How To Perfectly Light Your Joint

We’ve all been there; you’re handed a beautifully rolled joint at a party and are given the honours of lighting ‘er up. So, you stick the thing in your mouth and light it, only to find it that it's burning unevenly and hard to draw, and that everyone at the party now (secretly) hates you.

To avoid these kinds of blunders, here are some simple tips to get a nice, even burn on your joint and ensure a pleasant smoking experience for you and everyone else.

DO’S:

• BE PATIENT

The most important tip to guarantee an even, slow burn on your joint is this: take your time. When lighting your jay, it’s a good idea to look at cigar smokers. Lighting a cigar is a gradual, delicate process that ensures a delicious, relaxing smoke; so should it be when lighting a joint.

• LEAVE THE TIP ON

It’s common to twist the extra paper on the end of a joint to create a slightly pointed tip. Smokers often debate whether this is the right thing to do or not, and we’re going to settle the conflict once and for all.

The rolled tip helps to create paper overlap, which in this case, is actually a good thing. This overlapping paper burns more slowly and allows you more time to make sure your joint is lit and burning evenly.

There’s nothing worse than lighting a joint and seeing the tip light up in a flame. This usually leads to an uneven burn and an unpleasant smoking experience to boot. Worst of all, it happens so quickly that, by the time you’ve put it out, it's usually too late to start fresh.

• ROTATE THE JOINT SLOWLY

Don’t light your joint in your mouth. This makes it hard to see what's happening on the other side and usually leads to an uneven burn. Instead, hold your joint between your thumb and index finger and, with the other hand, apply a gentle flame to the tip.

Then, as you’re gently applying heat to the tip, slowly rotate the joint by rolling it between your index finger and thumb. This allows you to light the entire tip of the joint and get a nice, big cherry and a moderate burn.

Pro tip: Remember that you don’t actually have to touch the tip of the joint with the flame. Instead, try holding the flame a few centimetres from the end of your joint. The tip will still light, but it’ll do so more slowly and give you even more time to establish a consistent burn.

DON’TS:

• INHALE WHILE LIGHTING

Many inexperienced smokers like to draw on their joint while lighting it, probably because that’s how they see cigarette smokers light up. However, when dealing with a joint, we suggest you do not draw or inhale while sparking up.

Again, trying to light a joint while it's in your mouth makes it hard to see what's going on at the tip. Plus, drawing the flame into the body of the joint right from the beginning usually leads to a fast, uneven burn.

• START INHALING BEFORE THE CHERRY IS COMPLETELY LIT

Having a nice, hot cherry on your joint is the key to an ideal burn. Again, look at cigar smokers; you’ll see that they wait to inhale until the cigar is alight with a red cherry.

If you start toking on your joint too early, you’re likely to end up with an uneven burn or “canoe” that either burns too fast or goes out completely. Remember, take your time and don’t start inhaling until the cherry on your joint is properly lit.

GET SMOKING!

That’s it! Follow the above tips and you should get a slow, even burn on any joint. Remember that how a joint burns also has a lot to do with how it was rolled, so check out our articles on proper rolling techniques as well.

Happy smoking!

Steven Voser

Steven Voser is an independent cannabis journalist with over 6 years of experience writing about all things weed; how to grow it, how best to enjoy it, and the booming industry and murky legal landscape surrounding it.

Read full bio