Why Does My Joint Goes Out? What Causes It and How to Fix It
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Time: 9 min
Ever find yourself in a situation where your joint goes out? No worries, because those problems happen to everyone. It's frustrating when your joint doesn't burn right. Most issues are easy to fix by changing how you roll or prepare your cannabis.
This guide will help you understand why joints go out. You'll learn how to keep them burning smoothly. You'll find tips for fixing uneven burning and other problems.
By the end of this article, you'll know how to roll joints that burn evenly. They'll stay lit from start to finish.
Table of Content
Why Joints Go Out: The Science Issue #1: Problems with the Moisture in Cannabis Problem #2: Bad Way of Grinding Problem #3: Wrong Packing and Distribution Problem #4: Problems with the Filter and Airflow Issue #5: The Quality of the Paper and How It Is Rolled Issue #6: Things in the Environment Advanced Troubleshooting for Problems That Keep Coming Back When to Stop and Roll Again Preventing: Making Habits Better Things to Think About for Health and Safety Things to Think About for European Users in Their Area Conclusion FAQ
Why Joints Go Out: The Science
Knowing why joints go out helps fix the problem. You need fuel (cannabis), oxygen (air), and heat (light) for combustion. If any of these are missing, your joint won't work.
The Triangle of Combustion:
- Fuel: Cannabis that's been prepared right and has the right moisture
- Oxygen: A steady flow of air through the joint
- Heat: The right temperature for burning cannabis
Most problems come from one of these things not working. Wet cannabis won't light. Bad packing blocks airflow. Uneven distribution causes hot spots and dead zones. Research shows small changes in material density or moisture can affect burning. Check out this study on combustion dynamics.
Issue #1: Problems with the Moisture in Cannabis
Too Wet: Fresh or poorly stored cannabis has too much moisture. It can't burn evenly because it's hard to get to the right temperature.
Too Dry: Dry cannabis burns too fast and can crumble. This leaves gaps that block airflow.
Quick Reference for Cannabis Moisture:
Moisture Level |
Signs |
Burn Quality |
Solutions |
Too Wet |
Sticky, soft, and hard to grind |
Goes out all the time |
Air dry for 30 to 60 minutes |
Just right |
A little springy and easy to grind |
Burns evenly |
Use it as is |
Too dry |
Crumbly; it turns to dust |
Burns too quickly and harshly |
Peel an orange for 2 to 3 hours |
Bone Dry |
Falls apart and is powdery |
Will not stay lit |
Slowly rehydrate |
Answers:
- For wet cannabis: Dry small amounts for 30 to 60 minutes before grinding
- For cannabis that is dry: Use a small piece of orange peel in storage for two to three hours
- How to test: Cannabis should feel a little springy, not mushy or crumbly
Best way to store: Use the right containers to keep cannabis at 55–65% humidity. This keeps it from getting too dry or too wet, which can cause burning problems.
Problem #2: Bad Way of Grinding
How you grind your weed affects how it burns. Some people don't grind enough, leaving chunks. Others grind too much, making powder.
Issues with Bad Grinding:
- Too rough: Makes air pockets and burns unevenly
- Too fine: Limits airflow and can block joints
- Not consistent: Some parts burn too quickly, while others go out
The best grind solutions are:
- Try to make it as consistent as coarse sea salt or dried herbs
- Use a good grinder with sharp teeth
- Don't grind too much; 8 to 10 twists in most grinders is enough
- Take off all the stems before grinding
- Remove any powder or very small pieces
Pro Tip: Different strains grind in different ways. Sticky strains don't need as much time to grind, but dry strains can handle more aggressive grinding.
Problem #3: Wrong Packing and Distribution
Packing weed wrong can cause problems. Many people struggle with this without realizing it.
Things People Often Do Wrong When Packing:
- Too tight: Stops air from flowing, which makes the joint go out
- Not tight enough: Burns too quickly and unevenly
- Distribution that isn't even: Makes spots that are thick and thin
- No tapering: Causes hard hits and burning problems
How to Pack Things Right:
- Make a taper: More weed in the middle and less near the filter
- Pack it tightly but not too tightly: Think about the pressure of a "firm handshake"
- Use graduated density: More tightly at the filter end, less tightly at the tip
- Test draw: You should feel a little bit of resistance when the air flows well
The Paper Boat Method: Before you add cannabis, shape your paper into a gentle boat. This helps you find problems with distribution and makes sure that the spreading is even.
Problem #4: Problems with the Filter and Airflow
Your filter changes the way air flows through the whole joint. Many people don't connect filter problems to the many burning issues they cause.
Problems with the filter:
- Too tight: Limits the flow of air, which makes joints go out
- Not tight enough: Makes hits hard and burning uneven
- Not the right size: Doesn't fit your joint's diameter
- Bad placement: Not even with the edge of the paper
Filter Options:
- The filters should be about a quarter of the size of the finished joint
- Leave small spaces between the accordion folds so air can flow
- Put it flush with the edge of the paper, not recessed
- Use thin cardboard or the right filter tips
- Check the airflow before adding cannabis
Advanced Tip: Before twisting the tip, poke a thin tool through your packed joint to make a small "air channel." This makes sure that air can flow all the way through.
Issue #5: The Quality of the Paper and How It Is Rolled
Did you know that the paper and how you roll it can affect burning? Cheap paper or bad rolling can cause weak spots.
