Key Takeaways
- Convenience: Prerolls are ready-to-smoke; hand-rolled offer customization.
- Cost: Prerolls are pricier; hand-rolled are more affordable.
- Quality: Prerolls ensure consistency; hand-rolled depend on skill.
- Social: Prerolls are easy in groups; hand-rolled add a personal touch.
When it comes to enjoying cannabis, one of the most popular methods is smoking a joint. However, the debate around prerolls vs. hand-rolled joints often leaves many wondering which option provides the best experience. Whether you’re a long-time cannabis enthusiast or a newcomer to the scene, the choice between these two types of joints can impact everything from flavor to convenience.
This article explores the key differences between prerolls and hand-rolled joints, delving into the benefits, drawbacks, and what each option offers.
What Are Prerolls and Hand-Rolled Joints?
Before diving into the key differences, let’s first define what we’re talking about.
What Are Prerolls?
Prerolls are cannabis joints that are already rolled for the consumer by a manufacturer, a dispensary, or a cannabis brand. Infused pre-rolls are a significant variation within the pre-roll market, featuring cannabis concentrates that enhance potency and flavor.
They contain only cannabis flower, which is supplemented at times with a portion of concentrate, and come rolled and ready to smoke. The joints are then portioned depending on the consumer’s request and sealed in a manner that maintains their quality.
Pre-infused, also known as blunts, joints, or cone pre-rolls, refer to the process of enclosing cannabis concentrate with ground cannabis flower, a factor that makes pre-rolls a luxury product in the market.
What Are Hand-Rolled Joints?
A hand rolled joint is, as the term suggests, hands rolled where an individual gets to roll a joint of cannabis [1] according to his specifications.
When rolling a joint, it is important to pack the cannabis tightly and use a tool to push in any loose flower to ensure a balanced and evenly burning joint.
Most cannabis users prefer rolling their own joints because they have complete freedom to select the ingredients, size, and tolerance of the roll. The age-old custom of rolling cannabis does not require any special item, owing to the fact that a smoking paper or wrapping can too do the job.
From a historical perspective, rolling your own cannabis joint provides people with an opportunity to glory in their skills and preferences.
The Convenience of Prerolls
Convenience is one of the most paramount needs in prerolls, and premade joints give an edge to this aspect. Prerolls provide a large selection of premium cannabis and unique strain types. So, for those who are short on time or who just do not have the will to roll their own spliff, a preroll can do the trick perfectly.
- Instant Ready-to-Smoke: A pre roll saves you time since it’s already rolled and ready to be lit. No need to measure out your flower or worry about getting the right consistency.
- No Rolling Skills Required: Not everyone is skilled at rolling joints. For beginners or those with less dexterity, pre-rolls offer a way to enjoy cannabis without the stress of rolling a perfect joint.
Customization with Hand-Rolled Joints
While prerolls are convenient, rolling your own joint allows for more customization. If you’re a cannabis connoisseur, you might want to have full control over the quality, quantity, and type of cannabis you’re using. Here’s why hand-rolled joints can be a great option:
- Choosing Your Cannabis: Rolling your own joint gives you the option to choose the strain, combine various strains, or even kief and concentrates, which are never offered in a pre roll. A nicely rolled joint with ground flower makes it easier to light it up.
- Personalized Size: Hand rolling a joint allows the user to decide how thick or how big of a joint he wants. This also determines sharing, once the quantity is depending on the size of the joint. Slightly bigger if its for sharing, and smaller if its personal.
- Tightness and Burn Rate: With hand rolling a joint, this ensures the use of tight or loose depending on preference, in turn assisting in the burn rate. It greatly helps in a more delightful experience.
Quality Control: Prerolls vs Hand-Rolled Joints
The quality of the joint is another key consideration in the preroll vs hand-rolled joints debate. Both options can vary in quality, but the level of control is different.
Prerolls: Consistency vs Variety
Pre rolled joints are made by manufacturers or dispensaries, which means they follow standard processes to ensure consistency and quality. This results in uniformity in terms of size, potency, and burn quality. However, this consistency can come at the cost of variety.
Some pre rolls may use lower-quality or pre-ground cannabis, which can affect flavor and potency.
On the other hand, if you buy premium pre rolls from a reputable source, they can offer an exceptional experience with well-curated flower.
Hand-Rolled Joints: Full Control
Rolling the joint yourself gives you the upper hand as far as the quality of the flower is concerned. You have the option to select fresh cannabis buds and make sure the grind is perfect. In contrast, pre-rolled joints offer consistent quality control, eliminating the variability of hand-rolled joints. The preparation of the joint demands that you push the ground cannabis so that an even burn can be achieved.
The rolling process involves using a tool to push any leftover flower in the joint making for a superlative experience if quality cannabis is your thing.
That said, the quality of a hand-rolled joint largely relies on the skill of the roller and how tightly they pack the joint so that it burns evenly. Likewise, it depends on the cannabis – low-grade weed will not produce a satisfactory joint.
