Do Spliffs Get You Higher Than Joints?

There seems to be a bit of confusion about spliffs and joints, i.e., what they are and their differences. In fact, many use these two terms interchangeably. Most people, especially in North America, simply refer to any kind of rolled paper with cannabis inside as either a joint or a spliff. They aren't the same things!

While both involve rolling cannabis into something you can smoke, they are technically different. Joints have just cannabis or hemp inside, whereas a spliff is a mixture of cannabis or hemp and tobacco.

Because a spliff is a mixture of tobacco and cannabis or hemp, some people assume that it gets you higher than just a joint. Is this the case? Do spliffs get you higher than joints? This and other related questions are exactly what we are going to answer today.

Key Takeaways

• A spliff is hemp or cannabis mixed with tobacco, whereas a joint is pure cannabis or hemp.
• Spliffs may be problematic due to their tobacco/nicotine content (plus thousands of other toxic chemicals!).
• The term spliff is popular for a tobacco and cannabis joint in the UK, although the words joint and spliff are often used interchangeably in the USA and Canada.

What is a Spliff?

A spliff is a special kind of joint, so to speak, that contains tobacco. Specifically, a spliff is a mixture of tobacco and cannabis, or tobacco and hemp. Usually, it's an even split, about 50% cannabis and 50% tobacco, although the ratio does differ sometimes.

To be clear, the term “spliff” is commonly used in the UK and other countries that use British English. However, if you hear somebody saying spliff in North America, it could just refer to a regular cannabis joint.

What is a Joint?

A joint is a rolled paper with cannabis inside. In most parts of the world, when people say joint, this is exactly what they mean. It's a cannabis or hemp cigarette.

In sum, here are the main differences between spliffs and joints.

Aspect	Spliff	Joint
Definition	A mixture of tobacco and cannabis or hemp, usually in a 50/50 ratio.	A rolled paper containing only cannabis or hemp, with no tobacco.
Composition	Cannabis or hemp mixed with tobacco.	Pure cannabis or hemp.
Health Risks	Contains nicotine and other toxic in tobacco.	May produce harmful chemicals when combusted, but lacks the toxic additives found in tobacco.
Health Benefits	No known health benefits due to the presence of tobacco.	Potential medical and therapeutic benefits from cannabinoids like THC and CBD.
Addictiveness	More addictive due to nicotine in tobacco.	Cannabis may be slightly addictive, but significantly less so than tobacco.
Effect on Mood	Can improve mood due to nicotine's effect on the brain's reward centers.	THC and CBD may improve mood by increasing serotonin and dopamine production.
Psychoactive Effects	Tobacco is not intoxicating but can enhance feelings of euphoria.	Cannabis is intoxicating and psychoactive, leading to a high.
Global Terminology	In the UK, specifically refers to a tobacco and cannabis mix. Used interchangeably in the US and Canada.	Generally refers to a cannabis-only roll worldwide.
Rolling Difficulty	Similar difficulty to joints, tobacco strands can be troublesome but manageable.	Requires some practice but not overly difficult.
Alternatives to Smoking	No alternatives mentioned for tobacco.	Cannabis can be vaporized or consumed in edibles, tinctures, oils, etc., to avoid smoking.
Recommendation	Not recommended due to health risks associated with tobacco.	Recommended over spliffs due to fewer health risks and potential benefits.

Are Cannabis and Tobacco Similar?

Cannabis connoisseurs say that cannabis and tobacco are two different things that do not share any similarities whatsoever. Now, in terms of overall health risks and benefits, this is mostly true.

Health Risks vs Benefits

After all, cannabis, particularly THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids, has many potential benefits. These benefits can be physical or mental. They can be potentially medical and therapeutic. There is a reason why cannabis and hemp have become so popular: cannabinoids are proving to be some of nature's best natural medicines.

On the other hand, tobacco has absolutely no such benefits, and neither do the thousands of other toxic and dangerous chemicals contained in cigarettes. Let's just be clear here: THC and CBD may have various benefits for the mind and body, whereas tobacco doesn't.

Tobacco contains not only nicotine but thousands of other poisonous chemicals, many of which may cause cancer. Now, smoking cannabis may also be carcinogenic. The process of combusting plant matter and inhaling smoke produces poisonous chemicals. Therefore, smoking tobacco or cannabis is not overly healthy for the lungs.

However, pound for pound, cannabis could be more beneficial than tobacco. While smoking cannabis does still produce some toxic chemicals, they generally aren't nearly as bad, or at least not as numerous, as with tobacco.

Also, remember that there are many ways to consume cannabis. You can vaporize it, which is much healthier than smoking. You can also eat cannabis in form of edibles, drinks, tinctures, oils, capsules, and more.

