Key Takeaways
- Standard prerolls are widely available, while infused prerolls are somewhat exclusive.
- THC concentration staggers around 15 - 25% for non-infused prerolls, while infused options can contain up to 50% THC.
- Standard prerolls deliver a gentler high, while infused prerolls are heavy-hitting.
- Standard prerolls are ideal for newbies and intermediates, while infused prerolls best suit seasoned users.
- Standard prerolls emphasize authentic strains, whereas infused prerolls deliver complex flavors.
- A complex manufacturing process makes infused prerolls considerably more expensive.
- The general effects for both preroll categories depend on the dosage and strains consumed.
- Both product categories fall under general legal requirements.
Smoking is not only one of the most primal ways to administer cannabis extracts. It’s also one of the most preferred delivery methods, thanks primarily to its fast-acting time.
Inhaling cannabis smoke gets the active cannabinoids directly to your bloodstream through your lungs’ mucous membranes. Effects can set in within 5 - 15 minutes of the first puff, depending on the doses consumed and overall cannabinoid potency.
Besides, smoking is a traditional ritual that requires almost no learning curve. No need for fancy droppers, as is often the case with cannabis vape oils and tinctures.
It’s also exciting to know that cannabis smokable blends come in different formulations. You can pick between a standard and infused preroll, depending on your desired effects, ease of use, and other considerations.
Both regular and infused prerolls deliver cannabis’ therapeutic properties. However, each option has its defining selling points and glaring drawbacks.
In this post, we explore the various factors to consider when torn between regular and infused prerolls.
Introducing Cannabis Prerolls
A cannabis preroll is a joint containing ground marijuana flower, wrapped in a special paper with a filter tip. It’s the closest variation of the traditional cigarette.
Cannabis pre-rolls are readily available in marijuana stores and dispensaries. Buying ready-to-use joints eliminates the hassles of preparing homemade pre-rolls, which can be unexpectedly time-consuming.
Store-bought prerolls contain professionally ground cannabis powder, meticulously rolled into paper and packaged carefully to preserve their freshness.
Pre-rolls come in varying potencies, typically measured in grams. Popular options include 0.5g, 1.0g, 1.5g, and 2.0g.
While fancier cannabis delivery methods exist (such as e-juices), pre-rolls provide unmatched convenience and ease of use. No need for special paraphernalia like droppers.
Besides, choosing store-bought pre-rolls eliminates the need for a grinder and papers.
And as noted, you also get to pick between standard and infused preroll. Either option can be ideal, depending on your present needs.
Differences Between Standard and Infused Cannabis Prerolls
1. Core Components
A standard pre-roll is the most common smokable cannabis product. It features ground marijuana flower, wrapped inside a special paper designed with a filter tip on one end.
Meanwhile, an infused preroll is a regular joint enhanced with cannabis concentrates.
Concentrates are plant-based formulations containing higher potencies of specific compounds. In the case of cannabis extracts, these products are notably loaded with cannabinoids like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
2. Form and Diversity
Standard concentrates may vary by the strain used, cannabinoid profile, and the sheer amount of powder in them. However, these products generally assume one identical form - resembling the traditional cigarette.
In contrast, infused prerolls come in many shapes and forms. Popular ones include:
- Oil Concentrates – Infused prerolls available in oil form
- Wax Concentrates – Nearly similar to oil concentrates, except they’re less viscous
- Keef – Raw, powdered trichomes obtained from fresh cannabis flowers
- Hash – Highly compressed trichome heads
- Live Resin – Solvent-based cannabis extracts obtained from fresh-frozen flowers, typically pre-treated to enhance their flavors
- Distillate – Highly refined, unflavored cannabis oil containing THC as the sole bioactive cannabinoid
- Diamonds – Fresh, crystalline forms of cannabis extracts (usually containing only THC), widely considered the most potent smokable formulation available
3. Manufacturing Process
A standard preroll is relatively easy to prepare. It simply requires a grinder to break down dried cannabis flowers, and a special wrapping paper to enclose the ground plant material.
Obviously, the process can be time-consuming for DIYers but rather straightforward for experts.
