Last reviewed October 18, 2026
The difference between a blunt and a joint is the wrap. A joint is rolled in thin rolling paper. A blunt is rolled in a cigar or tobacco-leaf wrap. Blunts are usually bigger, burn slower and taste of tobacco, and a tobacco-leaf wrap contains nicotine.
| Joint | Blunt | |
|---|---|---|
| Wrap | Thin rolling paper (hemp, rice or wood pulp) | Cigar wrap or tobacco leaf; hemp wraps also exist |
| Typical amount | 0.3–1 g of flower | 1–2 g or more |
| Nicotine | None, unless tobacco is mixed in | Yes, from a tobacco-leaf wrap; none with a hemp wrap |
| Taste | Mostly the flower | Flower plus a sweet or earthy tobacco note |
| Burn | Faster | Slower, because the wrap is thicker |
| Look | Thin, light paper, often with a filter tip | Brown, thicker, cigar-like |
Where a spliff fits in
A spliff is a joint with tobacco mixed into the flower. Paper on the outside, a blend inside. We cover it in spliff vs joint.
Why they’re called blunts
The name comes from Phillies Blunt, a brand of cheap cigars. People emptied the cigars and refilled them with cannabis, and the name stuck to the style.
Which to choose
- Choose a joint to taste the strain itself, to share a smaller amount, or to avoid nicotine.
- Choose a blunt for a long session with a group, if you like the tobacco flavour.
- Choose a hemp wrap for a blunt-style roll without the nicotine.
Common questions
Is a blunt stronger than a joint?
A blunt usually holds more flower, so it delivers more THC over the session. The flower is the same; there’s just more of it. A tobacco wrap adds nicotine on top.
What are blunts made of?
Cannabis flower inside a cigar wrap, a tobacco leaf or a hemp wrap.
Is a pre-roll a joint?
Usually, yes. Most pre-rolls are joints rolled in paper. “Pre-roll blunts” in a wrap are also sold, so check the description.
Do joints have tobacco?
Not unless tobacco is added. With tobacco mixed in, it’s called a spliff.
