Infused Pre-Rolls vs Regular Pre-Rolls: What’s the Difference?
Pre-rolls are one of the simplest ways to buy cannabis flower: the grinding and rolling are done for you. In recent years, infused pre-rolls have become a large part of the category, and the two can look almost identical in the package. They are not the same product, though. This guide explains what infusion means, how infused and regular pre-rolls differ in strength and burn, how to smoke an infused pre-roll slowly and how to store both. It is general product information for adults 19 and over, not medical advice.
What a regular pre-roll is
A regular pre-roll is ground cannabis flower packed into a rolling paper or cone, usually with a filter or crutch at the mouth end. Common sizes are 0.5 g and 1 g, often sold singly or in multi-packs. Some are made from whole buds, while others use smaller flower or trim, and the label shows the strain and THC and CBD content.
What “infused” means
An infused pre-roll starts as a regular pre-roll and adds a cannabis concentrate, either mixed into the flower, layered inside or coated on the outside. Health Canada’s August 2021 notice on kief and dried cannabis labels explains that kief and hashish are considered cannabis extracts, and that a pre-rolled joint fortified with kief is a cannabis extract product rather than dried cannabis. In other words, an infused pre-roll is treated as a concentrate product, not just flower in a paper.
The most common infusions are:
Distillate
Distillate is a highly refined cannabis oil. In infused pre-rolls it is usually blended into the ground flower or painted onto the outside of the paper, often before a coating of kief is added. Distillate infusions are typically the most concentrated of the common styles.
Kief coatings
Kief is the loose powder of trichomes, the resin glands sifted from dried flower. In a kief pre-roll, the outside of the joint is dusted or rolled in kief, often over a thin layer of oil that helps it stick, or kief is mixed into the flower inside. Coated pre-rolls look frosty or sandy.
Hash and hash rosin
Some pre-rolls have hash or hash rosin worked into the flower, either crumbled through it or as a thin rope or core running down the centre of the joint. These are sometimes described as “hash-infused” or “rosin-infused” on the package.
Other infusions you may see include live resin and THCa crystals, often called “diamonds”. The label and product description will tell you what was added.
Strength differences
Because a concentrate has been added, infused pre-rolls usually contain considerably more THC per joint than a regular pre-roll of the same size. Health Canada’s consumer page What you need to know if you choose to consume cannabis advises people new to cannabis to look for products with less than 100 mg/g (10%) THC, and to take the most caution with products above 200 mg/g (20%), including distillates. Potency varies from product to product, so read the label every time and start low.
| Regular pre-roll | Infused pre-roll | |
|---|---|---|
| What is inside | Ground flower only | Ground flower plus distillate, kief, hash or another concentrate |
| Typical strength | Similar to the flower it is made from | Usually higher than the flower alone |
| How it burns | Even burn when well packed | Slower, heavier burn that may run or need relighting |
| Residue | Light | More sticky resin in the filter and on fingers |
| Who it suits | People new to cannabis, or anyone wanting a flower-only option | Experienced consumers who already know their limits |
How the burn is different
Concentrates change the way a joint burns. Oils and resins melt and bubble as they heat, so infused pre-rolls often burn more slowly and less evenly than regular ones. You may notice:
- Running or canoeing: one side burns faster than the other, especially when oil is concentrated on one side.
- Harder lighting: a heavy coating or a dense hash core can take longer to catch.
- Going out between puffs: oils can smother the cherry, so relighting is more common.
- Flaking: kief coatings can drop off if the joint is handled roughly.
- Sticky residue: more resin builds up in the filter and on the paper.
A regular pre-roll’s burn depends mostly on how evenly it is packed and how dry the flower is. A slightly loose or over-dry pre-roll can burn fast; a tightly packed one may be hard to draw from.
How to smoke an infused pre-roll slowly
The point of slowing down is to control how much you take in, especially since infused products are stronger.
- Light it evenly. Rotate the tip in the flame until the whole end glows, rather than holding the flame in one spot.
- Take small, gentle puffs. Canada’s Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines advise against inhaling deeply or holding your breath.
- Stop after a puff or two. Health Canada notes that it can take up to 30 minutes to feel the full effects from one inhalation, and that using more within that time can increase the risk of adverse effects.
- Put it out properly. Gently press the lit end into an ashtray until it stops smoking, rather than letting it burn down.
- Save the rest. Put the unused part back in its tube once it has fully cooled, and relight it later.
- Fix a run early. If one side starts to burn faster, rotate the joint so the fast side faces up, or lightly touch the flame to the slower side.
How to store pre-rolls
- Keep them in their tubes. The original tube or “doob tube” protects pre-rolls from crushing and helps keep the flower from drying out.
- Keep them cool and away from light. Heat makes infused pre-rolls sticky and can soften coatings; sunlight dries out flower and fades aroma.
- Avoid moisture. Damp pre-rolls are hard to light and can develop mould.
- Store them securely. Health Canada’s safe storage advice is to keep cannabis in its original packaging, locked away and out of reach of children and pets.
Which should you choose?
If you are new to cannabis or prefer a lighter option, a regular pre-roll, ideally a smaller 0.5 g size with a modest THC level, is the simpler starting point. Infused pre-rolls suit experienced consumers who already know how they respond to concentrates. Either way, the label tells you more than the product name: check the THC per pre-roll and what has been added.
Browse pre-rolls
You can compare regular and infused options, sizes and multi-packs in our pre-rolls and accessories category. When you are ready, visit the shop to place your order.
Infused pre-rolls FAQ
Are infused pre-rolls stronger than regular pre-rolls?
Usually, yes. Adding distillate, kief or hash raises the total THC in the joint. Potency varies between products, so check the THC on the label and start low.
Why does my infused pre-roll keep going out?
Oils and resins melt as they burn and can smother the ember. Light the tip evenly, take gentle puffs and relight as needed.
What is a kief-coated pre-roll?
It is a pre-roll whose outside has been coated in kief, the sifted trichome powder, often over a thin layer of oil that helps the kief stick.
Can I save half of an infused pre-roll for later?
Yes. Put it out fully, let it cool and store it in its tube. It may be harder to relight than a regular pre-roll because of the concentrate.