The Ritual of Rolling Papers: A Personal Touch
Joint rolling is one of the experiences many smokers appreciate and often will look forward to. However, the most relaxing part about the whole interaction has to be crushing the flower, carefully rolling it into a perfect joint, and packing it in.
Such elaborate preparation, sitting in a flow, has its benefits, allowing the smoker to intimately bond with the marijuana before it’s consumed, allowing for an even greater experience thereafter. This in itself intensifies the entire cannabis consumption process manifold.
Cost Comparison: Prerolls vs Hand-Rolled Joints
When considering the cost of prerolls vs hand-rolled joints, it’s important to factor in both the price of cannabis and the time spent.
- Prerolls: Most of the time, pre-rolls would cost more compared to hand-rolled joints because these have the expenses of convenience and packaging added to them. You are also paying for the labor of someone else rolling the joints. However, where this is possible, buying bulk or opting for the cheaper varieties of prerolls can be helpful in controlling the costs. Further, despite having a high initial cost, automating the process of preparing joints using automated pre roll machines has cost saving and high return on investment in terms of saving in the long term. The significant upfront costs associated with the initial investment in automated machinery are ultimately outweighed by the long-term benefits and cost savings.
- Hand-Rolled Joints: Rolling one’s own joints would be more cost-effective in the long run since you source cannabis in bulk rather than already rolled joints. If you have the time and expertise of rolling the joints then this can become a cheaper alternative.
The Social Element: Sharing Joints
When it comes to social smoking, the choice between prerolls and hand-rolled joints can impact the experience.
- Prerolls for Convenience in Groups
Prerolls are often the better choice in group settings where convenience and speed are a priority. They’re easy to pass around and don’t require the preparation of rolling your own joint.
- Hand-Rolled Joints: A Personal Touch
On the other hand, rolling a joint for a group can add a personal touch to the session. If you’re sharing a custom-rolled joint with friends, it can be a more communal and enjoyable experience. Many people also enjoy the act of sharing their personal cannabis creations, making it a part of the social experience.
The Environmental Factor: Sustainability Considerations
Since more people seem to use cannabis worldwide nowadays, the sustainability and environmental impact of many cannabis products, including prerolls, is being talked about more and more. The cannabis industry, particularly in regions like Massachusetts, is growing rapidly, raising concerns about its environmental footprint.
- Prerolls: The majority of prerolls are packed in increasingly elaborate packages, such as tubes and slotted boxes, which are made of plastic, which is a huge contributor to waste. Still, some businesses tend to alter the amount of signage for their brand.
- Hand-Rolled Joints: On the other hand, if one is rolling their own joint, they do tend to leave a small ecological footprint especially when only using a small amount of wrapping or rolling devices that can be reused. However, more powdered cannabis tend to need more wrapping than a whole bud which is the opposite.
Pros and Cons Summary: Prerolls vs Hand-Rolled Joints
Here are some pros and cons of using pre-rolls or hand-rolled joints.
Prerolls Pros:
- Convenient and ready to use
- No rolling skills required
- Consistent quality (if from a reputable source)
- Ideal for on-the-go smoking
Prerolls Cons:
- More expensive
- Less customization
- Possible lower-quality flower or pre-ground cannabis
Hand-Rolled Joints Pros:
- Full control over the quality and type of cannabis
- Customizable size and burn rate
- Cheaper in the long run
- A more personalized smoking experience
Hand-Rolled Joints Cons:
- Time-consuming
- Requires rolling skills
- Inconsistent quality if not rolled correctly
Conclusion
The preference for prerolls or hand-rolled joints is personal. If you’re always on the go or are a novice, preroll joints are perfect as they are fast, easy, and consistent. Hand-rolled joints provide a different experience altogether, as one has control over the quality of the materials and rolling needles, and they are great for people who have a strong inclination for rituals. Both are great methods, but the important thing is to experience cannabis and enjoy it regardless of the method.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are prerolls worth the extra cost?
Prerolls can be more expensive due to the convenience and packaging. However, for those who don’t want to spend time rolling, they offer a simple and consistent option. If you’re on a budget, rolling your own joints might be more cost-effective.
2. Can I customize the cannabis in a pre roll?
While some high-end prerolls offer premium flower or custom blends, most prerolls are pre-made with a fixed strain and blend. Infused pre-rolls, which are blended with cannabis concentrates for enhanced potency and flavor, are becoming a popular customization option. If customization is important to you, rolling your own joint gives you complete control over the strain, amount, and quality of cannabis.
3. How can I improve my hand-rolling skills?
If you’re new to rolling, start by practicing with a slow, steady hand. Use a good-quality rolling paper and grind your cannabis evenly. With enough practice, you’ll improve your technique and be able to roll joints quickly and effectively.
4. Do prerolls have the same quality as hand-rolled joints?
The quality of both can vary greatly depending on the source. While prerolls offer consistency, they may not always have the same high-quality flower that a hand-rolled joint can provide, especially if you use premium cannabis.
References
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice; Committee on the Health Effects of Marijuana: An Evidence Review and Research Agenda. (2017, January 12). Therapeutic effects of cannabis and cannabinoids – The health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids – NCBI bookshelf. National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425767/