Problems with Paper:
- Bad quality papers: Burn too quickly or unevenly
- The paper size is wrong: Too big for your level of skill
- Bad sealing: lets air in, which stops burning
- Damage from moisture: Wet papers from handling
Rolling Solutions:
- Use good papers, like rice or hemp
- Begin with standard-sized papers that are 1¼ inches wide
- Make sure your papers are clean and dry
- Seal it with just the right amount of moisture to make the gum work
- Roll with the same amount of pressure all the time
Check for Quality: Before lighting, gently squeeze along the length of your joint. It should always feel firm, with no hard spots or gaps.
Issue #6: Things in the Environment
The place where you smoke has a bigger effect on how well your joints work than most people think.
Issues with the Environment:
- Wind: Makes fires burn unevenly and can put out joints
- High humidity: makes papers wet and changes how they burn
- When it's cold: Slows down burning
- Height: Changes how much oxygen is available
Solutions for the environment:
- Look for places to smoke that are out of the wind
- Before lighting, let the joints get used to the room temperature
- Keep joints in dry containers when it's humid
- Light more thoroughly in tough situations
Advanced Troubleshooting for Problems That Keep Coming Back
If you've already taken care of the basics but are still having problems, try these more advanced fixes:
The Slow Light Method: Instead of quickly lighting the tip, slowly turn your joint while you light it. This makes sure that the whole tip burns evenly at first.
The Pattern of the Puff: Every 30 to 45 seconds, take soft, steady puffs. When you wait too long between puffs, your joints cool down and go out.
The Test of Compression: If your joint starts to go out, gently squeeze it while you smoke. This can start the fire again in places that are loose.
The Sidetrack Fix: If one side burns faster than the other, blow on the side that is burning faster to slow it down and let the other side catch up.
When to Stop and Roll Again
Sometimes it's best to give up and start over:
- If you've lit the same spot more than three times
- When the paper gets wet from being lit over and over again
- If a lot of cannabis falls out, it means that the structure has been damaged too much to smoke comfortably
Tips for saving: You can often save the cannabis from a bad joint by carefully unrolling it and using it again. If it got wet from being handled, just let it dry a little.
Preventing: Making Habits Better
Before you roll, check this list:
- Check the moisture level of the cannabis (it should be a little springy)
- Grind until the texture is even and medium-coarse
- Use good papers and filters
- Work in the right place
- Take your time with technique
How to Store: Storing things correctly stops a lot of problems before they happen. Store cannabis in airtight containers that can control humidity, and keep papers in a dry place.
Ways to Practice: Use kitchen herbs to roll practice joints to get better at it without wasting cannabis. The skills move over perfectly.
Things to Think About for Health and Safety
According to research on harm reduction, burning cannabis correctly makes the effects more consistent and produces fewer harmful byproducts than burning it poorly. If you keep lighting your joints, the smoke will be harsh and the cannabis will go to waste.
Safety Advice:
- Don't leave joints that are having trouble alone
- Get rid of joints that keep failing safely
- Don't use too much flame to force combustion
- If you're getting angry, take a break
Things to Think About for European Users in Their Area
Cannabis users in Europe have their own problems:
Things that affect the weather: In many parts of Europe, higher humidity makes it harder to store cannabis and paper. During the humid months, put desiccant packs in storage containers.
Cannabis Quality: The amount of moisture in legal cannabis in Germany and other European markets is not the same. Learn how to change your technique based on where you get it.
Availability of Paper: European head shops have a lot of high-quality papers. Buy good papers. The small price difference is worth it because they burn better.
Conclusion
Most of the time, you can fix problems when your joint doesn't burn by getting ready better and using better technique. Most of the time, the biggest problems with burning are too much moisture in the cannabis, uneven grinding, bad packing, or the weather. The most important thing is to figure out what is wrong with your joints and then deal with it in a planned way.
Work on one thing at a time: first fix your grinding, then your packing, and finally your environment. With these joint tips and some practice, you'll be able to roll joints that smoke evenly from start to finish. Even people who have rolled a lot of joints before sometimes have trouble with them. Don't give up; each problem is a chance to learn and get better at what you do. Soon you'll master the art of keeping your joint goes out problems in the past for good.
“A perfect burn is a harmony of dryness, airflow, and patience.”
FAQ
Why does my joint go out as soon as I light it?
Your weed is likely too wet or packed too tightly. Wet cannabis won’t catch fire, and dense packing blocks airflow. Dry it a bit and roll looser.
Does the weather really change how my joints feel?
Yes. Humidity makes papers soggy and adds moisture, wind burns unevenly, and cold slows the burn. Smoke in sheltered spots and let joints adjust to room temperature first.
Should you light a joint again or start over?
Relight if it goes out once or twice. But if it keeps failing or spilling, unroll and rebuild. It’s usually a rolling issue.
Author: Edijs Eleksis
Growing up in a country where cannabis was stigmatized and even shamed, Edijs faced many roadblocks to get to enjoy the benefits of this plant. However, as more countries worldwide are opening up to the idea of cannabis-available society, Edijs is inspired to take on a mission: spreading awareness about cannabis and its industry in Europe through engaging, educational blog content. Because only with more information, humans as a collective, can make decisions that are better for all of us!
