How To Choose the Best Rolling Papers for the Best High
Although pop culture may tell you otherwise, it’s probably not a good idea to roll a joint in the pages of a decades-old phone book you found in the attic. Many cannabis users are a little more health-conscious.
Yes, they know they’re still smoking, but they know what they’re smoking.
They’re choosing high-quality organically-grown cannabis flower from a reputable farmer. It seems silly to throw all those precautions out the window by rolling up a blunt in whatever you happen to find in the junk mail drawer.
The joint rolling paper you use will significantly impact your smoking experience. Here’s what you need to know about creating the perfect smoke sesh with the help of top-tier rolling papers.
What To Consider When Buying Rolling Papers
It’s easy to look at a wide assortment of papers and assume they cannot possibly be so different. Some are labeled rolling papers, others are labeled cigarette papers, but how different could they be from this distinction in verbiage? The answer: dramatically different.
Just like there are value and quality versions of everything else you buy, there are many kinds of rolling papers. If you’re the kind of person who shops for quality, here’s what you need to consider before you pick up a pack of papers.
What Are the Rolling Papers Made Of?
Zig Zag is one of the biggest names in rolling papers. The packaging is iconic, and seasoned smokers can spot the orange box from a mile away. For decades, Zig Zag cigarette papers were the only option for cannabis users who needed a discrete solution for rolling joints. Most of them never thought to ask what the papers were made of.
Zig Zag papers are made of a combination of materials, like wood pulp and flax. It’s normal to find flax in decent quality rolling papers, so that ingredient isn’t much of a cause for concern. The most problematic addition to the ingredients list is bleach. Like most other forms of paper, Zig Zag’s papers aren’t naturally white. They used a bleaching process to get them there. Consider what that might mean when you smoke with these papers.
Sustainable and natural marijuana rolling papers, like Raw’s unbleached organic hemp papers, is a safer bet. You can also find organic rice paper rolling papers if you’d rather use a food-grade ingredient. Always check the packaging, and double-check to ensure you’re not picking up papers that are chemically treated.
How Big Are the Rolling Papers?
Rolling paper varieties come in a variety of sizes. Standard size papers are ideal for the average joint, usually containing about a third of a gram of cannabis. There are smaller rolling papers for quick smoke sessions and larger rolling papers, which are sometimes labeled as king-size or XL. These papers are for cannabis connoisseurs who want to share their joints.
Blunt wraps are something else entirely. If you want to roll up more than a gram of cannabis, common sizes of rolling paper probably won’t cut it. Although clever smokers have found ways to link several rolling papers together, it’s ultimately less trouble to just go with a blunt wrap.
Blunt wraps are often made of tobacco leaves, but they don’t have to be. They’re a little trickier to find, but hemp blunt wraps are the perfect solution for people who prefer to avoid tobacco and its byproducts.
Will They Affect the Way the Cannabis Tastes?
There are flavored rolling papers, like pineapple or blueberry, designed to change how your cannabis tastes. These aren’t a good idea. You’re inhaling additional flavor chemicals, and in some cases, they may be from artificial sources. You’re better off choosing a strain of cannabis with a flavor that appeals to you.
Think of it this way: would you mix an expensive bottle of old wine with fruit punch and serve it in a cup with cartoon characters on it? Probably not. It’s just as much of a shame to do that to wine as it is to do that to cannabis.
Ease of Use
Some people roll up a perfect joint in the blink of an eye and act like it was no big deal. We can’t all be that blessed. Some people have trouble rolling a workable joint with dry herbs, and some people face limitations in their ability to do so. People with health conditions affecting their fine motor skills may find that rolling a joint seems a bit complicated.
Cones are the perfect solution to this problem. Most companies that make rolling papers also make cones. A cone is shaped exactly the way you think it is. It’s a rolling paper attached to a joint filter (also called a crutch) in an open cone shape.
All you need to do is grind your cannabis and slowly fill the cone, tamping it down between layers. When it’s as full as you’d like it to be, just twist the end closed. You can smoke it immediately or stick it in your Stori tube for later.
Are You a Vegan?
It seems weird to consider that raw rolling papers wouldn’t be vegan. How could meat or dairy possibly sneak into a piece of paper? The answer is in the glue strip. Some rolling papers use glues made from animal-derived compounds to make your joint stick together. If you’re avoiding animal products, make sure your papers align with your lifestyle.
Do You Want Filters or Tips?
Most rolling papers and all premade cones come with paper intended to be used as a crutch. The crutch offers stability and keeps the joint from burning down too far, potentially burning your lips or your fingers. It also keeps weed from getting in your mouth while the end of the joint gets wet.
Filters, tips, or filter tips are devices that are often reusable. You put one end of the joint into the tip, usually made of reusable food-grade silicone. Inside of the tip is a small metal filter. The hit is smoother and usually a little cooler. It catches debris from the joint and makes it much easier to hold, even for novices.
If you feel like a filter tip is a staple that would improve your smoking experience, you’re going to have to purchase a reusable tip separately. There’s no way to duplicate that experience with just rolling papers.
You May Want Multiple Types of Rolling Papers
Once you know how to determine the quality of rolling papers, you need to decide which types of rolling papers will work best for you. You might want a slow-burning XL rolling paper for a social joint you intend to share, especially if you intend on making the smoke sesh a long, relaxing one.
Shorter rolling papers are perfect for weekend warriors, micro-dosers, busy people, and medical cannabis patients who want reliable access to a pre-measured amount of cannabis they can use efficiently. If your cannabis use is more of a means to an end or a solution, then it is a preferred method of relaxation, rolling papers that keep things straight and to the point are more up your alley.
If you’re using multiple types of paper for different occasions, make some pre-rolls and stick them in your Stori tubes. You’ll always have the kind of joint you need on hand.
What Are The Best Rolling Paper Brands?
If you’re looking for a dependable rolling paper brand that’s relatively easy to get a hold of, there are a few easy favorites for every budget.
RAW
RAW makes organic unbleached pure hemp rolling papers at a budget price point. Best of all, they’re one of the most popular rolling paper brands. You’ll stumble into them wherever cannabis or cannabis accessories are sold.
Elements
Elements are completely clean rice paper rolling papers. The company doesn’t use any chemicals in processing their papers, and they work towards environmental sustainability goals.
Blazy Susan
Blazy Susan has retro chic packaging, and the raw papers themselves are light pink. They’re kitschy and kind of cute, but that’s not the only thing that stands out about these papers. Their papers and cones are non-GMO, made with natural dyes, and completely vegan.
Rolling the Perfect Joint with Stori
The Stori case is more than just the perfect place to organize and store your weed for freshness. It’s also designed to help you roll up a joint. The lid of the case functions as a rolling tray. Inside, there’s a place to put your paper and filters.
After you roll your joints on the case, you can store them in the color-coded Stori tubes. The tubes will keep your pre-rolls fresh until you’re ready to use them. They’ll also make your joint discrete and portable if you plan to take it on an outing.
Sources
Bleaching 101: The Basics | TAPPI
Is Glue Vegan? | VeganFriendly.org.uk
Flavorings-Related Lung Disease: Exposures to Flavoring Chemicals | NIOSH | CDC
