Cannabis 101: Choosing Rolling Paper

This is a quick and dirty 101 on choosing rolling paper.

Full disclosure: I enjoy smoking joints (who doesn’t love that great taste), but I don’t smoke them regularly. I haven’t mastered rolling a good one and I generally enjoy a bong or pipe. However, I am trying to edify myself on the subject since it was legalized in my state (WA) and I may have more occasion for smoking a J.

What follows is a breakdown of factors to consider when choosing papers.

Width and Length, rolling papers come in widths called:

• single
• 1 1/4″
• 1 1/2″
• double

There is no set standard of width, so it will vary slightly by manufacturer. A single is usually 1 1/2 – 1 3/4 inches wide and it goes up in increments up to double.

There is no standard of length either, but generally they range from 2 3/4 – 3 inches.

The width of the paper dictates how thick you can make your joint. A single (also called regular or 1.0) is the most common size and can be used to roll a J about the size of a cigarette. Wider papers will allow for more bud and a thicker body. It seems to be important to choose the paper width based upon the amount of bud you want to put in it. Half a gram is a good weight for a single paper. In other words, don’t roll a smaller amount of bud in a double wide paper, you’ll just be smoking more stuff that isn’t weed and potentially compromising how well it will burn. Length matters less, its just about storage space for the bud, but a longer paper leaves more room for a roach if you’re into that.

Paper Thickness: These come in variations as well. Thick (free-burning), medium weight, lightweight, extra fine. This is more about how you want your J to burn. A thinner paper will let more air pass through the joint, which will cause it to burn slower and go out quickly if not stoked. A thicker paper is called free-burning for a reason, it will burn on it’s own and stay lit. It’s your preference, just plan what kind of smoke you’re looking for and choose accordingly.

The Gum: The gum is the sticky strip at the edge of the paper that is used to seal the joint closed. It’s like the glue strip on an envelope. There isn’t a whole lot to say here other than opt for either natural gum or gumless papers, as the alternatives are likely a chemical slop that can’t be good for you.

What are the rolling papers made from? Again, this runs the gamut. There are shitty, chemical-laden rolling papers, and there are some high-end, 100% hemp all-natural papers. Pick your poison (quite literally). It’s up to you what you put in your body, be sensible.

Well friends, for those joint rolling initiates out there, I hope this initial research on rolling papers gets you on the path to rolling some great big fatties.

Source Article:

• Choosing the Right Rolling Papers for Smoking Marijuana [420 Magazine] (contains great additional information beyond 101)