What is a pre roll?

A pre-roll is a ready-to-go joint filled with cannabis that you can buy from a store—it’s pre-rolled for you. Pre-roll has become the industry-preferred term, rather than “joint,” though many cannabis consumers still call them joints. Pre-rolls are among the most common methods of smoking cannabis and can likely be found at most dispensaries.

Pre-rolls vs. joints

Joints are one of the most ubiquitous and well-known methods of consuming cannabis, sometimes called “marijuana cigarettes” by those unfamiliar with them.

Now that cannabis has made the jump from being unregulated to regulated, the dispensary-preferred term for a joint is a pre-roll, because it is cannabis that is rolled up before customers buy it. Pre-rolls can be the same width all the way up and down their length or be “cones,” having a wider end that tapers down to a small mouthpiece.

How to use a pre-roll

Most pre-rolls come with a crutch in the drawing end for structural support. Light the opposite end and inhale, as you would any joint.

If the pre-roll wasn’t rolled perfectly it may take multiple lights for it to catch, and it’s possible it may burn uneven or go out in the middle. If your pre-roll has a side that is burning faster—”running”—you can lick a finger and use your saliva to wet the paper to slow the burning and encourage a more even burn.

Effects should be felt in minutes. Extinguish the pre-roll and save the rest for later.