5 Common Pre-Roll Problems

Problem 1: Can’t Draw or Pull

What You’re Experiencing

You light the pre-roll but feel significant resistance when inhaling. Little to no smoke comes through, and you may find yourself pulling hard enough to collapse the paper.

Likely Causes

• • Over-packed cannabis: The flower is compressed too tightly, blocking airflow

• • Blocked filter: Cannabis particles or debris have clogged the crutch

• • Moisture issues: The product absorbed humidity during storage, causing swelling

Quick Diagnosis

Use the “avocado squeeze test”: gently press the pre-roll between your fingers. A well-packed pre-roll should have slight give, like a ripe avocado. If it feels rock-hard, it’s over-packed. If you can feel distinct lumps or empty spots, packing is inconsistent.

Can You Fix It?

Sometimes. Try gently rolling the pre-roll between your palms to redistribute the contents. If the filter is blocked, carefully insert a toothpick or thin tool to clear debris. If these don’t work within a minute or two, the pre-roll likely has a manufacturing defect and should be returned.

Problem 2: Uneven or Harsh Burning

What You’re Experiencing

The pre-roll burns down one side (called “canoeing”), repeatedly goes out, or produces smoke that’s unusually harsh on your throat.

Likely Causes

• • Inconsistent packing: Different densities throughout create hot spots and uneven airflow

• • Poor lighting technique: Uneven initial burn from improper toasting

• • Paper quality issues: Defective or inconsistent paper burns at different rates

Can You Fix It?

Often yes, if caught early. Proper lighting technique prevents most canoeing:

1. • Hold the pre-roll at a slight angle with the tip facing upward

• • Apply flame to the tip while slowly rotating—don’t inhale yet

• • Wait until the entire tip glows evenly before taking your first draw

• • If canoeing starts, lick your finger and dampen the fast-burning side, or rotate the pre-roll so the canoe faces downward

Problem 3: Stale or Off-Taste

What You’re Experiencing

The smoke tastes flat, harsh, or simply “off.” There’s little flavor complexity, and the experience feels harsh compared to what you expected.

Likely Causes

• • Terpene degradation: Exposure to light, heat, or air has broken down the aromatic compounds

• • Dried-out cannabis: Improper storage caused moisture loss

• • Old product: The pre-roll sat on shelves too long before purchase

Can You Fix It?

Rarely. Once terpenes degrade, they don’t come back. You can try rehydrating slightly by storing with a humidity pack (like Boveda) for 24-48 hours, which may improve the burn quality but won’t restore lost flavors.

A Better Solution : Don’t throw away that stale pre-roll—boost it instead. The Artrix Tip is a portable flavor and potency enhancer that fuses vaporized cannabis extract with your pre-roll smoke, instantly transforming a disappointing session into a satisfying one.

Problem 4: Infused Pre-Roll Issues

Infused pre-rolls—those enhanced with concentrates like hash, kief, or oils—present unique challenges beyond standard pre-rolls.

What You’re Experiencing

• • Inconsistent effects: Some hits feel much stronger than others

• • Sticky residue or leaking: Concentrate seeping through paper or collecting at the filter

• • Clogging mid-smoke: The pre-roll becomes impossible to draw as concentrate melts and pools

Likely Causes

These issues typically stem from manufacturing problems—uneven concentrate distribution, improper viscosity, or temperature control failures during production. Storage also matters: heat causes concentrates to migrate and pool.

Can You Fix It?

Limited options. Prevention matters more than fixes.

The better option : These common infused pre-roll issues can often be solved with better tip engineering. Tip is specifically designed to handle concentrate-infused products, offering improved airflow management that prevents clogging and reduces sticky residue from reaching consumers. Their heat-resistant construction helps minimize concentrate migration, delivering a more consistent experience from the first puff to the last.

Problem 5: Physical Defects

What You’re Experiencing

• • Visible tears, holes, or gaps in the paper

• • Filter that’s loose, misaligned, or falling out

• • Twisted or pinched sections along the cone

• • Seams that have separated or never sealed properly

Can You Fix It?

Usually no. Physical defects are manufacturing failures. Small tears can sometimes be patched with a thin strip of rolling paper and saliva, but significant defects warrant a return. A loose filter can occasionally be gently pushed back into place if it hasn’t been crushed.

Keeping Pre-Rolls Fresh

Many problems develop after purchase. Proper storage prevents most degradation issues.

Standard Pre-Rolls

• • Store in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight

• • Use an airtight container (glass or quality plastic)

• • Add a humidity control pack to maintain 58-62% relative humidity

• • Store upright to prevent contents from shifting

Infused Pre-Rolls

All the above, plus: keep refrigerated if the concentrate is particularly sticky. Allow the pre-roll to reach room temperature before smoking—cold concentrates don’t vaporize properly. Extra protection from heat is critical, as concentrates degrade faster than flower alone.