We’ve all been there. You’ve got a fresh bag of herb procured from the finest weed store in the land, you’ve made your way home, taken off your shoes and popped on a movie … only to discover that you don’t have a grinder! Oh no! What are you going to do? 

Breaking it up with your fingers isn’t usually the preferred option, especially if the weed is relatively fresh and sticky. Nobody likes to find their fingers full of gooey resin, the result of trichome glands transferring from the cannabis buds to your digits. 

The question you might be asking is: Without a grinder, can I even smoke? Luckily for you, the answer is yes, of course you can! There is nothing to fear, as there are plenty of hacks you can use. Whether you’re at home, at a friend’s place or on the go, there’s always an option. Read on below to find out the many ways you can take care of business without a grinder, and get your smoke on without too much of a delay. 

This tool dates back thousands of years. The mortar, which is the bowl part of the duo, is usually made of hard wood, stone or ceramic. The pestle, the small club-shaped instrument, is capable of grinding and crushing ingredients into a fine powder, if necessary.

While weed is not usually consumed as a fine powder, the pestle does a decent job of breaking up any herb that is relatively dry. However, if your weed is still sticky, it is recommended that you leave it out in the air for a short while so that the mortar and pestle can best do its work.

However, if you don’t have the time or inclination to wait, there is usually always another option lying around the house to help you do the job.

While you have the option of using an old-school hand-cranked grinder like the one we have pictured, or if you prefer an electric version that does the job at the push of a button, the coffee grinder is a versatile tool that can get the job done in a flash, even if your weed is slightly sticky. 

However, there are two warnings that come with using a coffee grinder - particularly if you’re using someone else’s. First, if the grinder is typically used to grind coffee, you can expect your weed to have a little bit of an extra flavour profile, one that tastes like - you guessed it - coffee. 

Secondly, once you’re done, you should expect the coffee grinder to be full of weed particles, ones that are difficult to clean off. That means your next batch of ground coffee beans will likely have a little something extra mixed in. If you’re not at home, make sure whoever owns the grinder is ok with you using it.

If you don’t have time to wait for the weed to dry out (mortar and pestle) and you’re fresh out of available coffee grinders, you can always go old-school by using a knife. Just break out the chopping board, set down your fresh buds, and get to work!

As long as you’re comfortable enough with a knife to dice an onion or chop garlic into small pieces, this should be a breeze. Using a non-serrated blade, carefully and slowly break down your buds into small pieces as you would a vegetable, going slowly and safely, using your knuckle as a guide in what is sometimes referred to as the “claw grip.” Simply curl your fingers that are holding the cannabis inward, resting the knife against your knuckles as you cut. If you can’t see your fingertips, the knife can’t slice into them. Dice like a pro and get to rolling!

This method is a much more rarely-used method of grinding. It is accomplished by putting your weed into a small bottle or container along with a small, hard object like a coin. For a container you can use an old pill bottle (with the pills removed, of course), or even a small piece of tupperware with a lid. As long as you can safely shake the weed and coin inside the DIY shaker, you’re ready to go. 

By shaking the small container around for a few seconds (or minutes, depending on the stickiness of the cannabis), the metal edges of the coin should help break apart the buds as it bounces around inside the container, keeping your fingers safe, clean, and dry. However, be warned, depending on the nature of the bottle and the amount of weed you’re trying to DIY-grind, the shaking can be loud, and it is best to do it away from others, as it will certainly cause a racket.

Definitely one of the most trusted, go-to solutions to grind up your weed on the go, you can always grab a pair of scissors and a shot glass if you happen to be near a kitchen. 

Simply place the bud into the shot glass, aim the scissors properly, and snip away! In no time, your bite-sized bud will have been transformed into perfectly-sized chunks, which can easily be used to roll a joint or pack a bowl, depending on your preferred method of ingestion. Voila!

This option is for the truly desperate. If you have absolutely no other option besides breaking it up by hand, then you can always (carefully) grind the buds along a cheese grater. Make sure to choose the appropriately-sized holes in the grinder, and even more importantly, watch out for your fingers! The last thing anyone wants when you’re in the mood for a smoke is a bloody fingertip - that will definitely harsh your vibe.

As we mentioned at the top of the article, using your fingers - especially when the cannabis is sticky and fresh - is not ideal. It leaves plenty of gooey resin on your fingers, which is always an unpleasant feeling. Worse, if you happen to rub or touch your eye afterwards, you end up with an itch that is hard to scratch without making it worse. 

If you can, try to use some form of barrier between the weed and your fingers. Thin medical gloves might do the trick, or you can also use a small piece of paper in both hands to hold the buds while you break it apart. While not ideal, this method might be your last resort when it comes time to smoke.

Once you’ve chosen a method and broken your buds down to a manageable size and consistency, it’s finally time to smoke! 

Whether you’re intent on rolling a joint, using a bong, packing the bowl on a small pipe, or using one of Canadian Vaporizer’s many portable products, now that your weed has been properly ground up, you’re ready to get started. 

And if by some miracle you happen to have the time to wait for shipping, you can always use the proper tool by ordering one of Canadian Vaporizer’s grinders, which you can find in our Accessories page along with a great many other products. 

Happy smoking! 

While weed is not usually consumed as a fine powder, the pestle does a decent job of breaking up any herb that is relatively dry. However, if your weed is still sticky, it is recommended that you leave it out in the air for a short while so that the mortar and pestle can best do its work. 

However, if you don’t have the time or inclination to wait, there is usually always another option lying around the house to help you do the job.