Cannabis consumers have discovered a new favorite: mini joints, also known as micro joints or dogwalkers. These smaller, precisely dosed pre-rolls are taking dispensaries by storm, offering convenience, control, and just the right amount of cannabis for any occasion. Whether you’re a first-timer, a casual consumer, or an experienced cannabis enthusiast looking for moderation, mini joints are becoming the go-to choice for quick, satisfying sessions.

What exactly are mini joints?

Mini joints, sometimes called micro joints or dogwalkers, are compact cannabis pre-rolls typically containing between 0.25 and 0.5 grams of flower, significantly less than the standard one-gram joint. Their size makes them ideal for single-session use, ensuring consumers can enjoy their entire joint without the need to relight or waste any leftover cannabis.

Many dispensaries offer these convenient pre-rolls in multipacks of five to ten, packaged in portable cases perfect for slipping into your pocket or bag.

Why everyone loves mini joints

Precise dosing and portion control

One of the biggest draws of mini joints is their controlled dosage. They’re perfect for consumers mindful of their THC tolerance, providing just enough for an enjoyable experience without overwhelming effects. Mini joints eliminate guesswork, allowing you to confidently enjoy your session from start to finish.

Convenience and discretion

Their size makes them ideal for single-session use, ensuring consumers can enjoy their entire joint without the need to relight or waste any leftover cannabis.

Mini joints burn faster and produce less odor than their full-sized counterparts, making them an excellent choice for on-the-go use. Whether heading out for a walk, attending a concert, or enjoying a quick break at home, dogwalkers offer a portable cannabis solution that fits seamlessly into busy lifestyles.

Personal use, hygienic sharing

Gone are the days of passing a larger joint around a group. Mini joints allow everyone to have their own, a particularly appealing option in a post-pandemic world where hygiene and personal comfort are top priorities. They ensure each consumer can smoke at their own pace without pressure to match others.

Sampling made easy

Curious about a new strain but hesitant to commit to larger quantities? Mini joints let you explore different cannabis strains affordably and conveniently. Brands often use mini joints to introduce seasonal strains, limited editions, or unique collaborations, giving consumers an accessible way to experiment.

Who’s embracing mini joints?

Leafly insights suggest mini joints are particularly appealing to several consumer groups:

• New users: Those easing into cannabis consumption without committing to a large joint or high doses.
• Wellness-focused consumers: Individuals looking for balanced, mild effects rather than intense highs.
• Women shoppers: Data indicates women often prefer smaller, microdose-friendly formats.
• Older adults: Many mature cannabis consumers appreciate smaller doses that match their lower THC tolerance.

But it’s not just beginners and occasional consumers. Seasoned cannabis enthusiasts also appreciate the convenience of mini joints, enjoying quick hits throughout their day without interrupting their routine.

Popular brands

Several cannabis brands have capitalized on this growing trend, creating product lines specifically designed around mini joints.

• Dogwalkers: Named for their convenient use during short strolls, Dogwalkers consistently deliver compact, high-quality joints.
• Lowell Herb Co. minis: Renowned for organic practices and elegant packaging, Lowell’s multi-pack minis offer a variety of strains.
• Island minis: California-based brand Island provides sun-grown, strain-specific mini joints that appeal to eco-conscious consumers.

This 5-pack of 0.5g mini joints from The Hemp Doctor offers a little bit of “me time” in a slick black tin. Pick your favorite from a selection of six rare strains, and get hemp THCA relaxation shipped straight to your door.

Dispensaries nationwide are increasingly dedicating shelf space to these smaller pre-roll options as demand continues to rise.

Interested in trying mini joints? Here are quick tips:

• Check THC potency: Mini joints can still be potent, especially infused versions. Always review THC levels before purchase.
• Explore strains carefully: Different strains offer varied effects—choose accordingly based on your desired outcome (relaxation, energy, sleep).
• Verify freshness: Smaller joints can dry quickly, so purchase from reputable dispensaries and store appropriately.
• Select your preferred format: Single or multi-pack? Infused or flower-only? There are plenty of options to tailor your experience.

