For as long as people have enjoyed the effects of cannabis there has been a debate about whether it’s better to grind weed or enjoy it in a basically raw state. Many will say, with some justification, that it’s a simple matter of opinion: what works ‘better’ for one person’s custom glass, may not work for someone else who’s determined to roll the perfect Rasta-style spliff. But is disagreement inevitable? Are there any objective criteria that can be applied that will demonstrate that one way is indeed superior to the other? That’s what we’re here to find out.

The proliferation of highly effective grinders in recent years has made it seem like the question of whether to grind or not has been settled. But the immense popularity of modern multi-chamber grinders is a bit misleading. A lot of these devices have been sold to people who always ground their weed but simply never before had access to effective grinders. Now they do, and they’re snapping them up. They are not necessarily converts to grinding. The fact is, the split between grinders and non-grinders remains. So let’s take a look at each side of the argument.

Grind Your Weed: Making the Case

One could say that no matter what, a certain level of grinding is necessary. As such, the question of whether to grind or not is moot. You have to grind to some degree or you won’t be able to achieve a sustainable burn, no matter how much you paid for your custom glass. Therefore, the real issue has to do with how much grinding is necessary.

We get that argument. But what we’re talking about here is the difference between separating out seeds and stems, and putting your weed into one of the previously mentioned multi-chamber grinders. So here is the case for using one of those grinders.

• Grinding is necessary if you want to obtain a nice even burn on your joints. The same is true for bowls.
• When weed is ground it fills the bowl more evenly which causes air to pass through it more evenly, allowing for a smoother burn.
• Breaking up really moist weed by hand typically results in lots of resin being left behind on your fingers, instead of in the bowl or the joint where it belongs.
• Have you ever tried to roll a joint using whole or nearly whole buds? Doesn’t work. If you’re into joints you have to grind your weed to some degree.
• Most of today’s best grinders have a chamber designed specifically to catch the kief. The kief is a super-potent powder that results from the grinding process and is treasured by many weed connoisseurs.
• Ground weed is versatile. You can use it for just about any purpose from rolling dynamite joints, to savoring in your custom glass, to creating special baked goods for your upcoming get-together and more.
• Unground weed can clog up your hand pipes, requiring frequent cleanings.

Don’t Grind Your Weed: Making the Case

Leaving weed in a raw, or close to raw, state is frowned upon by many process-oriented people. By that, we mean folks that believe that raw materials need to be processed in order to realize their full potential. You can’t run a car on crude oil, after all. It needs to be processed before its beneficial properties can be utilized by your car. Same with weed, they say. You need to process it or you’re leaving all kinds of benefits on the table.

There are those, however, who disagree. While the case for leaving weed in a nearly raw state is not exactly overwhelming, there are few things non-grinders point to when justifying their anti-grinding bias. Basically, the case for not grinding comes down to these points:

• Not everyone is into ginormous, life-altering hits. Some people enjoy a more subdued experience where they obtain a mild buzz. When you place an intact nug into the bowl of your custom glass and spark up the edges you get more modest hits.
• Many people argue that grinding enables a smoother burn and more effective use of the weed’s chemical properties. In fact, the only way to ensure optimal potency is to leave the weed intact. Like it or not, grinding it up will remove some trichomes (those tiny mushroom-like protuberances on the buds). Fewer trichomes mean slightly reduced potency.
• Dry weed sometimes burns more effectively when it is left in a fairly chunky state. That’s especially true when you’re using a bowl.

If I Decide to Grind, Why Not Just Use My Fingers?

Good question. Why should you fork over hard-earned money on a fancy grinder if you can just grind by hand? After all, people have been smoking weed since 2,500 BC and for most of that time, they've been grinding their cannabis by hand. So why not just adopt that traditional method?

Tradition is all well and good, and there are certainly plenty of traditions worth preserving. But there is also something called ‘progress’ which can’t be summarily dismissed. It is, after all, what has enabled us to go from cowering in caves to peering down on the earth from the International Space Station. Grinders represent progress. A better way.

The Bottom Line

So there you have it. The case for and the case against grinding. Both have their objective merits that go beyond just personal tastes. Consider each approach on those merits when deciding if grinding is right for you.