Hemp Wicks for Lighting Pre-Rolls

The best part of packing your own pre-roll is getting the most flavor out of your session. Not only can you decide exactly what flower you put in – and we all know the fresher the flower, the better tasting the pre-roll – but adding premium filter tips, like glass or ceramic, to help cool the smoke and enhance the taste of those terps.

But even the most discerning smoker, packing the terpiest flower into a ceramic-tipped pre-roll, can still destroy the flavor of their hit at the last second, just as they are about to fully enjoy it.

By using a lighter. Seriously.

Because while lighting your pre-roll is key to enjoying it, the simple act of flicking your butane lighter to fire up your flavorful pre-roll is going to hurt your chances of getting the best-tasting hit you can, simply because of the butane.

Not only that, there are some potential health risks involved with inhaling butane as well, like headaches or dizziness (but those usually take a higher concentration and larger exposure than a simple lighter). And, of course, it’s highly flammable and under pressure, so there’s always a risk, however minor it is.

So what’s a flavor conscious pre-roll smoker to do? Simple: use a hemp wick to light your pre-rolls. It’s simple, inexpensive and perfectly preserves the taste of your pre-roll.

What is a Hemp Wick for Pre-Rolls?

Hemp wick is a thin hemp twine coated in beeswax.

Hemp fibers are twisted into twine, then coated in melted beeswax so it burns slowly and keeps its shape. Commercial hemp wicks are usually made in long lengths or wrapped into balls or rolls, with the wax coating giving it rigidity and a controlled burn.

The beeswax also helps hemp wicks burn slower and cooler than plain twine, which is why it’s great for more controlled lighting when applied to a bowl or pre-roll. But be careful, the wax also makes it sticky and it will collect dust, so storing it cleanly matters.

How Do You Use a Hemp Wick for Pre-Rolls?

You’re still going to need that lighter from earlier, but not to light your pre-roll directly and inhaling. Instead, use the lighter to light the end of your hemp wick. Like a candle, it may take a second for the fire to get through the wax to the hemp twine underneath, but once lit, your hemp wick should stay lit, providing a stable, consistent flame, unlike some lighters.

Once your hemp wick is lit, simply use the flame on the end of the wick to light your pre-roll (or blunt or bong or bowl), rather than using the lighter directly. It’s an extra step, but it’s worth the additional seconds to get the most from your pre-rolls.

And, not only will this protect the flavor of your pre-roll, but it also protects your thumb from the flame on the end of the lighter. Additionally, because the hemp wick is lit when you move it toward your pre-roll, there’s no chance that you may get an extra puff of gas or have the flame too high, eliminating the possibility of burning your face while trying to spark your session.

But remember, unlike a lighter that goes out when you release the button, a hemp wick needs to be put out when you are done or else it will keep burning. You can snuff it by pressing out the tip in your ashtray - safety first, after all.

Final Thoughts on Hemp Wicks for Pre-Rolls

The simple truth is this: to get the most flavor out of your pre-rolls, keep away the butane. It’s quick and easy, yes, but that blast of gas is going to color the rest of your session.

Instead, reach for the natural alternative: hemp twine coated in beeswax and flick your Bic at THAT instead. It will provide a gentle, easy-to-use and stable-burning flame that you can use to provide a flavor-free light to your pre-roll, giving you the best-tasting hit possible so you can Enjoy Your Day!