Infused Pre-Rolls: What They Are and Why Canadians Buy Them

An infused pre-roll is the easy way to get a stronger, more flavourful smoke without rolling anything yourself, and you can see the current selection in our range of infused and regular pre-rolls. It is a ready-rolled joint that has been boosted with concentrate. This guide explains what infused actually means, how these differ from a regular pre-roll, how they are made, how strong they are, and how to pick one.

What is a pre-roll?

A pre-roll is simply a cannabis joint that has been rolled for you and is ready to smoke. No grinder, no papers, no rolling skill required. You buy it, light it, and go. Pre-rolls come as singles and in multi-packs, and they are one of the most popular formats for exactly that convenience, like our pre-roll 5 pack.

What makes a pre-roll infused?

An infused pre-roll takes that same ready-rolled joint and adds concentrate to it. The goal is always the same: more strength, and usually more flavour, than flower alone can give.

So the plain version is this. A regular pre-roll is ground flower in a paper. An infused pre-roll is that plus concentrate. Our Cannons infused pre-rolls are a good example of the infused style.

The types of infused pre-roll

Not all infused pre-rolls are built the same way, and what goes in changes both the strength and the taste. These are the styles you will meet.

Kief coated

The joint is rolled, lightly moistened and then rolled again in kief, the loose sifted resin powder from cannabis flower. It gives a modest, even lift in strength and a traditional, earthy character. This is the gentlest of the infused styles and a sensible first step.

Hash infused

Crumbled hash is mixed through the ground flower before rolling, or pressed into the joint. Hash brings a deeper, spiced flavour along with the extra strength, and it burns slower than flower on its own.

Distillate cored

A thin line of distillate runs down the middle of the joint. Distillate is very high in THC and almost flavourless, so this style pushes potency hard without changing the taste of the flower much.

Live resin or rosin infused

The same idea as a distillate core, but using a terpene-rich extract instead. You get the strength boost and a noticeable jump in flavour, because live extracts keep much more of the plant’s aroma.

Diamond infused

THCA crystals are added to the flower or the core. This is the strongest style on the shelf, because diamonds are close to a pure cannabinoid. Our diamond infused pre-rolls sit at this end of the range.

Twaxed

Twaxing is the technique of wrapping concentrate around the outside of the joint, or twisting it along the paper, rather than hiding it in the middle. The name comes from adding wax to a twist. It is as much a visual style as a strength one, and it burns distinctively.

How infused pre-rolls are made

The build order matters, because it decides how evenly the concentrate burns.

1. The flower is ground. A consistent grind is what stops a joint burning down one side, and it matters more in an infused pre-roll than a plain one.
2. The concentrate is prepared. Solid concentrates like hash or diamonds are broken down small. Thicker extracts are gently warmed so they can be placed accurately.
3. The concentrate goes in, or on. Mixed through the flower, laid as a core down the centre, or applied to the outside for a kief coat or a twax. This is the step that defines the style.
4. The joint is rolled and packed. Infused pre-rolls are packed a little more loosely than plain ones, because concentrate restricts airflow and a tight joint will not draw.
5. It is cured and checked. A short rest lets any added moisture settle so the joint burns evenly rather than running or canoeing.

That last point explains a lot about the format. A well-made infused pre-roll burns slowly and evenly; a badly made one runs down one side, and usually the cause is too much concentrate packed too tightly.

Infused versus regular pre-rolls

The difference comes down to strength, flavour and price.

A regular pre-roll gives you the clean, familiar experience of smoking flower, and it is the more affordable, everyday option. An infused pre-roll is stronger because of the added concentrate and sits at a higher price point to match. Neither is better in the abstract; it depends on whether you want an easygoing flower joint or a heavier, more intense one.

How strong are infused pre-rolls?

Stronger than a standard pre-roll, sometimes considerably so. Because concentrate is far more potent than flower, adding it lifts the total strength of the joint well above flower on its own. Exactly how much stronger depends on the type and amount of concentrate used, so an infused pre-roll built around diamonds will hit harder than one lightly dusted in kief.

If you usually smoke regular joints, treat your first infused one with a bit of respect: it will likely be stronger than you are used to, so pace yourself and see how it lands before smoking the whole thing. Sharing one, or putting it out and relighting later, is a perfectly normal way to approach it. If you want to understand the concentrates that go into them, our guide to types of hash covers what each one brings, and our guide to THC diamonds covers the modern high-potency end.

How to choose an infused pre-roll

Think about three things. First, what it is infused with: kief and hash give a traditional, moderate boost, while distillate, live resin or diamonds push strength and flavour higher. Second, the strain, since indica, sativa and hybrid labels carry over to pre-rolls just as they do to flower. Third, whether you want a single to try or a multi-pack once you know what you like. The product page for each one tells you what is inside.

If it is your first, a kief-coated or hash-infused pre-roll in a strain you already enjoy is the easiest place to start. Save the diamond-infused ones until you know how the format sits with you.

How to smoke one

Much like a normal joint, with two adjustments. Light it slowly and evenly, rotating it as you go, because the concentrate inside does not catch at the same rate as the flower around it. And draw gently; infused joints are packed denser, so a hard pull tends to scorch rather than help.

If it starts to run down one side, wet a fingertip and touch the fast-burning edge to slow it. Put it out in an ashtray rather than crushing it if you plan to come back to it.

Buying pre-rolls in Canada

Happy Clouds is a Canadian mail-order retailer, so you can order infused and regular pre-rolls online for discreet shipping across the country. Shipping is free on qualifying orders, every order earns HAPPYPOINTS, and you can browse the full pre-rolls range in one place. Cannabis is legal for adults in Canada, and you must be of legal age in your province to order.

Frequently asked questions

Further reading: Health Canada on cannabis in Canada · Cannabis Act (Government of Canada) · About cannabis, including extracts (Government of Canada)