Das Filter Blog
How to Roll a Spliff, Step by Step
Quick answer: A spliff is cannabis mixed with tobacco and rolled in a rolling paper. To roll one, grind your flower, mix it evenly with loose tobacco, set a tip at one end of the paper, spread the mix along the crease, shape it, tuck the paper under it starting at the tip, roll up and seal. The rolling is the same as a joint. The part people skip is mixing the fill well, and that's what keeps a spliff burning evenly.
Tobacco contains nicotine, which is addictive. If you don't already use tobacco, a joint is the simpler choice. If you're not sure of the difference, see joint vs blunt vs spliff.
What you need
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| A rolling paper | 1 1/4 is an easy size to start with. See rolling paper sizes. |
| Ground flower | Medium grind, stems picked out |
| Loose rolling tobacco | Mixes more evenly than tobacco from a cigarette |
| A filter tip | Keeps tobacco strands out of your mouth |
| A tray or mat | For mixing |
Step 1: Grind the flower
Grind medium, about the same texture as the tobacco. If the flower is much finer or much chunkier than the tobacco, the two won't stay mixed.
Step 2: Pick a mix
There's no standard ratio. Half and half is a common place to start, and many people use more flower than tobacco. Start with less tobacco than you think and adjust next time.
Step 3: Mix it well
Pull the tobacco apart so there are no clumps, then mix it with the flower on your tray until you can't see patches of either one. This is the step that matters most. A spliff that's mostly tobacco on one side and mostly flower on the other burns unevenly, because the two burn at different speeds.
If the tobacco is noticeably damper than the flower, let it air out for a few minutes first. Damp spots are where a spliff tends to go out.
Step 4: Set the tip
Crease the paper, glue strip up and along the far edge. Put a tip in the crease at one end. Match it to the paper: 7mm or 8mm for 1 1/4, 8mm or 12mm for king size. See how to roll a joint with a filter tip.
Step 5: Fill, shape and tuck
Spread the mix evenly along the crease. Pinch the paper and roll it back and forth until the fill packs into a tube. Then tuck the near edge under the fill, starting at the tip and working down. Full detail on the tuck is in how to roll a joint.
Step 6: Roll, seal and twist
Roll up to the glue strip, wet it lightly and press it shut from the tip out. Tap the tip end down, pack the open end lightly and twist it closed. If the paper won't hold, see how to seal a joint.
Step 7: Light it evenly
Light the twisted end while turning the spliff so it catches all the way around. More in how to light a joint.
Common problems
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Burns down one side (canoes) | Uneven mix or fill | Mix more thoroughly and fill evenly; see why does my joint canoe |
| Tobacco in your mouth | No tip, or tip too loose | Use a tip that fits the paper |
| Hard to roll, springy | Tobacco clumps | Pull the tobacco apart before mixing |
| Goes out | Mix too moist, or packed too loose | Let moist tobacco dry a little; pack a bit firmer |
How do you stop a spliff from canoeing?
Mix better and fill evenly. Tobacco and flower burn at different speeds, so a patch of either one on one side makes that side burn faster. Pull the tobacco apart before mixing, grind the flower to about the same texture, and spread the mix evenly along the paper. If it starts to run anyway, touch the flame to the slow side until the burn line evens out.
Spliff vs joint
A spliff rolls exactly like a joint. The only difference is the fill: a joint is just cannabis, a spliff is cannabis and tobacco. In parts of Europe, the word "joint" often means what Americans call a spliff. The full comparison, including blunts, is in joint vs blunt vs spliff.
For 1 1/4 papers, our Midway tips are 7mm x 28mm.
Frequently asked questions
How do you roll a spliff?
Mix ground flower and loose tobacco evenly, put a tip at one end of a rolling paper, spread the mix along the crease, shape it, tuck the paper under it starting at the tip, roll up and seal. It's the same as rolling a joint, with a mixed fill.
What is a good spliff ratio?
There's no standard. Half and half is a common starting point, and many people use more flower than tobacco. Start with less tobacco, especially if you don't smoke cigarettes, and adjust from there.
Can you use cigarette tobacco in a spliff?
Yes. Some people break open a cigarette for the tobacco. Loose rolling tobacco is easier to pull apart and mix evenly.
Why does my spliff canoe?
Usually the mix is uneven, so one side is mostly tobacco and the other mostly flower, and they burn at different speeds. Mix the two thoroughly before you fill the paper and keep the fill even.
Does a spliff need a filter tip?
No, but most people use one. A tip keeps loose tobacco and flower out of your mouth and gives you something firm to roll around.
Products are for adults 21+.
