Every Type of Cannabis Pre-Roll

We all love a pre-roll, right? Whether picking one up from the dispensary or packing it yourself with the flower and paper type of your choice, the pre-roll is the ultimate portable party-starter when it comes to cannabis. They're easy to carry, easy to use and easy to share.

But not every pre-roll is the same, and we're not just talking about the way you pack vs the way your friend packs. We're talking distinct different types of pre-roll goodness, depending on what you or a producer put in them.

In fact, cannabis analytics firm Headset tracks seven different pre-roll segments – or types of pre-rolls. SEVEN! But what are the different types of pre-rolls? We got you; let's go through them in their order of how much they make in sales each year.

Infused Pre-Rolls

The pre-roll product segment that generates the most revenue is easily the range of infused pre-rolls. Instead of just containing flower, infused pre-rolls add a concentrate into the mix, boosting potency, flavor and average price.

Producers – and home packers – can either mix a concentrate in with the flower before packing, roll into long snakes and place it inside to create the popular "hash hole" effect, or simply paint their pre-rolls with an oil or adhesive and roll them in kief to give their session a little extra punch.

Last year in the U.S., infused pre-rolls generated $1.67 billion and sold 144.5 million units. In this case, a "unit" refers to an individual pre-roll product, meaning a single unit could be either an induvial infused half-gram pre-roll or a massive multi-pack of 56 half-gram pre-rolls. Infused joints are extremely popular, and it's easy to understand why: infused pre-rolls are the best portable bang for your buck in the industry, whether you're rolling your own or picking up a favorite at ye olde pot shop.

Hybrid Strain Pre-Rolls

But while the infused may generate the most revenue, the most popular pre-roll by unit sales – by far – is the single strain hybrid pre-roll. Packed with flower that splits the difference between the buzzy, energetic effects of a sativa and the couch-locking heaviness of an indica, it's easy to see why the hybrid pre-roll is a favorite. It's nearly perfect for every occasion, from a private toke to an easy session starter.

The hybrid pre-roll sold 171.8 million units in 2025, more than 27 million more than infused pre-rolls, however, because of the lower price point, it only generated $1.29 billion in sales.

And packing one at home is almost easier than buying. Not only can you pick your favorite hybrid flower, but the size and format you choose is always right for your needs.

Indica Joints

Though the first two pre-roll types account for the lion's share of pre-roll revenue at a whopping 84%, the indica pre-roll remains a popular alternative for many, particularly because of the calming, relaxing effects associated with the indica varietals. Dispensaries sold about 36.7 million indica pre-roll units last year to the tune of $243.6 million.

Physically, the indica version of the cannabis plant is shorter and bushier than its sativa cousins. It has broad, wide leaves that are often darker, sometimes leaning toward the purple, with a dense branching structure and denser, chunkier buds.

Indicas are generally considered to be among the "heavier" types of cannabis in that the reported effects are often things like relaxation, sedation, muscle relief and the most stoner tradition of all: couch-lock.

Packing them yourself is simple: find your favorite indica (I'm a sucker for anything purple), grind it up and pack up your pre-rolled cones. But watch out, it's probably going to pack a punch.

Sativa Pre-Rolls

Whereas indicas are thought of as the calming flower, sativas are generally considered the buzzy kind. Sativa pre-rolls are the type that make you chatty and add a bit of wild energy to your session. Because of that, last year sativa pre-rolls generated $231.8 million on sales of 24 million units.

Sativa plants are taller and lankier than indica plants, with thin, narrow leaves. They are usually a brighter green and have more space between the branches, which produces airier, stretched-looking buds.

People love indica pre-rolls because of the cerebral boost they tend to generate, with sativa fans claiming they help boost creativity, focus and mood, making them great for socializing or party scenes.

At home, just like any pre-roll, simply find a favorite strain (I love a nice, gassy blast of citrus, myself), grind it small and load up your favorite pre-rolled cone, tube or blunt. But remember, this is a pre-roll designed to get you going so don't expect to settle in for a long movie, you know?

Mixed Strain Joints

Mixed strain pre-rolls are the mutt of the pre-roll world. They combine multiple cannabis strains into a single pre-rolled package, giving each one its own unique flavor and punch depending on what it's been packed with. Sometimes, they are variety multi-packs containing different pre-rolls of a single strain. Sometimes the flower is mixed like a cocktail to create a specific effect or flavor, while others are simply whatever the producer has left over.

Mixed strain sales only account for about 2% of pre-roll revenue, but that's still about $77.4 million, or 5.5 million units.

Packed at home, these are what we used to call a salad. Sometimes it was intentionally mixed to develop certain flavors or effects, other times it was what everyone had left all ground and mixed together.

Either way, it's a party in a pre-rolled cone and totally worth packing.

The Classic Blunt

Ah, the blunt. These are my favorites. Whether rolled in the traditional way with tobacco or hemp wrap, or packed into a pre-rolled hemp wrap tube, I love the slow-burning earthy flavor of blunt. And I know I am not the only one.

When you look at the numbers, however, this segment is deceptively small. According to the data, smokers only bought 1.3 million blunt units last year to the tune of $16.3 million. But here's the thing: Headset's point-of-sales system considers infused blunts as an "infused" product, not a "blunt" product.

When we look at the full blunt picture, by looking at product names instead of categories, the blunt numbers actually jump up to 8.41 million units sold and $145.3 million in revenue.

At home, packing your flower into a pre-rolled hemp wrap blunt cone or straight tube is a great way to get the session started. Blunts are always appreciated and tend to go around the circle more times, and if you have a Fast Fill Rolling Tray or a Perfect Pack Machine, there's no worry about splitting a cigar evenly or getting your roll right. Instead, fill easy and smoke easy.

The CBD Pre-Roll

Finally, there's the CBD pre-roll. Aimed mostly at medical patients, these are pre-rolls packed with flower rich in the cannabinoid CBD and less THC, the cannabinoid that delivers the psychoactive high. In fact, hemp is defined as flower containing no more than 0.3% THC, so when we say less THC, we mean way less.

CBD pre-rolls only racked up about $5.7 million in sales in 2025, moving about 553,700 units, but it has a dedicated customer base of smokers who are looking for specific effects from their pre-rolls.

At home, these are packed the same as any other pre-roll: find your favorite CBD-rich strain, grind it up and pack your pre-rolled cone. For many people, 100% organic hemp paper is a favorite here. And if you are packing at home, feel free to get a little mixy mixy with your CBD pre-rolls by adding some of your favorite THC flower or concentrate into the mix. The combined head and body high provides a nice, full pre-roll experience that is difficult to replicate with store-bought pre-rolls. It's an example of what is known as the "entourage effect," or the combinations of multiple cannabinoids and terpenes working together to create a different "high."

Pick it, Pack it and Fire it up

So there you have it, the seven different types of pre-rolls as defined by the industry, from the super-popular infused pre-roll all the way to niche CBD joints.

And whatever your favorite type of pre-roll is, remember you can pack it up at home to personalize it specifically to your needs and wants. Don't just grab a random Indica pre-roll off the shelves, grab your favorite indica and pack it into your favorite size and paper type, that way you get what YOU want every time, creating the exact pre-roll experience you're looking for.

And that? That's how you Enjoy Your Day.