Cross Joint
What does “Cross Joint” mean?
Popularized by the 2008 movie Pineapple Express, a cross joint consists of two joints fitted together in the shape of a cross. This results in three ends which can be lit, and the consumer gets to enjoy the novel experience of smoking two joints at once. While it may look like magic, the process is quite simple, and star of the film Seth Rogen has demonstrated how to roll a cross joint many times on YouTube.Example usage:
“Let's roll a cross joint later, we have extra cheeba and I'd like to get burnt.”
Read moreRelated Cannabis Vocabulary Terms:
Why Bother with a Cross Joint?
The cross joint is a beloved stoner tradition that combines two joints into a single T-shaped concoction that serves but one purpose: it is uniquely engineered to get you (and hopefully a group of friends) super high. While it’s certainly a fun experience, the cross joint exists mostly as a party trick to impress friends or guests, or as a social gift for celebrating a special occasion.
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How to Roll a Cross Joint?
Without getting too gritty on the details, the basic steps for rolling your very own cross joint can be found below. And if these steps are not clear enough, you can also check out this 2014 viral video featuring Seth Rogen himself talking through the process.
- Roll two joints, one slightly larger than the other.
- Using a needle or toothpick, poke a hole near the center of each joint.
- Work the smaller of the joints through the hole of the larger joint.
- Pull the smaller joint through until its hole lines up in the center of the larger joint to allow airflow.
- Patch the area around where the joints are connected with extra rolling paper gums.
- Light each end of the joint simultaneously. Bonus tip: bring friends to help hold all the necessary lighters!
Some other things to consider: you want the breathing holes to line up at the intersection of the first joint but you should also try to balance the amount of weed in each joint and their consistencies. Ideally, you want the joint’s three tips to burn evenly and simultaneously so that they each reach the center of the cross at the same time. At this point, if you did everything correctly, you should be left with one fat joint featuring a staggeringly large cherry — enjoy it!
Pros and Cons
Given its complexity and heftiness, the cross joint is not something most smokers would turn to as an everyday sort of experience. Here are some of the pros and cons of cross joints and why you should consider — or perhaps consider skipping — them for your next party or smoke session:
Pros:
- It’s a faster dosing method than a traditional joint.
- It can be an impressive social gift or party favor.
- It’s a fun way to show off your rolling skills, if you’re into that sort of thing.
Cons:
- With three points burning at once, it can be more wasteful than a traditional joint.
- It’s very difficult to roll and easy to mess up — and poor-performing joints can be a real drag.
Pop-Cultural References
The cross joint was popularized the most by this scene from the 2008 movie Pineapple Express, starring Seth Rogen and James Franco. The scene features an awkward interaction between a spaced out weed dealer, played by Franco, and a high-strung working man (played by Rogen) who is just trying to score a bag of weed but ends up getting pressured into sticking around to smoke “the trifecta of joint-smoking power.” Some entertaining Hollywood trivia: while Franco’s drug dealer character is presented as the film’s expert joint roller, Seth Rogen himself was responsible for rolling everything featured in the film, even the cross joint.
Does the Cross Joint have any Religious Connotations?
It is certainly possible that cross joints could appeal to some religious stoners out there in the sense that this joint is shaped like the Christian cross. But the connotations are loose at best, and any connection between mainstream Christianity and the cross joint — which, again, really only serves the purpose of getting someone super high — would be most likely frowned upon by the religious establishment.
Not to be Confused with…
The term “cross joint” also describes a geological phenomenon wherein break points or fractures develop naturally in a layer or body of rock. In this case, “cross joint” would refer to joints which rise approximately perpendicular from the fold axis, typically defined by the curvature of the Earth.