A Brief Guide to Rolling Papers

Posted by Anna Johnson on July 20th, 2022

As the name implies, rolling papers—also called blanks or joints—refer to a kind of specialty paper used for encasing dry herbs like cannabis when rolling joints. Materials that make up the sheets vary, from straw, rice, and hemp to flax and wood pulp. These fibers are chosen because they have a tendency to burn slower, thus making them suitable when it comes to smoking.

How are they made?

Rolling paper is usually made with non-wood fibers, such as rice, hemp, and the others previously mentioned above, due to the properties that allow them to burn slower compared to wood fibers, from which regular paper is made. The chosen fibers are then processed and pressed into thin sheets, and most have specific chemicals that have an influence on factors like burn rate and color.

The finished products are usually sold in miniature cardboard packs and come in various dimensions—generally between seventy and a hundred millimeters long. Some might be infused with terpenes, and these flavored rolling papers can come in varieties, including but not necessarily limited to grape, blueberry, and pineapple.

Are they illegal?

It isn’t illegal to sell or buy rolling papers. However, the sale and purchase of cannabis-related goods used to be more restricted in the past. To overcome this challenge, companies advertised its use for tobacco rather than hemp. Doing so enabled them to sell their goods freely without any legal constraints.

Do they contain nicotine?

It's relatively common for additives to be used when creating rolling paper. However, nicotine isn't usually an ingredient that's added to these products. The rolls that typically have it are blunt wraps because they come from tobacco leaves. With that said, there are also organic blunt wraps that do not have nicotine.

What to consider when picking rolling paper

When looking for rolling paper to purchase, there are things you’ll need to consider first carefully. For starters, can you roll joints? It may be a strange question to ask, but if you can’t do it well, you should begin with the bigger paper. They come in various sizes, and the largest ones are easier to manipulate.

You’ll also need to determine the type of paper you want. Again, there are many different types you can choose from, ranging from hemp to wood pulp. There are also flavored variations for those who want a more pleasing aroma.

Non-rolling products

If rolling joints isn’t your jam, there are cones you can try. They come in different sizes and have the glue and filter tip already done for you. The only thing you need to do to start smoking is to break the cannabis buds and pack them into the cone with the use of the plunger stick that typically comes with them.

Conclusion

If you want to smoke cannabis, rolling papers are essential, especially if you don’t like using blunt wraps. However, make sure that you do your homework and check reviews before you make any purchases. Doing so will help you maximize the enjoyment of the smoking experience.