What Is A Cannabis ‘Tarantula Joint’?
I have smoked a lot of joints over the course of the last 25 years. It is, and always will be, one of my favorite ways to consume cannabis. I don’t consume as many of them as I used to since I consume dabs, edibles, and topicals more now than ever before. But I still enjoy a good doobie whenever I get the urge to roll one up or to purchase a pre-roll. The joint is so simple, yet so effective.
Joints have evolved quite a bit over the years. Back in the day they were often rolled by hand. I am not the best joint roller by hand, so I often use a bamboo roller that has been in my family for three generations. I have used rolling machines too, but they seem to roll the joints tighter than I would like. I have long aspired to become a better joint roller by hand, but alas, the skill is one that I have yet to dedicate the proper time to.
These days pre-rolled joints are sold at dispensaries all over the West Coast and wherever else they are legal. I have seen joints as cheap as 3 dollars in Oregon, and some that are more expensive. One type of joint that has been increasing in popularity in recent years is what is known as the tarantula joint. A tarantula joint incorporates flower, concentrates, and kief. Basically you put the flower on the joint paper. You sprinkle some concentrates into the flower and roll it up. From there you roll the joint in CO2 oil to make the outside of the paper sticky, then roll the whole thing (minus the crutch/end of the joint) in kief. The final product is a furry joint that makes the lungs hungry, and looks like the picture below:
Most legal states sell pre-rolls from what I have seen, but not all states sell pre-made tarantula joints. Oregon is a state that doesn’t sell them yet, at least as far as I know. That’s largely due to testing requirements. Since tarantula joints incorporate so many things in one product, it requires a lot of testing in a state like Oregon, so they are not as viable as in other states where they are sold, such as in California. A quick search for pricing on these in California shows a number of places selling them for $20.
I have only smoked tarantula joints on a couple of occasions, and the effects were exactly as I’d expect – extremely strong. If you have stuff to do on a given day, consuming a tarantula joint may not be the best idea. On the other hand if you are looking to experience extreme euphoria followed by a solid nap, the tarantula is for you! It’s not for everyone, both because of the potency involved and because some people think that putting kief on the outside of a joint is blasphemy. But if you are a veteran consumer that is looking to ride the higher high, and you don’t mind kief on the outside of your joint, you should definitely try a tarantula if they sell them in your area. Or just make your own if you are savvy enough!