Infused prerolls are more challenging to prepare. The products undergo a complex processing, which varies by each type.
Preparing kief and hash often requires coating ground cannabis flower with a concentrate. For oils and distillates, manufacturers typically inject concentrate into the center of a preroll.
There’s also twaxing, which entails applying concentrates to the exterior of the wrapping paper.
Finally, dipped prerolls are infused prerolls that are gently rolled in cannabis oils and then coated with other concentrates.
4. Infusion Location
Standard prerolls have ground cannabis flower wrapped inside a paper.
However, infused prerolls may have the concentrate applied to different parts of the paper - outside, inside, and everywhere.
At first glance, infused prerolls may appear messy and carelessly put together. But not until you discover that applying the concentrate everywhere enhances the product’s potency significantly.
5. Availability
When shopping for cannabis prerolls, you’ll likely stumble into multiple standard prerolls before finding an infused option.
That’s understandable, as regular prerolls are easy to prepare.
Making infused prerolls is quite labor-intensive. Therefore, it takes much longer for finished products to wind up in your local dispensary.
6. THC Potency
Both standard and infused prerolls can have a diverse cannabinoid profile. For perspective, studies have found marijuana to contain over 100 naturally occurring cannabinoids.
However, pre-rolls cannabis generally emphasize tetrahydrocannabinol potency. And the concentration of this psychoactive cannabinoid varies considerably between regular and infused prerolls.
The infusion process increases the THC potency significantly, with some products reaching up to 50% THC. Regular prerolls have a rather modest THC concentration of 15% - 25%.
Perhaps we should also point out that a preroll’s overall THC content is strain-dependent.
As THC is highly psychoactive, it’s prudent to choose a preroll containing your preferred concentrations.
Reputable cannabis brands often publish THC percentage guides on their prerolls’ packaging. Be sure to follow these recommendations, particularly if you’re new to cannabis.
7. Burn Speed and Consistency
Burn speed impacts the efficiency of each smoking session. Regular prerolls tend to burn much faster due to their dried components, while infused prerolls are slow-burning.
A slower burning speed extends your smoking experience, while a rapid burn time shortens each session.
Standard prerolls also burn more consistently. That’s especially if the powder is uniformly ground and fairly distributed within the paper.
Infused prerolls (particularly solvent-based formulations) may often burn inconsistently, due to their rather unstable molecules.
8. Flavor Experience
A standard preroll delivers one uniform flavor, which depends on its dominant terpenes. For instance, a preroll predominantly high in myrcene will exude an earthy taste.
Sure, there may be undertones depending on the secondary terpenes in the powder. But the most dominant terpene will account for the preroll’s overwhelming flavors.
Infused options deliver more complex flavors, which vary by the extract type.
Live resins tend to have the most pronounced flavors compared to other infused cannabis prerolls. That’s because the manufacturing process preserves terpenes more effectively, locking them in to create a layered flavor profile.
Note that certain infused prerolls, such as distillates, are entirely flavorless. This diversity enables you to choose formulations that best suit your taste buds.
9. Vapor Experience
Non-processed prerolls produce moderate vapor, making them excellent for beginners.
If you’re a cloud chaser, consider the best infused prerolls instead. These products release more intense clouds due to their densely packed formulations.
However, the dense clouds produced by infused prerolls may cause a harsh throat hit. That’s another reason these cannabis formulations are not ideal for newbies.
Approach infused prerolls cautiously, particularly if you have a low cannabis tolerance.
10. Average Potency
Dose for dose, infused prerolls are more potent than their standard counterparts. The potency may be even higher for indoor-grown cannabis flowers.
Greenhouses provide a more controlled growing environment, enabling weed farmers to maintain consistent potency across each harvest.
If you opt for standard prerolls, consider powders derived from cannabinoid-rich strains.
11. Bioavailability and Longevity of Effects
Smoking has a faster onset time than many cannabis delivery methods. That said, the percentage of the active cannabinoids that enter your bloodstream depends on the prerolls you smoke.
