Infused pre-rolls start with the same idea as a standard joint but add a layer of concentrate — inside, outside, or both — that changes the potency, flavor, and burn in ways regular flower alone can't deliver. Here's what they are, how they're made, and how to roll one yourself.
Photo by: Gina Coleman/WeedmapsImage lightbox
Where the concentrate sits inside the joint determines how the product smokes. An inside infusion blends with the flower for a more gradual, even burn. An outside coating delivers concentrate from the first draw and can act as a base for a kief layer.
Some infused pre-rolls use both methods, stacking potency and extending the experience from start to finish.
Infused pre-rolls have become one of the fastest-growing segments in the pre-roll market, offering higher potency and more complex flavor profiles than standard joints.
Photo by: Gina Coleman/WeedmapsImage lightbox
How much do infused pre-rolls cost?
Since infused pre-rolls contain more than flower, expect the price points to be higher than a regular joint. Pricing varies significantly by market, concentrate type, and brand, but infused pre-rolls generally range from around $10 to $30 for 1 to 1.5 grams. Markets with more competition, like California and Michigan, have seen prices compress in recent years.
What concentrates are used in infused pre-rolls?
There are many concentrate options available for infusions:
Kief or Hash
Photo by: Gina Coleman/WeedmapsImage lightbox
Two concentrates that are relatively easy to collect or make, kief and hash are both popular choices.
- Kief: The term for the accumulated loose trichomes identified as the greenish powder left in a grinder after grinding fresh cannabis flower. Easily mixed into joints and blunts or sprinkled on top of bowls, kief is likely the cheapest and most readily available option for handmade infused joints and it can enhance both the flavor and potency of your pre-roll. Its powdery nature makes it easy to blend with ground herb and ensures a smooth and even airflow through the joint.
- Hash: Hashish, also known as hash, is a concentrated form of cannabis that is derived from the resinous trichomes of the cannabis plant. To create hashish, the trichomes are separated from the plant material through various physical methods, such as sieving, shaking, or with ice and water. The collected resin is then typically pressed or heated to form a solid or semi-solid mass, which is the hashish. Widely considered one of the original concentrates that date back centuries, hash is solid and it's best to break it down into smaller pieces when infusing into a joint. Sharp edges and big chunks of it can rip rolling papers and create a loosely packed and poorly smoking joint.
Live resin extracts
Photo by: Gina Coleman/WeedmapsImage lightbox
Live resin comes in many consistencies:
- Shatter is a solvent-based extract — typically made with butane — known for its glass-like texture and high cannabinoid content. It was once widely considered a benchmark for concentrate purity, though the market has since moved toward a broader range of extraction methods and product formats. It can be broken into pieces and added inside a joint or warmed and applied to the outside.
- Sauce has a sticky, viscous consistency that retains a high concentration of terpenes during extraction. It's commonly paired with diamonds and adds significant flavor when used as an infusion.
- Diamonds are THCA crystalline structures that form in sauce. The crystals themselves are nearly flavorless — they're composed almost entirely of THCA with minimal terpene content, which is why they're typically consumed alongside sauce rather than on their own. Diamonds contain THCA, which is non-intoxicating in its raw form but converts to intoxicating THC when heated through decarboxylation. Their high purity and the labor involved in producing them make diamonds one of the pricier concentrate options.
- Budder has a creamy, pliable consistency similar to butter or cake batter, achieved by purging solvents at higher temperatures and agitating the extract during processing. Its texture makes it easy to incorporate into joints or blunts.
- Crumble: Crumble is a dry and honeycomb-like concentrate created through solvent extraction — it can be added to any joint for an infused experience.
Rosin
Photo by: Gina Coleman/WeedmapsImage lightbox
Made by applying heat and pressure to cannabis flower or hash, rosin can be made at home or found in almost any dispensary. It's an excellent at-home option for handcrafted joints.
Consistencies of rosin include:
- Fresh press: Maintains a sap-like consistency that can be dabbed. Best used fresh.
- Cold cure: Rosin that's left to cure at low temperatures. It's whipped after, resulting in a smooth and creamy consistency.
- Jam/Sauce: Rosin that has a viscous and syrupy texture, similar to the consistency of jam or sauce.
- Solventless diamonds: A crystalline rosin structure produced without solvents. Like solvent-based diamonds, these are high in THCA and low in residual terpenes on their own.
