shaping phase. Use your thumbs and forefingers to roll the paper back and forth, compacting the flower into a cylinder. Take your time here. The shape you create now determines everything.

Step 5: Tuck and Roll

This is where most people struggle.

Once the flower is shaped, tuck the non-glue edge of the paper around the flower and under the glue edge. Start from the filter end if you're using one—having that anchor point helps.

Use your thumbs to roll upward while your forefingers support from behind. The motion is more "tuck and wrap" than "roll."

Step 6: Seal It

Lick the glue strip lightly—you don't need much moisture. Press and seal from one end to the other.

If the joint is loose, gently tap the filter end on a hard surface to pack the flower down. Twist the tip closed or fold it over.

Step 7: The Final Pack

Use a pen, chopstick, or the end of a lighter to gently pack the flower from the open end. Don't overpack—you'll restrict airflow. Just enough to eliminate air pockets.

Common Mistakes

Too loose: The flower shifts, burns unevenly, falls out. Roll tighter during the shaping phase.

Too tight: Restricted airflow, hard to pull, the cherry goes out. Ease up.

Uneven distribution: One end thick, one end thin. Results in canoeing—the joint burns down one side. Distribute flower evenly from the start.

Paper tears: You're using too much pressure or your fingers are too dry. Lick your fingertips slightly. Cheap papers tear easier than quality ones.

Can't get the tuck: This is just practice. The tuck is the hardest part. Use a dollar bill method as training wheels: fold a dollar in half, put the loaded paper inside, and use the bill to help roll and tuck.

Still Struggling?

Pre-rolled cones exist for a reason. Just fill, pack, and twist. No shame in it.

Or get a rolling machine—a small device that does the hard work for you. Some purists scoff at this. Those people can roll their own.

The Longterm Path

Rolling well takes time. Not days—months of regular practice. But once it clicks, it's muscle memory. You'll roll in the dark, while talking, without thinking.

The friend who rolls is always welcome. Learn the skill.

[Shop rolling papers →] [Shop pre-rolled cones →]

‍