Pre-Rolls, Infused Pre-Rolls and Blunts: A Toronto Buyer's Guide

Pre-rolls, infused pre-rolls and blunts are different products under Canadian rules. Here is how to tell them apart and compare packs by the numbers.

The best pre-rolls in Toronto are the ones that match what you are looking for on paper: a recent packaging date, a Total THC and CBD level you are comfortable with, the right weight per roll, and a fair price per gram. That matters more than any ranking, and it is how we suggest comparing every pre-roll, infused pre-roll and blunt on our menu.

This guide explains the three formats, how Canadian rules treat each one, and how to read the label so you can compare packs quickly.

Pre-rolls: dried flower, ready rolled

A standard pre-roll is dried cannabis flower rolled in paper and sold in a pack. Legally, it is dried cannabis, the same class as loose flower.

That classification comes with a strict rule. Health Canada's composition requirements say dried cannabis must not contain anything other than a part of a cannabis plant, and that you must not add THC or THCA to dried cannabis. A standard pre-roll is flower and paper, nothing more.

What the pre-roll label shows

The Cannabis Regulations require packs of pre-rolls (dried cannabis in units, intended for inhalation) to show:

• The total net weight of dried cannabis.
• The number of units in the pack.
• The net weight of each unit.
• Total THC and Total CBD, in mg per gram.
• The intended use.
• Plus the standardized cannabis symbol, a health warning, the excise stamp, the lot number and the packaging date.

Infused pre-rolls: a different product class

An infused pre-roll has cannabis extract added to the flower, such as kief, hash or another concentrate. Because dried cannabis cannot contain added THC, Health Canada treats these products differently. Its tracking system guidance gives the example of a pre-roll pack made mostly of dried flower with kief or hash added, and classifies it as "Extracts, Inhaled".

What that means for you as a buyer:

• The label will say "cannabis extract", not dried cannabis.
• An ingredients list is required, as it is for all extracts.
• The THC figure is usually higher than a standard pre-roll, because concentrate has been added. Check the Total THC in mg/g carefully.
• Extract rules apply, including the cap of 1,000 mg of THC per immediate container.

Blunts

On a cannabis menu, a blunt is typically a larger roll that uses a wrap instead of standard rolling paper. Formats vary between producers, so read the product class on the label and ask staff what the wrap is made of before you buy. If the product contains added extract, the label will say so through its class and ingredients list.

How to compare pre-rolls (our version of "best")

We do not rank producers. Compare these instead:

1. Packaging date. Expiry dates are optional on cannabis labels, so the packaging date is your best freshness signal.
2. Total THC and Total CBD (mg/g). Divide by 10 for a percentage: 180 mg/g is 18%.
3. Weight per unit. Packs vary in the number of rolls and the size of each. The label tells you both.
4. Price per gram. Divide the price by the total net weight. This is the fairest way to compare a pack of small rolls with a pack of larger ones.
5. Member price. Every product on our menu shows a regular price and a lower member price.
6. Terpene information. Health Canada's About cannabis page says terpenes give cannabis its distinctive smell. Where a producer lists terpenes, many buyers use them to compare aroma.

Words like indica and sativa are not regulated label terms. Our indica, sativa and hybrid guide explains why the numbers above are more reliable.

Start low, go slow

Health Canada's lower your risks guidance suggests starting with 1 or 2 puffs of a joint with 10% (100 mg/g) THC or less, and choosing products with a low amount of THC and an equal or higher amount of CBD. Inhaled effects are felt within seconds to minutes, with full effects taking up to 30 minutes, so wait before taking more. With infused pre-rolls, the THC level can be much higher, which is a reason to go more slowly still.

Health Canada's consumer information notes that the toxic chemicals in cannabis smoke increase your risk of heart and lung disease. Avoid combining cannabis with alcohol, and never drive after using it.

Where you can smoke a pre-roll in Toronto

Ontario restricts where cannabis can be consumed, including enclosed public spaces, workplaces, indoor common areas of condos and apartments, school grounds and public areas within 20 metres of them, and any vehicle or boat that is being driven or will be driven. Our guide to where you can legally smoke cannabis in Toronto covers the full list, and the condo and rental guide covers home.

Pre-rolls and the possession limit

Standard pre-rolls are dried cannabis, so they count gram for gram toward Ontario's 30 g public possession limit, under Schedule 3 of the Cannabis Act. A pack's total net weight is printed on the label, which makes the math easy. For infused products and other formats, ask staff how a product counts, or see our possession limits guide.

Storage

Keep pre-rolls in their original child-resistant packaging, out of sight and reach of children and pets, as Health Canada advises. The label also lists recommended storage conditions for each product.

Visit Sugar Beach Cannabis

Pre-rolls and blunts have their own category on our live menu, with Total THC, Total CBD, pack size, the regular price and the member price for each. Sugar Beach Cannabis is at 192 Queens Quay East, Unit A5, Toronto, beside Sherbourne Common and about a 3-minute walk from Sugar Beach park. Order online and pick up in store, or walk in with government photo ID (19+). Contact us or read more about the store.

Frequently asked questions

This article is general information about cannabis rules and products in Ontario, not legal or medical advice. Rules change: check the official sources linked above. Cannabis is for adults 19+. Never drive impaired.