How to Make a Joint Burn Slower and Last Longer

Proper joint rolling is considered a fine art in many social circles. There’s something special about a properly rolled, evenly burning joint that seems to last as long as you want it to. Unfortunately, not all of us have the magic green touch and joint rolling can be somewhat of a cumbersome task.

One opportunity that plagues rollers from all levels of experience is being able to extend the life of a joint. Understanding how to make a joint burn slower is a question that has surfed the cannabis forums for some time. To achieve longer, more leisurely smoke sessions, here are a few tips to help make your joints last longer.

1. Grind Your Cannabis

Ensuring an even and fine grind is imperative not only to achieving a longer lasting smoke, but a far more even burn on all sides of the joint. Try to find a grinder that gives a good fine grind when packing a joint. Be sure not to over grind, as powdery herb will prevent proper airflow and may compromise your smoking experience.

Grinders come in all shapes and sizes, so be sure to pick one that will accommodate the capacity of your joint so you aren’t left having to pack multiple loads. When time is of the essence, you’ll want to avoid long preparations to save time for what matters: puffing.

2. Source Quality Starting Material

Cure time will affect the burn rate of the cannabis inside of your joint, so buying properly cured cannabis is going to ensure you a much longer lasting experience. Cannabis that has been under-cured will burn very slowly, as opposed to dry or old cannabis that will burn far too quickly for a proper joint. Sourcing your herb from reputable establishments is the first step to finding a product that works best.

Another great tip is to have a conversation with your budtender or cannabis retailer about your intentions so that they can find a cannabis cultivar that fits your exact needs. In this case, you’ll want to ask for something that breaks down easily and will provide an even and long lasting smoke. Many shops sell shake bags that consist of partially ground cannabis, which is a great starting point.

3. Choose the Right Paper

Rolling papers come in all shapes and sizes, and some are much better at providing a long lasting, even smoke than others. Finding the right rolling paper is a matter of preference, but some popular brands include RAW Rolling Papers and Zig Zags. Both of these brands offer highly recommended rolling papers that come in varying sizes. Hemp rolling papers offer a nice even smoke, and many claim that corn husk rolling papers will extend the life of your joint.

4. Use Multiple Sheets

When rolling your joint, consider using an extra paper for fortification. Using more than one sheet will prevent burn runs from overtaking a side of your joint, leaving you with an uneven and undesirable burn. A second sheet may also help contain airflow, channeling it through a tighter space. This will help to prevent expedited burning.

5. Roll Tight

Airflow is the name of the game when it comes to having control over your joint’s burn rate. The easiest way to control airflow is to roll a tight, even joint. There are many methods for achieving a tight roll, and even machines that will help eliminate the guess work and dexterity required to achieve a precise roll. Opt for help if need be, because rolling a joint with the perfect tightness requires practice.

One method that works well for novice rollers is the canoe method. Fold a rolling paper in half and twist the folded side of one of the ends into a cone. This creates a “canoe” that can be easily packed and rolled. The twisted end contains your herb while you focus on getting the tightest roll possible. Try not to roll too tight, as you’ll risk splitting your paper as well as creating an airflow obstruction.

6. “Twax” Your Joint

“Twaxing,” or the process of adding cannabis concentrates to your joint, is a terrific way of delivering an extra boost of cannabinoids to your system while also acting as a buffering agent for burn rates. Adding wax either to the outside of your joint or packed in with the ground cannabis will help to significantly slow down the rate at which your joint burns. This method will give you more hits that should pack a considerable punch.

Using butters or crumble works well inside of a joint, whereas shatters and saps do a wonderful job when molded and wrapped around the outside of your rolled apparatus.

7. Recycle Roaches

Typically, the end of a joint will yield the last few remnants of your cannabis. Don’t let this go to waste — there are several ways of recycling roaches in order to extend your smoking experience.

Using a roach clip or roach stone will allow you safe handling for getting those last few puff in. Loading a roach into a bowl or water pipe is also a great way of extending the last legs of life out of your roach. If all else, fails, don’t hesitate to pick the last bit of green goodness out of your expired joint to repurpose somewhere else. Having your grinder nearby is a perfect storage place for that last little bit of leftover ground flower to save for your next smoking adventure.

Hopefully, some of these tips will help you to extend your joint smoking experience a bit longer the next time you decide to partake. Remember, if you really want to make your joints last longer, the trick is to find a balance between quality cannabis, reputable rolling papers, and a roller who knows how to get the job done.

Bonus tip: Quality and quantity will always ensure a longer experience. If you want your smoke sash to last longer, try rolling bigger joints (and more of them). Remember, sharing is caring!