Joint vs. spliff vs. blunt: What are the differences between them?

26. 02. 2024

Disclaimer: All information provided in this article is for educational purposes only. The article only describes possible uses of CBD and HHC flowers, provided that these flowers do not contain more than 0.3%THC. The purpose of the article is in no way intended to entice, encourage or incite anyone to abuse any addictive substances. The article is not suitable for persons under the age of 18.

• What is a joint?
• What is a spliff?
• What is a blunt?
• Table: Joint vs. spliff vs. blunt
• There's no such thing as content
• Starring papers
• Rolling or How to roll a blunt
• What are pre-rolls?
• Summary

What is a joint?

Joints are an iconic symbol of cannabis culture. They are cannabis cigarettes that are made by rolling cannabis into papers. 

Joints have a filter or crutch (mouthpiece, tip) at the end of the draw, which gives them stability and allows them to be smoked to the end without burning the smoker's fingertips.

What is a spliff?

Spliffs can be said to be a kind of intermediate between the two. They are made in a similar way to joints, using a rolling paper and a filter, but their filling is a mixture of tobacco and cannabis, with users adjusting the ratio of the mixture to suit themselves. This strain usually contains more tobacco than a blunt.

What is a blunt?

Similar to a joint, the content of a blunt is cannabis, which is their only commonality. When comparing a joint vs. a blunt, a blunt is actually a cigar. If we look at one of the biggest differences between the two types, it's the blunt itself, which is completely different in blunts. Blunts are made mostly from tobacco leaves, wrappers, and hollowed out cigars that contain tobacco. The cigar is hollowed out and then filled with cannabis or wrapped in a wrapper. This type is intended more for sitting, during which users usually pass it around.

The original type of blunt cigar was filled with tobacco. They first appeared in the 19th century in Philadelphia. At that time, a blunt differed from a regular cigar in that it was thinner, shorter and burned faster.  

Did you know that marijuana blunts became popular in the mid-1980s? The growing popularity of blunts in hip hop culture at the time was evident in references to hip hop songs and lyrics.

 

 

Table: Joint vs. spliff vs. blunt

Let's compare each cannabis cigarette in terms of material, rolling method, content, size and flavor.

	Material to roll	Rolling method	Cannabis content	Tobacco content	Size	Flavour
Joint	Paper thin	Rolling with filter	Yes	No	Small	Natural cannabis taste
Spliff	Paper thin	Rolling with filter	Yes	Yes	Small	Affected by tobacco
Blunt	Tobacco leaf, wrapper, hollowed out cigar	More challenging, cigar wrappers and wrappers	Yes	No (contained in the wrapper)	Larger	Influenced by tobacco and the taste of tobacco papers

 

To further specify the size of each type, we will list the grams of flower they can hold. A typical joint will hold 0.5-1g of cannabis as standard (and yes, you can roll up to 2g of joint depending on the paper you choose), a skinny blunt will hold 1-2g. If you take a cigarillo-sized wrapper, it will hold roughly 4-5g. A large hollowed out cigar will hold up to 7g, depending on how it is rolled. The largest amount of cannabis is the fronto leaf, which is a natural tobacco leaf. The amount of flower is only limited by the size of the leaf and your own rolling skill.

There is no content like content

While blunts, spliffs and joints contain flowers, they can also be infused with other elements that enhance their flavour, aroma and therapeutic effects, such as live resins, oils and terpenes. 

We will look in vain for tobacco in joints because they contain only cannabis. Spliffs, on the other hand, contain a mixture of tobacco and flowers, the proportion of which varies according to the consumer's preference.

In the case of blunts, there is no tobacco in the filling, but dried and preserved tobacco is used as a wrapper.

In the main, the papers

Papers play a significant role and their choice influences the smoking experience. It is important to choose the right size and material for the amount of cannabis that needs to be rolled. They can be large, small or medium, with common sizes being Single Wide (short), 1 ¼, 1 ½, Double Wide and King Size. The length and width of the papers vary between manufacturers, and sometimes differences can be seen, especially in the Double Wide size.

