What do blunts contain

Blunt use is pervasive among young adult cigarillo users in the United States, and certain cigar companies have developed products that facilitate blunt-making. Future surveillance measures should capture the extent to which cigarillo users are using these products as blunts. Continued surveillance of cigarillo sales and popular product attributes are needed. Cigarillo use is prevalent among young adults in the United States, many of whom are using the products as blunts.

This study found that product features such as brand, flavor, packaging, and price influence the selection of cigarillos used for this purpose. There is also a strong perception among young adult cigarillo users that cigarillo companies design their products and packaging to make the blunt-making process simple and enjoyable. Better surveillance measures are needed to capture the extent to which cigarillos are used as blunts and which product features are driving category growth.

Although cigar use poses many of the same health risks as cigarette smoking, including increased incidence of lung cancer and heart disease, 1 cigars remain less regulated in the United States compared to cigarettes. As a result, the cigar market offers a wide variety of styles and product features to consumers, maintaining strong sales amid decreasing consumption of cigarettes. Popular cigar types include large, hand-rolled premium cigars, machine-made large cigars, little filtered cigars akin to cigarettes, and machine-made, mid-sized cigarillos ie, smaller, unfiltered cigars that are sometimes sold with plastic or wooden tips.

Cigar consumption in the United States has nearly doubled since , with inexpensively-priced cigarillos accounting for much of the growth. Notably, nearly three-quarters of current cigar users between 18—29 years old report a cigarillo as their usual cigar type. Concurrently, the United States appears to be undergoing a shift in the popularity and acceptability of marijuana use.

A recent report indicated that past-year marijuana use in the past decade has doubled among young adults in the United States, from Prior studies have used qualitative approaches to examine cigarillo use among young adults.

Most recently, Koopman Gonzalez and colleagues interviewed young, African American males to describe product modification among little cigar and cigarillo users. Participants had a strong perception that non-tipped cigarillos were used almost exclusively as blunts. This study used semi-structured interviews, which gave subjects flexibility to freely discuss their cigarillo use and product preferences while allowing researchers to probe for more detailed information when necessary.

A convenience sample of 40 participants was recruited using Craigslist, a popular classified advertising website that enables users to post ads in cities and regions across the United States. Inclusion was not dependent on marijuana use, but participants were asked during the interview if they use cigarillos as blunts.

Those who reported using cigarillos as blunts sometimes or exclusively were considered current blunt users. Interviews were conducted by telephone between April and August , recorded with permission from the respondents, and transcribed verbatim by research staff.

On average, each call lasted approximately 30 minutes. The Framework Method was used to manage and analyze interview data. This method involves coding each transcript for major themes and can be used to summarize themes across many cases. Although most codes were derived from existing literature and knowledge of the cigar market, open coding allowed unanticipated patterns to emerge from the data.

Two investigators independently coded the transcripts line-by-line in an initial review and highlighted key themes. Notes were compared to clarify code definitions and identify new codes that should be added.

After several rounds of preliminary coding, thematic saturation was reached and a final coding guide was developed. Where agreement was lowest, coders convened to discuss code definitions before proceeding with the remaining interviews, which were divided and coded independently by the investigators.

Using the Query Tool in Atlas. The quotations were summarized across transcripts and illustrative quotations were selected to highlight major themes. We triangulated our qualitative findings related to brands and blunt-making with young adult data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. National Survey on Drug Use and Health produces representative, population-level estimates of substance use in the United States.

Brands frequently mentioned by interviewees as being used for blunt use were included in the analysis. A total of 40 participants from 20 states across the United States completed an interview. Although the ad intended to recruit all types of young adult cigar users, 36 respondents self-identified as being current cigarillo users. Only four participants were exclusive large or premium cigar users. While some mention of blunt-making activity was expected, fully half of the sample reported using cigarillos almost exclusively for making blunts Table 1.

The first major theme to emerge was the belief that cigarillo smoking ie, non-blunt use is more infrequent and casual compared to cigarette smoking. Whereas cigarettes were seen as extremely addictive and ritualistic, cigars were more often perceived as a social experience, especially while drinking or relaxing.

Several former cigarette smokers perceived that they had more autonomy over their smoking with cigars versus cigarettes, and cited this as influencing their decision to switch.

