Cannabis Education
What’s the Difference Between Joints, Blunts and Spliffs?
Joint and Spliff — Complete Guide to Rolling 3 Ways
The joint and spliff debate has been going on as long as people have been rolling cannabis. Add blunts into the mix and you have three distinct methods — each with its own materials, characteristics, cultural identity and devoted following. Whether you are new to rolling or simply want to understand the differences clearly, this guide has everything you need.
Table of Contents
- Defining Joints, Spliffs and Blunts
- What Is a Joint?
- What Is a Spliff?
- What Is a Blunt?
- Rolling Papers and Wraps Compared
- Pros and Cons of Each
- Global Preferences
- FAQ
Defining Joints, Spliffs and Blunts
The three formats can be defined simply by their filling and rolling material.
A joint contains cannabis only and is rolled with rolling paper. A spliff contains both cannabis and tobacco, also rolled with rolling paper. A blunt contains cannabis — and sometimes tobacco — rolled in a tobacco-based wrap rather than paper.
| Format | Cannabis | Tobacco | Rolling Paper | Wrap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joint | ✅ | ✗ | ✅ | ✗ |
| Spliff | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✗ |
| Blunt | ✅ | ✅ | ✗ | ✅ |
What Is a Joint?
A joint is perhaps the most iconic way to consume cannabis — small, portable, shareable and immediately recognisable. It consists of cannabis rolled inside a thin rolling paper, usually white, though novelty papers come in all colours and flavours.
Rolling paper sizes range from singles to 1¼, 1½, wide and king, with variations in thickness from ultra-thin to standard. They can be made from hemp, rice, flax, paper and more — each affecting the burn rate and smoking experience differently.
Joints often feature a crutch — a filter at the drawing end. The crutch adds structural stability, improves airflow and allows you to smoke the joint to the very end without burning your fingers.
What Is a Spliff?
Understanding the difference between a joint and a spliff comes down to one ingredient — tobacco. A spliff uses rolling paper just like a joint, but the filling contains both cannabis and tobacco mixed together.
Spliffs generally contain more tobacco than a blunt wrap contributes, meaning the tobacco buzz and energetic effect is more pronounced. Most spliffs also use a crutch filter, similar to joints.
The ratio of cannabis to tobacco in a spliff is entirely up to the consumer — heavy on the cannabis with just a touch of tobacco for burn consistency, or a more even mix for a stronger tobacco presence.
What Is a Blunt?
A blunt is cannabis rolled inside a cigar or blunt wrap — a wrap made from tobacco leaf. This gives blunts their characteristic tobacco buzz alongside the cannabis effect, and their larger size compared to joints and spliffs means they last significantly longer.
Blunt wraps are widely available at convenience stores, typically sold in one or two-packs and often flavoured. Cigarillos — such as Swisher Sweets or Phillies — can also be emptied and used as blunt wraps.
Blunts are primarily a North American format. They are rarely encountered in European cannabis culture, where spliffs dominate.
Rolling Papers and Wraps Compared
The rolling material significantly affects the smoking experience. Here is what each format uses:
- Joints — singles, 1¼, 1½, wide, king, slims, cones
- Spliffs — 1½, wide, king, cones (often larger to accommodate the tobacco)
- Blunts — tobacco wraps, cut-open cigarillos
Thickness matters. Thick papers burn slower but are more noticeable in terms of taste. Thin papers burn faster and let the cannabis flavour come through more clearly.
Both rolling papers and blunt wraps can be flavoured — grape, cherry and vanilla are common options. Some smokers prefer unflavoured papers to keep the cannabis taste clean. Others are loyal to specific flavoured wraps.
The best papers do not tear, seal cleanly, handle well between the fingers and burn evenly. A joint that burns along one side — called “canoeing” or “running” — is the sign of poor quality paper or uneven rolling technique.
Pros and Cons of Each
Joints
- ✅ Small and portable
- ✅ Easy to spark up anywhere
- ✅ Great for sharing
- ✅ Easy to save for later
- ✗ Requires practice to roll well
- ✗ Not particularly discreet
Spliffs
- ✅ Small and portable
- ✅ More discreet than a joint — can pass as a cigarette
- ✅ Tobacco adds a buzzy, energetic dimension
- ✗ Tobacco is harmful to health
- ✗ Tobacco can mask the flavour of cannabis
- ✗ Requires practice to roll well
Blunts
- ✅ Portable and long-lasting
- ✅ Come in a variety of flavours
- ✅ Tobacco adds a buzzy energy
- ✗ Tobacco is harmful to health
- ✗ Flavoured wraps can overwhelm the cannabis taste
- ✗ Requires practice to master
Global Preferences
Cannabis consumption habits vary significantly by region. Spliffs dominate in Europe, where joints are often considered wasteful — the tobacco helps stretch the cannabis further and improves the burn of some lower-quality flower.
In North America, joints are the preferred format — likely influenced by a stronger anti-tobacco sentiment and the generally higher quality of legal market cannabis, which burns well on its own without tobacco assistance.
Blunts are almost exclusively a North American phenomenon — deeply embedded in US cannabis culture but rarely encountered elsewhere in the world.
Browse Pre Rolls at your dispensary for ready-made options, or explore Cannabis Flower and Concentrates for everything you need to roll your own.
FAQ
What is the difference between a joint and a spliff? The difference between a joint and a spliff comes down to the filling. A joint contains only cannabis rolled in rolling paper. A spliff contains cannabis and tobacco mixed together, also rolled in rolling paper. Both typically use a crutch filter and both are smoked the same way — but a spliff will have the additional energetic buzz of tobacco alongside the cannabis effect.
What is a joint? A joint is cannabis rolled inside a thin rolling paper — the most iconic and widely recognised form of cannabis consumption. It contains only cannabis, no tobacco, and usually features a crutch filter at the drawing end. Joints come in various sizes from singles to king-size and can be rolled with papers made from hemp, rice, flax and more.
What is a blunt? A blunt is cannabis rolled in a tobacco-based wrap — either a commercial blunt wrap or the emptied shell of a cigarillo. The tobacco wrap adds a buzz and energetic quality to the cannabis high, and blunts are typically larger and longer-lasting than joints or spliffs. They are predominantly a North American format.
Are joints or blunts better? Neither is objectively better — the choice depends entirely on personal preference. Joints let the cannabis flavour come through most clearly and contain no tobacco. Blunts last longer and add a tobacco buzz that some consumers enjoy. Those who prefer to avoid tobacco entirely will typically opt for joints or pure cannabis pre-rolls.
Why do Europeans prefer spliffs? Spliffs are dominant in Europe largely for practical reasons — tobacco improves the burn of cannabis flower, helps stretch limited supply further and is deeply embedded in European cannabis culture. In North America, where legal market flower is generally higher quality and burns well on its own, the preference has shifted toward tobacco-free joints.
