Written by Joshua Sosin

Whether you have a half-smoked joint or blunt or finishing off the final puff, knowing how to put it out properly is a must for safety and efficiency. Saving that unfinished joint the right way will keep your session safe, clean, and smell-free.

Here’s how to put out a joint the safe way, without wasting high-quality flower or leaving a mess behind.

Let It Go Out On Its Own

The simplest — and safest — method to extinguish after you smoke half a joint? Just let it go out naturally.

If you’re not in a rush, set your joint down in an ashtray or a non-flammable surface and let it burn itself out. This method keeps your joint intact, and it avoids squashing or damaging the cherry.

Make sure the surface is heat-safe — glass, metal, or ceramic ashtrays work best. Don’t leave a burning joint unattended, though — wait until it’s clearly no longer smoking before walking away.

Tap It Gently

If you want to stop it a little quicker, hold the joint over an ashtray or another fireproof surface and gently tap the lit end against the side to knock off the cherry of excess ash. That glowing part is where the heat is, and removing it helps the rest of the joint cool off fast.

This keeps your joint mostly intact so you can re-light it later without dealing with a flat, misshapen roll that wastes cannabis.

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Snuff It Like a Cigarette (But Be Gentle and Choose the Right Container)

You can snuff out half a. weed joint like a cigarette — just press the lit end against a flat surface to cut off oxygen — but be careful not to crush it too much.

If you go this route, use something like the edge of an ashtray, a stone tray, or the inside lid of a glass jar. Avoid putting a joint inside a plastic bag or anything else that's flammable. You want to extinguish it, not light something else on fire.

As a side note, while you should always avoid plastic bags when storing joints, you can put fresh buds in a bag for later. A mason jar or another airtight container can be a better option, but you can always put a small amount of bud in a baggie if it's all you have.

Once it’s out and cool, you can save the rest for later or toss it depending on your vibe.

What Not to Do

• Don’t run it under water unless you’re 100% done with it. That’ll ruin any flower left inside.

• Don’t crush it between your fingers — not only can it stay hot, but it’s also messy and you’ll lose some of that good stuff.

• Don’t toss it while it’s still burning. Even if it looks like it’s out, embers can reignite.

If you're on a hike, at the beach, or somewhere outdoors — always double-check that your entire joint is fully extinguished before tossing it. The last thing anyone wants is to be that person who accidentally starts a fire.

Try a Pre-Rolled Joint From Mood

Knowing how to put out a joint properly is a small thing — but it goes a long way.

If you want to experience an amazing high from a perfectly rolled joint, check out Mood pre-rolls. Made with USA-grown flower and premium rolling paper, these pre-rolls are the perfect way to upgrade your smoking experience. Plus, they're easy to tap out to save the remaining bud for later.

Use the code "FIRST20" to get 20% off your initial order from the Mood Shop.