This topic is kind of our whole shtick here at RollPros, so hear us out. There are some extremely valid (and valuable) reasons why a rolled pre-roll will always be superior to a stuffed cone pre-roll. And it’s more than just that sweet, nostalgic hit of simpler times that rolled pre-rolls provide.
4 Reasons a Rolled
Pre-Roll Will Always Reign
Supreme Over a Stuffed Cone
Enhanced Smoking Experience
Rolled pre-rolls have a unique ability to offer smokers a more refined experience. Thanks to precise control over the tightness and density of each roll, rolled joints are smoother and allow for a more consistent draw. This tailored approach means that smokers are less likely to deal with issues like uneven burning or canoeing, which are often associated with stuffed cones. It’s the little details that matter, and rolled pre-rolls excel at delivering a quality experience that enhances every puff.
A rolled pre-roll hits harder, burns better, and costs less to produce. Check out our breakdown of the facts below.
Rolled Pre-Rolls Are More Potent
Straight up—if you’re using a machine to stuff your pre-rolled cones, you’re robbing your consumers of valuable cannabinoids. First and foremost, machine-stuffed cones require heavily ground and heavily dried flower (usually with a moisture content as low as 6-8%). Over-grinding flower can knock off a lot of those precious trichomes your consumers are paying for, and over-drying flower can degrade the cannabinoids that are left.
After the flower is dried and ground, pre-roll stuffing machines then use either a tamping system or a vibrating system to pack the ground flower down into the cone, and both of these actions also destroy and knock off valuable trichomes.
RollPros’ BlackBird, on the other hand, is a machine that requires sticky bud with at least 10% moisture content in order to automatically roll its pre-rolls. It does so the same way you would roll one by hand, but with fewer touch points than is needed to roll by hand, so there aren’t any fingers (or machine parts) getting sticky from over-handling trichomes. And there’s no tamping arm destroying the very thing your customers are hoping to inhale.
Rolled Pre-Rolls Cost Less To Produce
On the topic of ground flower, stuffed pre-roll cones also require a finer grind of drier flower than is necessary for a rolled pre-roll, meaning you have to use more flower to reach weight. This not only costs you more money directly by requiring you to use more flower, but it also costs you more money indirectly by requiring you to put out an inferior product that makes it harder to earn customer loyalty.
And on the backend of things, pre-roll cones come with ridiculous shipping costs and carbon emissions because they must be shipped as cones, so you’re paying for all that airspace to maintain their shape during the shipping process. The BlackBird rolling machine works with paper that comes in uncut bobbin form (basically a large spool/roll of paper), essentially cutting your consumable materials cost by up to 80 percent ($0.03 per unit for a rolled pre-roll versus $0.15 per unit for a stuffed pre-roll cone).
Let us put it to you this way: One pallet of bobbins equates to approximately 24 million joints. It would take over 60 pallets to ship 24 million pre-roll cones.
Rolled Pre-Rolls Burn Better
We’ve all lit a stuffed pre-roll cone and spent the entire session fighting to keep it from canoeing, ultimately losing half of the flower we paid for to an uneven burn. This happens because the tamping mechanism used to stuff those cones leads to an uneven pack—flower is packed tightly near the crutch but loosely near the top.
A rolled pre-roll doesn’t have that issue. The BlackBird consistently rolls evenly packed, evenly burning pre-rolls, and it has a built-in DrawCheck on the machine so you can check each batch to make sure they pull consistently. That’s how you build consumer loyalty and earn repeat business.
Rolled Pre-Rolls Are More Sustainable
We’ve already touched on the ridiculous carbon emissions produced by shipping pre-rolled cones. The amount of space taken up on pallets in order to maintain their shape means pre-roll companies have to order a lot in order to fulfill their quotas. (Only about 250,000-350,000 cones fit on one standard pallet.) But one other aspect of pre-roll cones that’s terrible for people and planet alike is that most cones are made by hand in India, Indonesia, China, and other countries with shady labor laws.
At RollPros, we don’t stand for that. Every component of the BlackBird machine, with only a few specific exceptions, is produced within 10 miles of our headquarters in Vancouver, Washington. We’re very intentional about keeping things local and sustainable.
Customizable Fill and Size
One of the top advantages of rolled pre-rolls is the flexibility they offer in terms of fill and size. Unlike stuffed cones, which typically come in fixed sizes, rolled pre-rolls can be adjusted to suit a variety of factors including flower type or consumer preference. Whether you want a dogwalker or a hefty smoke for sharing, rolled pre-rolls allow you to fine-tune the quantity and density of the flower. This customization extends beyond just size; it’s about creating a smoke that feels personally crafted.
The Growing Preference for Rolled Pre-Rolls
As the market shifts towards more personalized and premium cannabis experiences, the demand for rolled pre-rolls is on the rise. Many consumers (and businesses) are now opting for rolled pre-rolls over stuffed cones due to the enhanced quality and consistency they provide. Automation has made rolled pre-roll production more efficient, which means they’re increasingly accessible to brands of all sizes. With the industry embracing automation, rolled pre-rolls are positioned to become a go-to option for businesses that want to differentiate themselves in a crowded market.
Conclusion: Why Rolled Pre-rolls Reign Supreme
When it comes down to quality, customization, and the overall smoking experience, rolled pre-rolls simply outshine stuffed cones. They allow for better control over the fill and size, which translates to a smoother, more enjoyable smoke that’s tailored to personal preferences. As consumer preferences shift towards higher-quality products and with automation making pre-rolls more accessible, it’s clear they’re here to stay. Choosing rolled pre-rolls means opting for a better product that aligns with today’s demand for both quality and variety.
It’s Time To Roll
If you’re still not convinced a rolled pre-roll is the way to go, we wish you all the best. But if you’re ready to take your business and your consumers seriously, get in touch with RollPros today. We’re happy to walk you through a live demo of how the BlackBird works and back up everything we’ve explained here. We promise you’ll notice a difference between our rolled pre-roll and a stuffed pre-roll cone, and so will your consumers.
