What’s the Difference Between a Blunt and a Joint?

While smoking is arguably the most popular way to consume cannabis, many people still confuse joints and blunts. So what’s the difference between a joint and a blunt after all? 

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Joint vs blunt components

A joint is a cannabis cigarette made by rolling weed on a small piece of paper. Joints typically contain pure cannabis, allowing consumers to enjoy this plant’s natural flavor and effects.  A typical joint contains the following components:

Cannabis flower 

This is the source of the active compound in your joint. If the active ingredient is THC, a psychoactive compound, you’ll experience the high feeling associated with weed. Some consumers, however, may prefer to smoke a CBD-dominant joint for its therapeutic benefits. 

Besides this, the cannabis flower also provides the structural support needed to keep your joint in perfect shape. 

Rolling papers

Wrapping or rolling paper is responsible for encasing the cannabis flower. There are several types of rolling papers you can choose from. They include:

Pre-rolls – As the name suggests, these cones are ready-made shells for your flower. All you need to do is grind up your cannabis and fill pre-rolled papers. Then you can seal the edges with ease and enjoy your herb. 

Hemp rolling papers – Hemp papers are a sustainable way to roll your herb. They have a medium thickness, making them easier to roll. Additionally, they have a mild taste; hence they don’t mask the flavor of your joint.  

Rice rolling papers – These types are usually ultra-thin, unlike the hemp ones. The major disadvantage of these rolling papers is that it lacks rigidity, making it hard to roll your joint. Its smoothness also makes it hard to hold, affecting the overall smoking experience. 

Flax rolling papers – While also ultra-thin, the particular texture of flax rolling papers actually makes it easier to roll and encase your flower. They are also 100% natural, giving off very little smoke when burnt. What’s more, flax has a mild taste, ensuring you enjoy the natural flavor of your joint.

Filter or crutch

This is a mouthpiece you put your lips to inhale the cannabis vapor. It also prevents the cannabis matter from getting into your mouth. 

On the other side, blunts are cigars that have had the tobacco removed and replaced with cannabis. You can roll the flower using tobacco leaf wrappers or cigar papers. 

According to Wikipedia, its name comes from a cigar brand called Phillies Blunt. Blunts were introduced to enjoy cannabis discreetly, given their portability. 

Blunt vs joint comparison

Now that you understand the definition of the two, it’s time to dive into the skeleton of our topic: the difference between a blunt and a joint. 

Size

The size of a joint will depend on the rolling paper used. When using standard rolling papers, you’ll have a size 68-70mm x 34-36mm wide joint. This size is ideal for solo smoke sessions. If you use king-size rolling papers, the joint will be larger than standard ones, usually 4 x 2 inches. 

Another factor that can affect the size of a joint is the amount of flower used. Thus, if you use more weed, you’ll end up with a larger joint serving several people.

On the other hand, blunts are usually larger than a typical joint, with some holding two to five grams of cannabis. However, the actual size will depend on the length of the cigar paper and the amount of cannabis used. 

Flavor 

The flavor is another factor you can use to compare joint vs. blunt. The flavor will come from the strain used rather than the rolling paper for joints. The main reason for this is that most rolling papers have a mild taste, which doesn’t impact the natural flavor of the herb. 

However, you can also buy flavored papers to roll your joint if you prefer. Popular flavors include strawberry, grape, peach, blueberry and cotton candy.  

However, the flavor of a blunt can be affected by the type of wrapping used. Thus, the tobacco will be mixed with the strain’s flavor, bringing out a different taste. 

Hence, you’ll have to experiment with different strains to get the right one to mix with your preferred cigar wrap. 

Potency 

When comparing the potency between the two, several factors might affect it. For instance, tobacco wrappers used in a blunt may increase the buzz compared to smoking pure cannabis joints. 

Also, blunts pack larger amounts of marijuana than joints, potentially increasing the potency. 

Also, individual smoking habits may increase the potency of blunts. Consumers tend to take deeper puffs when smoking blunts, increasing the active ingredient absorption. 

Joints vs blunts: pros and cons 

Now that you understand the major differences between joints and blunts let’s go through the pros and cons of each.

Joints – One of the primary reasons why joints are popular is their portability. You can stick them on a doob tube or roll on the go. However, the rolling paper is usually thin and delicate, which can affect the overall structure if you’re not careful. 

Blunts – Blunts, on the other hand, offer a premium and smoother smoking experience. They pack large amounts of cannabis, which is worth the time and money. However, the presence of tobacco can affect the natural flavor of the strain used. 

Other ways to smoke weed: Spliff or bong

Spliffs have become another popular way to smoke weed. Spliffs are rolled like joints. However, the cannabis filling is mixed with tobacco before being encased in the rolling paper. 

Besides boosting the hit, spliffs are more discreet than joints. This is because the tobacco present mask the smell of weed.  However, smoking tobacco may lead to health complications in the long run. 

Smoking from a glass bong, on the other hand, removes rolling papers from the mix altogether.

Joints vs blunts main difference 

Some of the major differences between the joints vs blunts is size, potency, components and flavor. Blunts tend to be larger, more potent and impact the flavor whereas joints generally bring out the natural flavor of the herb.