One of the core benefits of infused pre-rolls is their higher bioavailability. Since these products contain more cannabinoids by weight, a bigger percentage enters your system compared to standard prerolls.
Infused prerolls also provide longer-lasting relief. Effects can linger for hours, depending on the quantity consumed.
12. Ideal User
Although we’ve already hinted at this, it warrants repeating that standard prerolls are ideal for cannabis greenhorns due to their moderate effects.
Regular options are the best pre-rolls for casual sessions. Don’t go all out on infused prerolls until you’ve built a considerable cannabis tolerance.
Even for experienced users, infused prerolls can induce overwhelming effects if overdosed. Your best bet is to stick to your ideal serving portions or follow expert dosage guidelines.
If you’re in doubt, answering the following questions may help you pick the best product:
- Do you experience intoxication when you smoke an infused preroll?
- Do standard prerolls no longer produce the desired effects?
- How intense is the condition you’re trying to relieve?
13. Cost Implications
When looking for high-potency pre-rolls for a stronger session, you’d naturally opt for infused concentrates. But there’s a hefty price tag to pay.
The saving grace is that infused prerolls deliver more intense effects.
Five puffs of kief or live resin would deliver similar therapeutic benefits as 15 puffs of regular preroll, making infused options more cost-effective in the long run.
Similarities Between Regular and Infused Prerolls
Despite the differences, regular and infused prerolls share certain fundamental similarities. Those include:
1. Naturally Obtained
Most prerolls, regular or infused, derive from naturally obtained cannabis flowers. The difference is that standard prerolls are consumed in the rawest forms while their infused counterparts undergo additional refining.
Note that cannabis extracts are now available in natural and synthetic options. Artificial cannabinoids are developed in laboratories, typically under conditions that somewhat mimic marijuana’s ideal growing environment.
Always inquire whether a retailer stocks real or synthetic weed. While artificial cannabinoids are currently prevalent in highly processed formulations like drugs and edibles, the growing demand for cannabis extracts might have these compounds find their way into prerolls.
2. General Effects are Strain- and Dose-Dependent
Cannabis exists in multiple strains, also called breeds or cultivars. Each strain has a distinct cannabinoid profile.
Some marijuana breeds are higher in THC but lower in CBD, and vice versa. Certain strains also contain decent concentrations of lesser-known cannabinoids, such as tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA).
The net effects of smoking prerolls depend on the strain you pick.
Besides strains, quantities per serving impact a preroll’s effects. Consuming 0.5 grams of cannabis would deliver less intense effects than 2 grams, regardless of whether it’s a standard or infused preroll.
Standard or Infused? The Choice Is Purely Individual
Both standard and infused prerolls may be ideal under certain conditions.
Regular prerolls would suit you better if you’re new to cannabis or are looking for high-quality weed on a budget. As they’re minimally processed, standard prerolls also contain fewer additives.
Meanwhile, infused prerolls deliver a heavy-hitting high that makes them ideal for seasoned cannabis users. These products also provide a complex aroma profile, as the subsequent manufacturing processes preserve marijuana’s natural terpenes remarkably well.
Despite the type of cannabis pre-rolls you opt for, ensure it’s lab-tested and contains your desired cannabinoid profile.
Remember to also stick to the recommended dosages, which may vary depending on your cannabis tolerance.
Space your smoking sessions reasonably apart to minimize any adverse effects. While cannabis has a remarkably high safety profile, chain-smoking weed can present long-term health risks.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is an infused pre-roll?
An infused pre-roll is a regular cannabis joint enhanced with concentrates.
2. How does an infused pre-roll work?
Infused prerolls are highly potent, allowing them to take effect sooner, absorb more into your system, and provide longer-lasting benefits.
3. Does strain matter?
Whether standard or infused, the origin strain impacts a preroll’s overall effects.
4. Will infused prerolls get me high?
An infused preroll will surely get you high if it contains significant THC levels, with mind-altering effects varying by potency.
5. Which is the better option?
Standard prerolls are gentler on the psyche; hence, perfect for beginners, whereas the best infused pre-rolls are heavy-hitting and ideal for seasoned users.
