The exaggerated size of a joint was the gold standard in pot-comedy for thirty years, after the 1978 Cheech and Chong classic Up in Smoke came out. That all changed when the movie Pineapple Express was released in 2008. In this stoner comedy, we first see the "cross joint," when James Franco pulls out a joint that looks like a spliff with arms, needing Seth Rogen to help him light the tri-tipped torpedo. Hilarity ensues.
If you've been dying to know how to roll a cross joint, ever since seeing Pineapple Express, never fear, here is a useful guide to help you twist one up.
Table of Contents
What You Will Need
- 1/8-1/4 oz ground cannabis flowers
- A marijuana grinder
- Cardboard tips/filters
- 2 different sized rolling papers
- A "Sharp" poker: sewing needle, X-ACTO knife, scissors, etc.
- A "Blunt" poker: joint poker, pen, paintbrush, etc.
- Rolling paper glue strips
Skill Level: Moderate
A basic knowledge of joint rolling is helpful, but not necessary when learning how to roll a cross joint. Practice makes perfect; any novice with the adequate tools and supplies should be able to roll a cross joint reasonably well with enough patience.
This guide has rookie rollers in mind so it will include some joint rolling basics, steps, and supplies.
Rolling Papers
Rolling papers come in all shapes, sizes, colors, flavors, and materials. Choosing the right papers can seem daunting.
Novelty papers are often just that, novelties. When rolling a trick-joint, make sure you select rolling papers with glue strips that stick where and when you want them to.
Anyone who has watched their mummified-marijuana masterpiece fall apart at the seams knows that a joint is only as strong as its glue. If your joint is not airtight, you can cut the glue strips of extra papers to use as bandages.
Grinding Weed
Getting the right consistency grind is critical when learning how to roll a cross joint. Even after using a grinder, make sure to remove any sharp pieces of stem or other woody bits that might poke through a thin-skinned rolling paper.
Rolling a cross joint requires a decent pile of ground cannabis. Twisting up an eighth of weed (or more) is not unheard of, make sure your grinder can handle the quantity.
Joint Rolling Tips
- When rolling a joint make sure the glue strip is at the top of the paper facing you.
- The shape of the joint will be dictated by how you distribute the cannabis in the paper and where you squeeze the joint when rolling.
- Cone-shaped joints, also known as spliffs are more difficult to roll but smoke more smoothly than a parallelly rolled joints.
- To get a tighter seal, roll the cardboard tip with the joint. This will keep the weed inside the paper and save you time.
- Roll the joint from the middle of the paper outward, letting your thumbs do the work.
- The most successful joints are firm but not too tight, you need to be able to draw smoke. Loose joints burn fast and uneven.
Directions on How to Roll a Cross Joint
Rolling a cross joint can be broken down into five stages.
Getting Set-Up
- Find a clean, flat space to work; a rolling tray is recommended.
- Assemble all the tools you will be using; grinder, cardboard tips, papers, needle, pen, poker, etc.
- Grind thirty percent more weed than you think you will need before getting rolling.
Rolling the First Joint
This is the foundation of the cross-joint, the length, and width of this joint will influence the size of the second joint. The diameter of the first joint needs to be able to accommodate another joint through it perpendicularly. The thickness of a marker is a good reference, though you can always go bigger.
- Take the larger pack of rolling papers; King size papers are recommended.
- Add the cardboard tip/filter to one end of the paper.
- Add the cannabis to the paper and roll a straight or cone-shaped joint.
- Twist up the excess paper on the non-tipped end.
Rolling the Second Joint
You want the second joint to be 25-30 percent smaller than the first, both in length and in diameter. This will ensure that your cross joint is proportional, looks right, and smokes evenly.
- Make sure your second joint will be long enough by measuring the rolling paper against the first joint.
- Roll the second joint, keeping the center slightly looser in the center than a normal joint. This will give the second joint some slack when "crossing" the two joints.
- Twist excess paper into points on both ends.
Crossing the Joints
- Taking the sharp poker/needle make a hole in the first joint about 3/4 of the way up. Making sure that your poker goes straight and evenly through.
- Using either poker, begin to gently work the hole bigger until the second joint can almost pass through.
- Now stick one paper tip of the second joint into the hole in the first joint and begin to pull through.
- Being very careful, pull the second joint using a twisting motion. Stop when you are 1/4 inch from center.
- Using the needle, poke a second hole through the center of the second joint. The joint won't light properly if you skip this step.
- Finnish pulling the second joint until the two holes line up in the center.
At this point, you have a joint capable of warding off vampires, but you can't light up yet, there is one last objective to achieve.
Sealing the Cross
- Carefully seal the two joints together with the gummed strips you cut off of extra rolling papers.
- Continue to bandage until you are sure the joint is completely airtight.
Congratulations, you've done it! But knowing how to roll a cross joint is only half the battle, now you need to find an extra pair of hands to help you enjoy it. Cheers!
