Smoking a blunt comes down to three things: an even light, slow pulls, and a steady pace. Light the tip while you turn the blunt so it catches all the way around, take a slow pull into your mouth, then breathe it in gently. Take a hit or two, then pass it. The rest is details, and we’ll walk you through all of them below, from picking a wrap to fixing a blunt that’s burning down one side.
What Makes a Blunt a Blunt
A blunt is cannabis rolled in a wrap made from cigar leaf or hemp, instead of the thin rolling paper used for a joint. The wrap is thicker and slower burning, so a blunt usually holds more flower and lasts longer than a joint. It also tastes different: richer, a little sweet, and noticeably heavier.
There are two main kinds of wraps.
Tobacco-leaf wraps are the classic version. Some people buy cigarillos, split them open, empty out the tobacco and refill them with flower. Others buy blunt wraps sold flat in a pouch. Either way, the leaf itself is tobacco, so a traditional blunt contains nicotine. If you don’t use tobacco, that matters.
Hemp wraps look and roll a lot like cigar wraps but are made from hemp, with no tobacco. They come plain or flavored and are the go-to for people who want the blunt experience without the nicotine.
If you want the full rundown on how blunts compare to joints and spliffs, we wrote a whole guide on blunts vs joints vs spliffs.
What You Need
- A blunt wrap or a cigarillo
- Flower (a blunt often takes a gram or two, depending on the wrap)
- A grinder
- A lighter
- Something to catch the mess, like a rolling tray or a clean plate
Fresh flower makes a better blunt. Dry, crumbly bud burns fast and harsh, and bud that’s too sticky clumps up and burns unevenly. Lit grows its own flower, and if you’re not sure what to pick for a blunt, ask any of our budtenders. We’re happy to point you toward something that rolls well and tastes great in a wrap. You can see what’s in stock today on the Federal menu or the Broadway menu.
How to Roll a Blunt
- Grind your flower to a medium, even consistency. Big chunks create air pockets and runs; powder packs too tight and chokes the airflow. If you don’t have a grinder, here’s how to grind without one.
- Prep the wrap. With a cigarillo, run a fingernail or a dull blade down the seam, split it open and empty the tobacco. With a flat blunt wrap or hemp wrap, just take it out of the pouch. If the wrap feels brittle, warm it between your hands for a few seconds so it doesn’t crack.
- Fill it. Spread the ground flower evenly along the length of the wrap. Keep it a little lighter at the ends than in the middle.
- Tuck and roll. Pinch the wrap around the flower and work it back and forth to shape it into a firm, even cylinder. Tuck the near edge under the flower, then roll upward.
- Seal it. Lightly moisten the inside edge of the wrap and press it down along the whole seam. Tobacco and hemp wraps stick to themselves once they’re a little damp.
- Dry the seam. Run a lighter flame quickly along the outside, a couple of inches away, without letting it touch the wrap. This firms up the seam so it holds together while you smoke.
Not in the mood to roll? Pre-rolled options take all of this off your plate. Check out our pre-rolled joints and ask what’s on the shelf that day.
How to Light a Blunt
Most uneven blunts start with a rushed light. Take your time here.
Hold the blunt horizontally and bring the flame near the tip without burying the end in it. Rotate the blunt slowly so the whole tip toasts evenly. Once the end is glowing all the way around, put it to your lips, take a few gentle puffs, and keep turning it as you do. You want a full, even cherry before anyone takes a real hit.
A butane torch is overkill. A regular lighter or a hemp wick works fine and is easier to control.
How to Hit a Blunt
Take a slow, easy pull into your mouth first, the way you’d sip through a straw. Then breathe in gently to bring the smoke into your lungs. Don’t try to pull hard and fast. A blunt wrap is thick, so it needs a steady draw, and yanking on it makes it burn hot and run. Exhale, take a breath of clean air, and decide whether you want another.
A few habits help:
- Keep rotating the blunt between hits so it burns evenly.
- Don’t hold the smoke in for a long time. Holding it longer mostly just makes you cough.
- Ash it gently. Tap it on the edge of an ashtray instead of flicking hard, or you’ll knock the cherry off.
- Go slow if you’re new. A blunt carries more flower than a typical joint, so it’s easy to overshoot. Start low, go slow, and give it a few minutes between hits.
Blunt Etiquette
If you’re smoking with friends, the classic rule is puff, puff, pass: two hits, then pass it to the left. Nobody loves the person who holds the blunt through a whole story. Pass it with the lit end facing away from the next person, and don’t slobber on the tip.
If you rolled it, you usually light it. That’s just good manners.
Fixing Common Blunt Problems
A blunt that’s canoeing, burning down one side faster than the other, usually got lit unevenly. Touch the flame to the side that’s lagging until it catches up. A tiny bit of moisture on the fast-burning side can also slow it down.
If it keeps going out, it may be packed too tight or the flower may be too moist. Relight it slowly and take gentle pulls to get it going again.
If it’s hard to pull, it’s packed too tight. Roll it gently between your fingers to loosen it up.
If the wrap cracks while you’re rolling, it’s too dry. Warm it in your hands next time, or try a fresh pack.
Where You Can Smoke a Blunt in Denver
Colorado law lets adults 21 and over use cannabis, but not in public. That means no parks, sidewalks, concert lots, or bar and restaurant patios, and never in a car. Smoke on private property where the owner is okay with it. If you’re visiting and want the details, our Colorado cannabis law page covers the basics. And please don’t drive after you smoke.
Pick Up What You Need at Lit
Whether you roll your own or grab something pre-rolled, we’ve got you covered at both Denver stores: Lit on Federal Blvd, right next to Empower Field at Mile High, and Lit on South Broadway, on the Green Mile. Order ahead online so your flower is ready when you walk in, and if you have questions about what to roll, ask at the counter. We never rush anyone.