Moon rocks
Photo by: Gina Coleman/WeedmapsImage lightbox
Moon rocks are made by dipping cannabis flower into concentrate and rolling the coated bud in kief. Potency varies by product and producer — moon rocks are significantly stronger than standard flower, though published THC figures vary widely by brand. Some dispensaries carry moon-rock-infused pre-rolls, though they can burn unevenly and take more effort to smoke than a standard infused joint.
Moon rocks are sometimes called "cannabis caviar," though definitions vary by brand and market. In general usage, caviar refers to flower dipped in extract but not rolled in kief — but not all producers use the terms the same way. If you're at a dispensary and unsure what you're getting, ask before you buy.
How to make an infused pre-roll
Making your own infused pre-roll is a handy skill. The materials needed are the same as a joint or regular pre-roll, differing only with the addition of concentrates.
Photo by: Gina Coleman/WeedmapsImage lightbox
Since concentrates vary widely in texture and consistency, you may prefer to work with some over others. Each option will produce slightly different results, so experiment and try different combinations to find works for you.
Materials
- Rolling papers
- Filter
- Grinder
- Metal dab tool
- Sheet of paper
- ½ to 1 gram of cannabis
- Concentrate(s) of choice
Step 1: Grind cannabis
Photo by: Gina Coleman/WeedmapsImage lightbox
Break up your flower and grind it to an even consistency.
Step 2: Warm up concentrate
Photo by: Gina Coleman/WeedmapsImage lightbox
Depending on the concentrate, gentle warming makes it easier to apply. Warm it briefly between your palms or in natural sunlight — avoid direct heat sources.
Step 3: Form filter or crutch
Photo by: Gina Coleman/WeedmapsImage lightbox
Filters, also called crutches, are key to an enjoyable experience since they prevent bits of flower from entering your mouth and can mitigate burned lips when the joint is down to the roach.
Fold the filter paper in a zigzag on one end. Once you reach the halfway point, roll the remaining paper around the zigzag to secure it. Too tight and the joint won't draw; too loose and it won't hold its shape.
Step 4: Set up your paper
Photo by: Gina Coleman/WeedmapsImage lightbox
Fold your rolling paper in half horizontally. Place the filter at the smoking end and lay it flat on your rolling surface.
Step 5: Add flower to paper and filter
Photo by: Gina Coleman/WeedmapsImage lightbox
Distribute ground cannabis evenly along the folded crease.
Step 6: Add concentrate to joint
Photo by: Gina Coleman/WeedmapsImage lightbox
For an inside infusion, distribute concentrate along the flower and use a dab tool to mix it in. For an outside infusion, use a softer, more malleable concentrate like wax or sauce — these adhere more evenly to the paper's surface and can serve as a base for a kief coating, similar to a moon rock joint.
Step 7: Roll and seal
Photo by: Gina Coleman/WeedmapsImage lightbox
Use your thumbs and index fingers to work the flower and concentrate into an even shape before rolling. Tuck the unglued edge tightly around the cannabis first, then roll upward with light, steady pressure to keep the joint firm without choking airflow.
Once the paper is nearly closed, lightly wet the adhesive strip and seal it shut. Let the seam dry for a few seconds before lighting so it stays tight during the burn.
How to take it further? Brush a thin line of concentrate along the outside and dust it with kief.
Step 8: Smoke and enjoy
Photo by: Gina Coleman/WeedmapsImage lightbox
Once crafted, enjoy your work and smoke it like you would any other joint.
How to roll a donut joint
A donut hole joint — sometimes called a hash hole — is rolled by placing a line of concentrate on top of a base layer of ground flower, then covering it with more flower before rolling into a cone shape. As the joint burns, the melting concentrate creates a hollow channel through the middle, forming the signature “donut hole.”
Photo by: Gina Coleman/WeedmapsImage lightbox
The result is a slower-burning joint with heavier flavor and a more concentrated smoke throughout.
Why choose infused pre-rolls?
Infused pre-rolls offer more potency, more flavor complexity, and more variety than standard joints. They're a practical option for consumers with higher tolerance, anyone looking to get more out of their flower, or anyone curious about how different concentrates change the smoking experience.
Whether you're buying from a dispensary or rolling your own, the concentrate you choose will shape the experience as much as the flower does.
Featured image by Gina Coleman/Weedmaps
