Joints, Blunts, and Spliffs: What’s the Difference?

With the increase in cannabis legalization and decriminalization, more and more people are enjoying the pleasure of a good and much appreciated smoke. While many prefer to use an apparatus such as a glass pipe or bong in order to medicate, others enjoy the traditional process of rolling up their own. Veteran users especially can be found migrating toward joints, blunts, and spliffs.

That brings us to the meanings behind the lingo, which can sometimes be confusing. Many uninformed people use these terms describing a cannabis cigarette interchangeably, but there are notable differences between the three. It all comes down to what is inside, and what is used for rolling.

Let’s discuss the difference between a joint, a blunt, and a spliff.

The Joint

For those who grew up in the US, joint is probably the most common term used to describe rolled up cannabis. A joint is just that, weed and nothing else, rolled up in cigarette form using rolling papers.

Joints vary in size depending on the type of paper and the amount of cannabis that is used for the roll. Papers are usually light and almost translucent and can be flavored, colored, or made from natural hemp. All that is needed to roll a joint is the weed and the paper. Rolling trays and cigarette rollers are available, but not necessary. A piece of thicker paper folded back onto itself and rolled into a cylinder can be used as a filter, but this also is not a total necessity. Filters serve the purpose of keeping the cannabis from getting into your mouth. It gives the joint more stability and helps keep your fingers from getting burnt.

A joint is easy to roll, with practice, and is easy to transport to your favorite smoking area. A well-rolled joint provides a wonderful way to enjoy a beautiful sunset while reaping the benefits of a medicated smoke.

The Blunt

A blunt uses a cigar wrap instead of paper for rolling and requires a goodly amount of bud. The wrap is made of tobacco and is usually filled with only cannabis.

To roll a blunt, you begin with a store bought cigar, or cigarillo, and carefully remove all the interior tobacco. Next, fill the wrap with weed and twist up the end to keep your product from falling out. A properly rolled blunt is cylindrical and can hold as much as a gram or more of cannabis in one single wrap.

Made popular by the hip-hop culture in New York City, blunts offer the combined sensations of tobacco and weed with enough cannabis in it for an intense high. Biggie rapped about blunts. Nas rapped about blunts. Redman recorded a song titled, “How to Roll A Blunt.”

Depending on the choice of cigar used, the flavors can make for a sweet and often very tasty smoking experience. Given the size of the typical blunt wrap, it is a good choice for sharing a smoke with a big group of people.

The Spliff

Around 1856, a pharmacist at the University of Guadalajara saw Mexican laborers mixing cannabis with tobacco in their cigarettes. They called it a joint back in those days, but actually, this was how the birth of the modern day spliff.

A spliff is basically a hybrid between a joint and a blunt. Spliffs look like and are similar to joints, but they are in fact a combination of equal parts of cannabis and tobacco wrapped in rolling paper.  Some smokers use the tobacco out of a cigarette for their spliffs, but it is more cost-effective to use loose tobacco that is designed to be rolled up.

A spliff is a good option for those who already smoke tobacco and want to experience a euphoric feeling at the same time. Because tobacco also gives the smoker a head rush, it’s a good way to conserve your cannabis while still enjoying a relatively good high. For those who don’t like the taste of tobacco or are against using it for health and other reasons, however, it is probably not the best choice.

Spliffs are more prevalent in Europe.

Which Type of Roll is Most Enjoyable?

Each type of roll offers a different experience. Joints tend to give a quick hit, but the smoke is only as strong as the strain. For cannabis connoisseurs, the joint is the preferred choice because it is the healthier one. Plus, most smokers will not want to dilute the flavor and supreme high offered by choice bud with bitter or inferior tobacco.

Tobacco users might prefer to smoke a blunt or a spliff partly because tobacco can mask the smell of cannabis. A blunt hits hard and while it may seem to make you higher, the jolt it causes is really due to the body reacting to the nicotine in the tobacco leaf.

Rolling up a spliff can be a way to make a cannabis stash last longer. A spliff offers a lesser high than both a joint or a blunt. It gives more of an energetic buzz rather than a strong “stoned” feeling. For someone new to smoking cannabis, a spliff might be a way to test the waters.

How to Choose Between the Three

The difference between joints, blunts, and spliffs comes down to what is in them and what they are rolled in. While it is totally a matter of personal preference, all three will get you high. A blunt will hit the hardest and is good for sharing. Depending on the types of cannabis and tobacco used in a spliff, it will create a tobacco high with a little energy that will fade in about 5 minutes, while the cannabis high remains. A joint offers the cleanest, healthiest smoke and remains the classic way to enjoy cannabis.

No matter your preference, Euphoria Wellness can help. We offer a wide selection of choice bud for all your medicinal and recreational needs as well as pre-rolled cones and papers. We also have flavored rolling papers, slim rolling papers, tips and a variety of accessories to make your choice of smoke a happy one. Contact us today to learn more.