Approximate dimensions:

• Single Wide (regular): length 68-70 mm, width 34-37 mm wide
• 1 ¼ (medium): length 76-78 mm, width 45-48 mm  
• 1 ½ : length 76-78 mm, width 60-62 mm  
• Double Wide: length 76-78 mm, width 63-88 mm
• King Size: length 100-105 mm, width 55-60 mm  

There are many types and variants on the market. There are also different thicknesses of paper - thin, ultra-thin and thick. Thick paper burns slower than thin paper, but with thin paper you don't taste it as much.

Rolling papers can be found in a variety of colours, and even in a variety of flavours and shapes. They can come in fruit flavours (grape, apple, cherry, mango and others) and also flavours such as cotton candy, chocolate, cola and others. There are also paper rolls, on the market, colloquially called 'endless papers' because they look like rolls, can measure several metres long and the user tears off the size he needs. The papers are also made from materials other than paper, such as hemp, rice, flax, natural plants and so on. The adhesives are often made of natural gum Arabic, which ensures that they always stick perfectly.

Suitable papers according to type: 

• Papers for joints: Single Wide, 1 ¼, 1½, Double Wide, King Size, Slims or Thins, Cones
• Spliffs: 1½, Double Wide, King Size, Cones (mostly larger and thicker because of the tobacco)
• Blunts: Tobacco leaves, wraps and cut cigars

Paper choice also depends on your preference. Both rolling papers and cigar wrappers can be flavored, but may not be to everyone's taste. Some users find that flavored papers detract from the flavor and aroma of cannabis, while others are drawn to specific brands because of their specific flavors, which is often the case for blunt lovers.

Consumers also choose blunts based on functionality and ease of rolling. The best ones don't tear, are easy to close, fit well in the fingers and burn evenly. Some even have the corners cut off to make them easier to roll.

 

Rolling or how to pack a blunt

Joints and spliffs are made the same way. Both use filters or crutches to keep their shape and prevent the blooms from falling into the mouth. They have a cylindrical shape that resembles a classic cigarette, which makes them relatively easy to roll, especially for beginners.

However, rolling a blunt is a bit more challenging. Compared to a joint and spliff, it has a much larger diameter and length, so it often takes longer to fill. If working with cigar wrappers, they need to be cut open and the tobacco carefully removed so as not to damage the paper. It must then be sealed and the lighter run along its length. As blunts are larger, they are usually rolled into a conical cylinder to accommodate more. Some smokers cut the tobacco leaves to make the blunts smaller.

What are HHC pre-rolls?

Rolling a cannabis cigarette takes practice and experience. Beginners need to work on their rolling skills. Uneven joints will often burn on one side if not wrapped tightly enough, as the cannabis will start to burn much faster.  

So some users choose the easier route, pre-rolls. These are pre-packaged joints. You can get HHC pre-rolls containing 15-40% HHC in 0.8-2g sizes in different varieties such as Pineapple Express, Lemon Skunk, Strawberry Cough, Candy Crush and others. 

HHC, like CBD, is found in the cannabis plant, but only in tiny amounts in its natural form. The chemical process by which it is produced is called hydrogenation. This compound is formed by combining CBD (or THC) with hydrogen molecules. HHC flowers thus contain synthetic HHC, which is born in laboratories. We have written more in the article: Potential effects, benefits and risks of HHC. 

Summary

Joints are the most well-known form of cannabis use. Spliffs are similar to joints but also contain tobacco. Both joints and spliffs are small, portable and easy to light. Blunts, on the other hand, are only used by die-hard fans and are typically seen mainly in the US, and are hardly seen in the rest of the world. Blunts are preferred by users who want to smoke 100% flower but still require a touch of tobacco.

The difference between joints, spliffs and blunts can be defined by the amount of cannabis and tobacco and the material from which they are packaged. Knowing how to roll properly requires experience. If you lack skill and want to save time, you can reach for pre-rolls.  

 

Photo: Shutterstock

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