Quick answer

Grind cannabis by hand or with a grinder until the pieces are small and uniform. A 2-piece or 3-piece grinder takes about 20 seconds. Fill the chamber about half full so the lid seats. Turn 5 to 10 times. Dump the flower onto a rolling paper or tray. Grind only what you plan to use in the next day or two.

Tools

  • Grinder: aluminum or stainless steel, 2 to 4 pieces. Teeth do the work. A 4-piece model adds a screen and a kief catcher.
  • Scissors or snips: small stainless steel blades set aside for this use. Best for sticky flower that jams a grinder.
  • Fingers: no tools, no cost. Slow. Leaves resin on skin.
  • Coffee grinder or blender: fast, but cuts flower to dust. Dust burns hot and clogs screens.

Steps

  1. Wash and dry your hands.
  2. Remove stems and seeds. Stems do not grind well and can dull grinder teeth.
  3. Break a bud into 2 or 3 pieces with your fingers. Fill the chamber halfway. An overfilled chamber stops the teeth from turning.
  4. Place the lid on and turn clockwise 5 to 10 times. Stop when no large pieces remain.
  5. Open the chamber. If the flower clumps, close it and turn 2 or 3 more times.
  6. Dump the ground flower onto a paper, tray, or bowl.

Grind size by method

  • Joint or blunt: medium, pieces about 2 to 3 mm. A finer grind burns hot and pulls through the paper.
  • Pipe: medium to coarse. Coarse pieces stay in the bowl.
  • Bong or water pipe: coarse. Large pieces keep airflow open.
  • Dry herb vaporizer: medium. Fine dust passes through the screen and reaches the mouthpiece.
  • One-hitter: fine. The small chamber needs small pieces.

Sticky flower

Fresh flower with high resin content sticks to grinder teeth. Three options: leave the lid off and let the flower air dry 20 to 30 minutes; seal a piece in a bag and put it in the freezer for 5 to 10 minutes; or cut it with scissors instead of grinding.

Cleaning the grinder

Resin builds on teeth and on the screen. Soak metal parts in 91% isopropyl alcohol for 20 to 30 minutes. Scrub with a small brush. Rinse and let the parts dry. Do not use soap on uncoated aluminum. Clean a grinder every 2 to 4 weeks with regular use.

What to expect at a store

Most US dispensaries sell whole flower and pre-ground flower. Pre-ground jars cost less per gram but dry out faster. For whole flower, ask the budtender for the harvest date and read the THC percentage on the label. Store flower in a glass jar with a lid, out of sunlight, at room temperature. Ground flower keeps 1 to 3 days in a sealed container. Whole flower keeps weeks to months.

Safety note

Cannabis flower sold in the US often tests above 15% THC. Grind less than you think you need. Start with a small amount and wait before adding more. Keep ground flower away from children and pets. Do not drive after use.