How To Tell The Difference Between Joints, Spliffs, and Blunts

If you’ve ever been around those who prefer to smoke cannabis as opposed to edibles and sublinguals, chances are you’ve heard some terminology that you might not have completely understood. When it comes to rolling up, there are several words that refer to smokeable products: joints, spliffs, and blunts. Each of these three products have slight nuances to differentiate one from the other. Rather than lump all three together and use the terms interchangeably, now you can learn what makes joints, spliffs, and blunts so unique. By the end of this article, you should feel confident enough in using all three terms like a professional. Let’s define some terms and do a quick recap on what cannabis is.

Brief Recap On Cannabis

The term “cannabis” has evolved to loosely refer to weed, but is actually the mother plant responsible for both marijuana and hemp. If cannabis contains 0.3% THC or less, it is classified as hemp, whereas anything more than 0.3% THC is considered marijuana. Many states are relaxing their stance regarding the use of marijuana in both medicinal and recreational use, but it is still classified as an illegal substance by many states. Hemp, on the other hand, is considered legal on a federal level in accordance with the 2018 Farm Bill. Some states still have restrictions regarding the sale and consumption of hemp products within that state. You’ll need to check your local state laws regarding the legalities surrounding both hemp and marijuana. Now that you have more of a basic understanding of what cannabis is, it’s time to dive into the specifics of what makes joints, spliffs, and blunts.

What Makes Joints, Spliffs, and Blunts So Unique

There are three main types of smokeables: joints, spliffs, and blunts. The difference lies in the amount of cannabis and tobacco all three have, as well as the type of rolling material used. We use the term “cannabis” but keep in mind this can refer to weed or psychoactive cannabinoid-infused flower. Both joints and spliffs use rolling papers whereas blunts use a tobacco wrap. Joints contain 100% cannabis, whereas spliffs contain a blend of both tobacco and cannabis. Blunts, on the other hand, will contain 100% cannabis within a tobacco wrap. To put it bluntly (pardon the pun!), here’s a chart to help you see the differences at a glance.

Joints

Joints are a fan favorite due to how easy they are to make as well as how portable they are. Making a joint requires simply a grinder and rolling papers. You can get very creative with the type of grinders and rolling papers you use; grinders come in many shapes and sizes, while rolling papers can be flavored and come in different colors and sizes. You’ll usually find rolling papers in small, medium, or large (i.e., singles, 1 ¼, 1 ½, wide, and king) and are available in various sizes (thin, ultra thin, wide, etc.). The paper itself can be flavored in fruits or desserts and may be crafted from materials like rice, flax, hemp, paper, and others. One key part of a join is that it has a filter (also known as a crutch), at one end where you take your puffs. This filter allows for better stability in the joint and also prevents any accidental burning of your fingertips.

Spliffs

Spliffs differ from joints in that they have a combination of both cannabis and tobacco. Spliffs are hand rolled with rolling paper and also have filters (crutches) for easier use. The use of tobacco in spliffs helps to deliver a stronger and more energetic buzz with each hit, making them ideal for current tobacco smokers. Spliffs also allow for more creativity in crafting the hand-roll. Some may prefer more tobacco, more cannabis, or an equal blend of both.

Blunts

Blunts are created similarly to spliffs, but have a major difference: rather than using rolling papers, they require a tobacco wrap. You can find flavored tobacco wraps at traditional smoke shops in either 1- or 2-packs. If you’re not able to find a flavored tobacco wrap, consider cutting open and emptying cigars and cigarillos from popular brands and using that as your tobacco wrap. Since blunts utilize tobacco wraps instead of rolling papers, the blunt will be larger and longer-lasting than joints or spliffs. The use of tobacco wraps will also deliver a jolt of energy along with a comfortable buzz as you start to feel the effects.

Choosing Between Rolling Papers & Tobacco Wrappers

Making the decision to go with rolling papers or tobacco wrappers may have a profound effect on your overall experience. You’ll need to experiment with both to figure out which one you prefer. From then, you can decide the size of the paper or wrapper as well as how much cannabis/tobacco you want.

Rolling paper for joints are usually in the following cone sizes: singles, 1 ¼, 1½, wide, king, slims or thins. The rolling papers for spliffs are typically in the 1½, wide, or king cone as they require more surface area to hold both cannabis and tobacco. And of course, the blunts will use either wraps or cut and emptied cigar/cigarillos.

Once you’ve decided on what to roll, it’s time to decide both how many you want to make and how big you want to make them. For a single roll for you or a friend to share, a simple 1 ¼ will suffice. But a big group will require a larger roll, meaning you should probably use a king cone. Also keep in mind that the thickness of the paper will affect your smoking session. Thick papers will burn much slower but you’ll definitely notice the taste of the paper as you puff, puff, pass. Thin papers won’t leave behind much of that undesirable paper flavor, but will burn much faster.

If you opt for flavored rolling papers, be prepared for an altered flavor and scent. For example, strawberry scented rolling papers may smell better than acrid smoke, but you won’t get the full flavor and aroma of the strain of cannabis. Some users actually prefer specific strains for the distinct aroma and flavor of the terpenes and crushed bud as they burn.

Lastly, the quality of the rolling paper will determine how much you enjoy your smoking session. High quality rolling papers should be somewhat resistant to tears, be easy to seal, feel comfortable between your fingers, and burn evenly. Lesser quality papers might be cheaper but may result in lost cannabis and burnt fingertips.

A Quick Summary of Joints, Spliffs, & Blunts

We’ve covered a lot of material and it might be a tad difficult to remember everything about joints, blunts, and spliffs all at once. To summarize, we’ve created a chart that helps you see instantly the pros and cons of using each one.

You may find that you prefer one type of roll over another. In Europe, joints are shunned as being wasteful, whereas in the United States, they are the preferred roll (especially in recent years as tobacco has become villainized). Blunts are not typically seen outside the United States, making them truly unique for that dedicated group of consumers. The key is to find which roll you’re most comfortable with and pinpoint why.

Here at Native Extracts, we look to answer some of the most frequently asked questions in the cannabis industry. Not only does this help educate our consumers, but it helps to shed light on some of the more confusing aspects of cannabis. If you’re not quite ready to start rolling up your joint, spliff, or blunt, we offer a wide range of products and cannabinoids that tailor to both the beginner and the experienced user. Check out our edibles and inhalables available in Delta-8 THC, Farm Bill Compliant Delta-9 THC, HHC, and THC-O. In our next article, we’ll be looking at the important role a grinder plays in the cannabis experience. As always, feel free to reach out to our team with your questions and concerns regarding the fascinating world of cannabis. We look forward to hearing from you soon!