Spliff vs Joint 

Joint, blunt, doobie, jay, roach–you’ve probably heard all of these names used to describe smokable cannabis in rolled form. For the most part, these names are interchangeable, and the difference between these smoking apparatuses may boil down to the type of papers used or the size of the piece you’re smoking.

Spliff vs joint, however, are two names that can’t be so easily interchanged. You may be familiar with a joint, but what about a spliff? What exactly is it and how is it so different? If you want the low-down on this cannabis lingo, just keep reading:

Tables of Contents
What’s a Joint?
What’s a Spliff?
Spliff vs Joint Simplified
What Kind of Paper is Used to Roll a Joint vs Spliff?
Joints vs Blunts vs Spliffs

Key Takeaways

• Spliffs and joints both contain cannabis rolled in cigarette papers.
• Spliffs contain tobacco where as joints do not.
• Both are popular for social smoking, but spliffs may give an energetic buzz thanks to its tobacco content.
• Blunts are another cannabis smoking style that contain tobacco, but the rolling style and paper is different.

What’s a Joint?

You may already have this covered, but we’ll touch on it anyways for all the new cannabis consumers out there. A joint refers to cannabis that’s rolled into a thin paper that sort of resembles a cigarette. Joints can be rolled with a crutch or a filter, or they can be rolled without.

The appeal of a joint is that they are quick, easy, and low-cost, and they generally preserve the flavor of the cannabis better than a blunt (which is rolled with a cigar wrap).

What’s a Spliff?

A spliff is less common than a joint, especially in the U.S. (although they are pretty popular and commonplace in Europe). Spliffs are similar to joints in that they are comprised of cannabis rolled in a thin rolling paper. Spliffs, however, contain a blend of cannabis and tobacco.

Thanks to the addition of tobacco, a spliff is a sort of mix between a joint and a blunt (which contains tobacco by default since its wrapped in a tobacco leaf).

Like a joint, though, spliffs are thinner and are often rolled with a crutch or filter. Still, they are usually enough to be shared with one or two friends, and many people enjoy the combination of tobacco and cannabis for a daytime, social smoke.

How much tobacco is in a spliff?

There’s no exact science to how much tobacco goes in a spliff, or what kind of tobacco you should use. Just like there are hundreds of cannabis strains to choose from, you can also choose your tobacco blend and proportions to meet your particular preference.

Spliff vs Joint Simplified

To break it down, spliffs, joints, and blunts are all defined by how much cannabis and tobacco they contain. Joints only contain cannabis, blunts contain cannabis but are rolled with a tobacco leaf, and spliffs contain a mix of cannabis and loose tobacco rolled in a joint paper. All three smoking apparatuses have their place, and choosing your favorite smoking style is really a matter of preference.

Keep in mind that smoking tobacco may come with an increased risk compared to smoking cannabis on it’s own. Smoking, in general, poses some level of risk to the lungs (which is why many people opt for cannabis vapes instead!).

What Kind of Paper is Used to Roll a Joint vs Spliff?

Both joints and spliffs are rolled with cigarette papers or rolling papers, although the type of paper you choose is totally based on preference.

These papers come in many difference sizes–1 ¼, 1 ½, wide, and king–which will affect the final size of your joint or spliff. You can also choose from thin, ultra thin, regular, and different paper thicknesses, as well as different paper materials, including hemp, rice, wood pulp, flax, and more. These all affect the smoke output and flavor, or lack thereof, of the smoking experience.

Finally, you can find rolling papers that are flavored with artificial and natural flavors, such as cherry, chocolate, or menthol flavored rolling papers.

Ultimately, any combination of these options can be used to roll either a spliff or a joint. The one key difference is that larger papers are usually chosen for rolling spliffs in order to accommodate both the tobacco and the cannabis.

Joint vs. blunts vs. spliffs: Which is best?

If you’re having trouble choosing between spliffs, joints, and blunts, let’s explore the pros and cons of each:

Can I Use Hemp to Roll a Joint or Spliff?

You’ll be happy to know that you can use any kind of cannabis to roll a spliff, joint, or blunt. Many people are learning to love hemp’s non-psychoactive effects, and Delta-8, Delta-10, and THC-O are all gaining popularity. Aside from providing a different range of effects, hemp flower is available online and can be shipped directly to your door.