This means that you can effectively reap all of the benefits of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids without the risk of combusting plant matter and creating carcinogenic compounds through the smoking process.

To summarize, smoking either of these substances is not healthy for your lungs because they may cause respiratory issues. However, the big difference is that tobacco contains more toxic chemicals than cannabis, plus cannabis doesn't actually need to be smoked.

They Can Change The Way You Feel

Another similarity between the two is that they can make you feel a little bit better. Of course, cannabis is intoxicating and psychoactive, so it makes you feel very high, which tobacco does not.

Furthermore, THC and CBD may affect the pleasure centers of the brain, by increasing serotonin and dopamine production. This in turn helps to improve your mood, potentially reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and make you feel better in general.

In this way, cannabis may be somewhat similar to tobacco, particularly if we are talking about nicotine. Nicotine also affects the reward centers of the brain. Smoking tobacco also increases serotonin and dopamine production, which produces a sense of happiness and euphoria.

So, both products may produce euphoria and happiness and improve mood. However, the issue is that nicotine is highly addictive. If you stop giving your brain nicotine, you are likely to fall into a deep depression and experience anxiety.

On the other hand, if you stop giving your brain THC, although you may also experience mild side effects or withdrawal symptoms, they won't be nearly as harsh as with nicotine. Tobacco and nicotine are considered to be some of the most addictive substances in the world, whereas cannabis is not.

Does Tobacco Potentiate the Effects of Cannabis?

Some people say that they enjoy mixing cannabis with tobacco because it makes them feel higher. However, there is no solid evidence to prove this. There are no indications that mixing tobacco with cannabis makes them more potent or improves the high.

Cannabis does not automatically become stronger because it is mixed with tobacco. For cannabis to be stronger, it would have to contain more THC, more cannabinoids, or even more terpenes to produce a so-called entourage effect.

Yes, tobacco may make you feel a bit energetic; it can provide a buzz, and it can also help improve mood due to the addictive and pleasure-creating properties of nicotine. However, just because you feel happier and more energetic doesn't mean that cannabis is more potent or that you will feel higher. Mixing the two together won't make you feel more intoxicated than just cannabis alone.

Do Spliffs Get You Higher Than Joints?

As mentioned above, there is no real evidence to support claims that spliffs make you higher than joints. Yes, tobacco may affect the pleasure center of the brain, but it's not intoxicating or psychoactive. Tobacco does not make you feel high, and it is not intoxicating. The nicotine’s effects may make you feel a bit more euphoric, but that's about it.

Joint vs Spliff: Which is Easier to Roll?

Both of these take a bit of practice to roll, and neither is overly difficult, especially with practice. Tobacco strands when taken out of cigarettes are fairly long, so this can be trouble for some, but not if you grind tobacco.

Tobacco is fairly dry, so it can make a mess, but it should be fine when mixed with weed. The rolling process for both is more or less the same. If you don’t want to have to roll anything at all, check out our very own Delta 8 Lemon Diesel Pre-Rolls!

In case you don’t know what a pre-roll is, check out this guide. If you’re having trouble with your joints, check out one of the super helpful guides below!

• Guide on how to put out a joint
• Guide on how to hold a joint
• Guide on how to light a joint
• Guide on how to infuse a joint

Are Spliffs or Joints Addictive?

Although, there are indications that cannabis may be slightly addictive, nicotine is considered to be far more addictive.

In fact, cigarettes are often considered one of the most addictive substances in the world. If we had to choose which one of these is more addictive, it absolutely has to be spliffs containing tobacco, which contain nicotine, and that puts you at great risk of severe addiction.

Does “Spliff” Have the Same Meaning Around the Globe?

No, the word spliff is generally used in the UK to indicate a joint that is rolled with cannabis and tobacco. However, in North America, the terms spliff and joint are often used interchangeably.

Final Thoughts

Tobacco and nicotine aren't good for anyone, whereas THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids may have potential benefits. Although rolling spliffs, or, combining cannabis and tobacco, may be popular in some areas of the world, it is likely not a good idea.

Smoking isn't good for your lungs, simple. Smoking tobacco, which contains thousands of toxic additives and chemicals, is about the worst thing you could do. Our official recommendation is that you stick with pure cannabis or hemp. That said, there are plenty of other herbs you can mix with cannabis, other than tobacco, that may actually have benefits for you.

Where to Buy Pre-Rolled Joints Online

If you would like to buy some pre-rolled joints with legal hemp and nothing else, then Botany Farms is the right place to go. We have some great options for you to check out, such as this CBD Sugar Queen Pre-Roll and our very own Botany Farms HHC Orange Glaze Pre-Roll. Here we also have a great guide on making those pre-rolled joints last longer.