Cannabis Prerolls: Tidy, Convenient, Booming!
Everyone loves easy accessibility, especially those who are new consumers. This is consistently true within the cannabis industry, where the immense popularity of pre-rolled joints have caused widespread attention. While it may seem surprising to those comfortable with a range of ways to consume, prerolls are an uncomplicated method for newcomers to ease into THC while still allowing for the classical methods of imbibing. Let’s take a further look at recent market trends for pre-rolls.
The New King of Consumption
The first prerolls sold commercially were not popular, as they were often filled with shake and trim, as a way to offload byproduct. Nowadays, however, cannabis prerolls are more often higher quality and purchased more than flower itself, taking over as the top-selling item on the market.
According to a new industry report from Custom Cones USA, Headset and Lake Superior State University, Americans sparked more than 316 million thc pre-rolls in 2024, fueling $3.1 billion in sales and claiming more than 15% of the entire legal market.
Further, in 2025, Headset data reported Canadian THC prerolls surpassed flower as the number one best-selling product segment. Pre-roll sales are anticipated to break last year’s record and have a 34% hold of market share. Cannabis flower has reached a 32% market share and has seen a 2.5% decline from 2024.
Making the Perfect THC Pre-Roll
There is more to creating the perfect preroll than enthusiasm. A quality joint produces a smooth, even burn, therefore manufacturers must thoroughly control flower particle size while also maintaining ideal moisture content.
“We usually recommend particle size between three and four millimeters, and then you always have a little bit of smaller particle in there that kind of fills in the gaps,” said Kyle Loucks, CEO and Founder of RollPros.
Loucks also explained how having too coarse of a grind can harm the burn of the joint:
“You can get little pockets of air in there. So that’s really what would start a canoeing event. It’ll cause the joint to burn quicker.”
Further, maintaining moisture keeps the flower from becoming too dusty or clumping during the grinding process. Water activity is also key, as it can be a contributing factor to the performance of the product, combustion behavior, and consumer satisfaction during storage, packaging and consumption.
Technology & Innovation Carve a Place in the Industry
Automation has provided cannabis prerolls with the singular most important aspect that makes the market profitable: consistency. Being able to program a specific roll type for an exact flower and have the same preroll emerge again and again spells profitability.
Several companies now produce automated rolling machines; research and trial are the best ways to determine compatibility. It is also important to remember that despite the ease of using a machine for this particular task, it is still best that human staff monitor the process. Observation ensures consistency and allows for quick adjustments if issues arise.
Infused pre-rolls specifically lead this revenue growth. These prerolls include a concentrate and often feature a higher price than regular thc pre-rolls. Survey data shows 86% of brands now produce infused pre-rolls. With this newer aspect of THC prerolls, companies have begun to offer hybrid packs of multiple strains, multi-pack options in fives and 10s, as well as mini pre-rolls, which are typically between 0.3 to 0.5 grams each.
In California, infused prerolls are reshaping marijuana sales trends. From Dec. 1, 2024 to Feb. 28, 2025, the California cannabis market generated $1.1 billion in total sales, experiencing a decline of 0.5%, according to a report from RollPros using data from Colorado-based cannabis market research firm BDSA. However, the standout trend during this period was the dominance of infused pre-rolls, which accounted for 66.3% of the $178.1 million of all pre-roll sales.
Caution: Legality of Cannabis Does Not Mean Legality of Pre-Rolls
Whether THC is legal recreationally or not is only one of the hurdles of legally consuming prerolls. Some states do not allow pre-roll use at all, while others only allow it when the product is extracted from hemp. Additionally, most states have laws prohibiting smoking of any kind, such as in public places and near schools. Know the restrictions of the area before sparking up a preroll; making assumptions could land you in legal limbo.
Ohio Legalizes Prerolls
Good news for Ohio consumers! The Buckeye State now allows the option of purchasing pre-rolls. The restrictions on selling prerolls date back to Ohio’s initial medical cannabis rules, which banned any form of combustible marijuana prepared and packaged before sale. While licensed cannabis processors must receive official approval before stocking pre-rolls, the reception has been strong. At least one dispensary sold out of its initial shipment in two days, after the August 2025 announcement.
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