During the last two decades, many new methods of smoking weed have become popular. Apart from the classic bong and joint, vaping and dabbing have especially created their own communities. But what about the good old blunt?
Blunts have been here for a long time, even though they’re not as popular as their cousin, the joint. However, blunts have their own unique charm, which is why many choose to smoke weed this way. Their flavor is rich and deep, but it’s not for everyone.
Blunts are larger than joints, but how much weed do they hold exactly? This is what we cover in today’s article, and more – like what makes blunts special and how to roll one. Let’s check it out!
Blunts In a Nutshell
A blunt is a type of cannabis roll that uses a hollowed-out cigar or cigarillo, or a tobacco leaf paper to roll the blunt. It’s different from a joint in that joints use rolling papers. In other words, a blunt is a cigar that’s filled with weed instead of tobacco.
To roll a blunt, you need to either empty a cigar or cigarillo and fill it with cannabis, or buy tobacco leaf paper, also called blunt wraps, and roll the blunt from scratch.
Rolling blunts originally started as a practice in the Northeast, like in New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. The name actually comes from Phillies Blunt, an American cigar brand originally based in Philadelphia. They produce cigars of different sizes, of which the Blunt is a cigar that’s wider than a cigarillo and it’s machine-made, rather than hand-rolled. This made it more affordable, and its price coupled with its size which was fitting for smoking weed made it a popular choice for rolling blunts.
Are Blunts Better than Joints?
Both blunts and joints are equally effective in getting you high, so it’s about preference, really. While you can’t go wrong with smoking a joint, blunts have their own unique charms, especially if you enjoy the tobacco flavor and the buzz it provides. Both are easily accessible as you can find high-quality rolling papers and cigars/blunt wraps in most dispensaries, convenience stores, and gas stations.
The only concern about blunts is that tobacco releases toxic byproducts when it burns. Plus, since nicotine is highly addictive, it increases the risk of nicotine addiction in non-smokers if you smoke blunts regularly.
Why Weed Users Like Blunts
Blunts may not be as popular as joints because of the tobacco flavor and the harsher smoke, but many users have a taste for them and enjoy smoking weed this way.
For one, some like the initial head buzz that occurs as a result of the THC, CBD, and nicotine combo (just like spliffs), plus it creates an initial rush of adrenaline which can make your high more energizing.
Apart from that, many users actually enjoy the fuller flavor and aroma of a blunt. While burnt tobacco does have a particular smell, especially when combined with marijuana, some weed connoisseurs like it precisely because of that, especially if it’s a flavored blunt wrap.
Finally, many cannabis users like blunts because they burn slowly and allow you to take your time while toking. One blunt can even last you for several smoking sessions, which is one more reason why it’s so attractive to many cannabis enthusiasts.
So, How Much Weed Do You Need for a Blunt?
Blunts are much bigger than joints. Since the average joint can hold between 0.25 to 1 gram of weed at the most, blunts can hold double and triple this amount, so about 2 or 3 grams of cannabis, depending on the kind of wrap you use. On average, cigarillos hold about 1 or 2 grams, while cigars can go up to 3.5 grams aka an eighth.
Blunt wrappers are not only larger than rolling papers, but they’re also much sturdier and heavier, which enables them to hold a lot more weed than a joint. Additionally, they also burn much slower and are suitable for those who like long smoking sessions or sharing with a group.
How Much Nicotine Is There In a Blunt?
Since blunts are rolled with tobacco leaf papers or weed is inserted in an emptied cigar/cigarillo, their nicotine content is not negligent.
According to a 2016 study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, the nicotine content in a cigar wrapper ranges from 1.2 to 6.0 milligrams, depending on the brand. This is a relatively low nicotine content compared to a whole cigar, which is between 10 and 12 milligrams on average. However, when you mix tobacco with cannabis, even a low nicotine content will make a difference.
How to Roll a Blunt
Now that you know what amount of weed you need for a blunt, let’s see how to roll the perfect blunt every time. Once you get it right the first time, you’ll get it right all the time.
You’ll need:
- Your favorite Indica or Sativa
- Grinder (recommended, but not necessary)
- Blunt wraps (tobacco leaf paper), or cigar/cigarillo
Make sure the cigar or blunt wrap you use isn’t too dry, otherwise it will crumble when trying to roll it – there must be some moisture so it’s flexible enough. Any cigar brand will do, but if you’re lost, the most common brands you’ll find in stores are White Owl, Swisher Sweets, Backwoods, and Phillies.
Let’s roll:
- It’s best to use your grinder to grind the weed because this will make it burn more evenly. You can also use your hands, and while it’s not ideal, it will do the job, plus it will make the blunt burn a little slower;
- If you use a cigar/cigarillo, cut it open with a knife lengthwise, pull it apart, and empty it from the tobacco. You don’t have to discard the tobacco as you can use it later to roll spliffs;
- Now you need some moisture to make the tobacco leaf more malleable. You will need just a tiny bit of water to moisten the blunt wrap and spread the moisture. This will help to roll it more easily as well as seal any small tears that may have occurred during the splitting;
- Put the ground cannabis on the blunt wrap and spread it lengthwise in the center of the wrap. Before you seal it, make sure the weed is packed and distributed evenly by rolling it between your fingers. Take your time with this step as it’s essentially the final step before sealing the blunt. Unlike joints, blunts are rolled straight and not coned, so even distribution is important;
- Then, tuck one edge of the blunt wrapper under the other. Tuck it tightly and lick the edge so you can seal it. If the wrap cracks during this process, you can wet a small piece of tobacco leaf and seal it;
- When it’s all tightly sealed, use your lighter to bake it, which means you run the lighter lightly over the seal. The purpose is to evaporate the moisture from the licking earlier, help it to hold its shape, and seal it tighter. But be careful, you don’t want to light it, just prime it for smoking;
- Finally, light the blunt and enjoy it, or save it for later.
Conclusion – Blunts Hold More Weed than Joints
Blunts definitely have character and their own charm thanks to the combination of weed and nicotine. Even though they’re not as popular as joints, many users like them for the rich flavor and the slight buzz you get from the nicotine.
Unlike joints, blunts aren’t rolled coned, so the most important thing when rolling is to distribute the weed evenly in the center along the length of the blunt wrap before you seal it. Finally, choose cigars or blunt wraps that aren’t dry so they won’t fall apart when you roll the blunt.