Because cigarillos are typically larger than cigarettes, burn slower, and last longer, users felt that they can better manage their overall tobacco consumption. An additional perceived benefit of cigarillos was that they do not have the stigma of cigarettes, and because many brands are heavily flavored and fragranced, the odor is less offensive to others. Though blunt use was not a criterion for study inclusion, half of the interviewees voluntarily disclosed that they primarily use cigarillos for blunt-making.

One White Owl cigarillo smoker that does not use marijuana was asked how many of his friends that use cigarillos typically smoke them as blunts:. Other respondents shared similar beliefs, as illustrated by the quotations below:. Now if you start talking about cigarillos — Dutch Masters, Backwoods — nobody out here is smoking them by themselves.

For the most part, anyone buying those cigarillos are not gonna smoke that tobacco out of there. Whereas in the past, blunt-making required a certain level of dexterity, most of the cigarillos on the market today have simplified blunt-making, due to product attributes such as outer wraps that come apart easily. You roll it back together, and there you go. And like I said, the Games [Garcia y Vega] are designed to be cut open easily.

They have to. Among current ie, past 30 day cigar users between 18—34 years old, Several of the cigarillo brands that participants indicated were popular for blunt use indeed seem to be associated with this behavior. Over half of Phillies and Swisher Sweets users reported recent blunt use. Cigarillo users in the sample identified three key product features that positively influence their smoking experiences. Whether they use cigarillos to smoke tobacco or for blunt-making, highly valued product attributes included: flavorings, packaging styles, and price.

It was common for users to have tried several flavored varieties of their favorite brands and they expressed excitement over the wide array of flavors available. Other reported benefits of flavored cigars included the pleasant aroma of the smoke compared to cigarettes or unflavored cigars, and a smoother and easier inhale. Some former cigarette smokers mentioned that they switched to cigars after flavors were banned from cigarettes.

Others reported that a flavored cigar was their first cigar smoking experience and helped ease the transition into regular use. Kind of the way that people make mixed cocktails instead of just drinking straight liquor. It just masks the unpleasant flavor [of the tobacco] until you get more accustomed to it. While some blunt users dislike using flavored cigars, especially when they are smoking high-quality marijuana, most reported that flavorings enhance the taste of the marijuana or make the blunt-making experience more pleasant.

Fruit-flavored cigarillos, especially grape and white grape, were highly preferred. When asked why people like to use flavored cigarillos to smoke as blunts, one respondent stated:. Packaging styles, especially the resealable foil pouches that hold 2 to 3 cigarillos, were discussed as enthusiastically as the cigarillos themselves. Here are some things to consider before you get out that tobacco leaf or hit the corner store for a blunt wrap:. Or, perhaps, referring to how adding tobacco masks the smell of the pot.

Both marijuana and tobacco smoke can damage your lungs and increase your risk for several serious conditions. Joints are the simplest of the bunch. Sometimes people roll them with a crutch, which is basically just a stiffer bit of paper to hold the weed in place.

Joints, spliffs, blunts, pipes, bongs — they all carry risks. People have been making pot brownies and steeping marijuana leaves for tea for ages. These days, you have more options in areas with legalized cannabis, including gummies, lollipops, and capsules. Cannabidiol oil, or CBD oil, is derived from cannabis. You can apply CBD oil to your skin to relieve pain or add it to food and drinks.

You can also find CBD oil capsules. Sprays are a newer way of using marijuana. The catch? Avoid liquids containing additives, including coloring, flavoring, and scents. Blunts, spliffs, and joints are the main players when it comes to rolled cannabis. While each is slightly different from the other, they all come with the negative effects of smoking. To use marijuana and avoid the harmful effects of smoke, consider an alternative method.

Nothing is a surer sign of a failed roll than a joint that runs, i. The popularity of joints, blunts, and spliffs varies regionally, reflecting cannabis culture in different areas across the globe.

Spliffs are predominant in Europe, where joints are commonly seen as wasteful. However, this has the potential to change as cannabis prevalence and accessibility rises. Smokers in the US are more inclined to roll joints than spliffs, possibly in part due to adverse health effects of tobacco. Global differences in terminology are also interesting to note. In Europe, for example, names are reversed: A joint refers to a roll with cannabis and tobacco, whereas a spliff refers to rolled cannabis exclusively.

The landscape is expansive and the room for artistic creation is vast. This can mean multiple connected rolls like a cross joint , or a simple, pristine cone that showcases your dexterity and precision. What do your rolls look like? This post was originally published on January 7, It was most recently updated on April 17,