Joints are the penultimate smoking method, and the style that each roller deploys is as personal as it gets. Naturals to the craft create stunning examples of cones, pinners, bats, and other classic joint shapes, while others are simply functional with little aesthetic appeal.
Joints are an expression of the fun and whimsy of cannabis, so it's not surprising that so many stoners have channeled their creativity into their joints. From Seth Rogen rolling cross joints to Tony Greenhand's mind-boggling creations, the spectrum is vast. Specially designed custom joint art can even run upwards of a few thousand dollars depending on the shape and amount of flower used.
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The quality of the weed and the strain you select is equally as important as the shape you roll. But if you're nervous about botching your first few attempts, try practicing with shake or weed that might be slightly past its prime. The lower the stakes, the more fun you'll have.
Make your own smokeable art
Using the same tools you use to roll a humble joint and some basic joint-rolling skills, you can create masterpieces in no time at all.
What you'll need:
- a grinder
- high-quality rolling papers
- filters
- a toothpick
- scissors
Master joint rollers know that the sticky strip on rolling papers can be used for a number of crafty purposes. When lightly moistened, this sticky strip provides a natural gum that is just right for smoking. It doesn't create any excess weight or add unknown chemicals which aren't combustible to the mix. And it stays put provided you don't overwet the paper.
Here are two joint shapes to get you started.
The cross joint
Start by rolling a beefy joint with a filter. The more cannabis in your joint, the easier the cross joint is to build. If you need a refresher, check out our guide to rolling joints. Next, roll a thin joint to use as the “cross” section of your cross joint. This one does not need a filter.
Using your toothpick, poke a hole approximately three quarters above the bottom of your fat joint. Be gentle and slowly navigate the toothpick all the way through the joint, gradually widening the hole. Eyeball the width of your thin joint and try to make the poked hole slightly smaller.
The next crucial step is to poke a hole straight through the middle of your skinny joint, again wiggling the hole wider. This small hole allows the smoke from the smaller joint to flow up through the larger joint and into your mouth. Take the time to be precise — get this wrong and your cross joint will be unsmokable.
Now you're ready to assemble your cross joint. Carefully insert one end of the thin joint through the hole of your larger joint. Slowly twist, push, and pull the joint through the hole until the small hole in your thin joint is inside the fat joint. The closer you can get the small hole to the center of the fat joint, the better and more evenly your cross joint will burn. Be careful not to move too fast or roughly to avoid breaking either joint.
Lastly, you'll want to reinforce the cross-section of your cross joint. Simply use scissors to cut off the sticky strip on a rolling paper and wrap it around the intersection of your joints. This extra step adds structure and keeps the joint completely airtight.
Once you're ready to smoke your epic cross joint, recruit a friend or two, grab three lighters, and spark up all three ends simultaneously.
The braided joint
Start by rolling three thin joints with filters. Again, if you need a refresher, check out our guide to rolling joints.
Stack the joints in a pyramid and wrap a few sticky strips from other unused rolling papers around the filtered ends of the joints. Moisten them to form a seal and wrap until the joints are bundled snugly. Let the strips dry before moving on to the next step.
Braid the flower-stuffed parts of the joints like you would a lock of hair. Once you reach the end, twist the ends together to lock the flower in. Light up and enjoy.
Bottom line
Whatever shape you roll, make sure all the parts of your art have airways leading to the same filter, or you won't be able to smoke any of the appendages or additions to your primary joint. At the end of the day, your artistic smokeables don't have to be perfect, you just have to enjoy what you are smoking.