Final thoughts

Mini joints—dogwalkers, micro joints, or whatever you prefer to call them—are here to stay. Offering convenience, discretion, controlled dosing, and a flexible cannabis experience, it’s easy to see why they’ve become a consumer favorite. Next time you’re at your dispensary, consider picking up some mini joints for a perfectly portioned cannabis experience.

From your favorite vape pen to the sleek packaging that keeps cannabis fresh, many cannabis products rely heavily on imported supplies. Recent changes to U.S. import tariffs, particularly on goods from China and other key trade partners, have started to send ripples through the cannabis market.

If you’ve noticed prices creeping upward at your local dispensary, you’re not imagining things. Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes—and what consumers can expect in the coming months.

Why tariffs matter to the cannabis industry

While cannabis itself is grown domestically due to federal laws, much of the hardware and packaging that supports the growing industry comes from overseas. Cartridges, batteries, vape hardware, and even child-resistant containers are primarily imported from China, Malaysia, and other Asian manufacturing hubs.

Tariffs—essentially taxes imposed on imported goods—are intended to encourage local manufacturing by making foreign goods pricier. Recently, tariffs on certain Chinese imports were as high as 145%, but they have now been significantly reduced to 30%. This is still affecting cannabis companies that rely on these components.

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Vape hardware takes the biggest hit

One cannabis sector feeling the tariffs more than others is vape hardware. Vape pens, batteries, cartridges, and heating elements are mostly produced in China. Despite the recent tariff reduction to 30%, many companies have inventory purchased at previously higher tariff rates, causing elevated prices to persist.

Cannabis brands now face a tough decision: absorb the increased costs or pass them to consumers. While some larger brands can temporarily absorb these additional expenses, many smaller companies don’t have the financial flexibility. Consumers will likely see continued higher prices for vape products until at least late summer.

Packaging pinch

It’s not just vape hardware feeling the tariff squeeze. Packaging supplies, from glass jars to pre-roll tubes, have also seen price hikes. Packaging is heavily regulated in the cannabis industry, requiring child-resistant features and precise labeling to ensure compliance and safety. These specialized packaging products have traditionally been sourced abroad due to lower costs and readily available options.

Even with reduced tariffs, shifting to U.S.-based production presents challenges. Currently, U.S. manufacturers often lack the scale, speed, and regulatory expertise needed to quickly replace overseas suppliers. Cannabis companies continue facing uncertainty and increasing costs while exploring new domestic partnerships.

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Impact on cultivation and seeds

Though cannabis seeds themselves are typically sourced domestically, growers aren’t immune to tariff impacts. Essential cultivation equipment like lighting, irrigation systems, and climate control technology are predominantly imported. Increased tariffs make these critical components more expensive, ultimately raising cultivation costs.

While the immediate impact on seed pricing is minimal, the broader rise in cultivation expenses could indirectly lead to slight price increases in seeds and cannabis flower over time.

Will consumers turn to illicit markets?

One unintended consequence of sustained higher prices due to tariff uncertainty could be consumers drifting toward illicit markets. Legal cannabis is already taxed heavily, and further price increases might push cost-conscious shoppers to unregulated suppliers.

Strategies cannabis businesses are using to adapt

Cannabis companies are actively diversifying their supply chains, shifting production from China to countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, or exploring domestic manufacturing. Businesses that successfully transitioned certain packaging products to domestic production are seeing shorter shipping times and improved responsiveness, despite initial higher costs. The recent tariff reduction to 30% provides some breathing room but uncertainty remains.

What consumers can do in response

As cannabis consumers, staying informed is essential. Monitor dispensary menus for price fluctuations. If vape products become pricier, consider alternative methods or products less impacted by tariffs, like flower or edibles. Dispensaries might offer promotions or bundle products to offset price hikes, so frequent buyers could benefit from loyalty programs or bulk purchases.

Long-term outlook

Though recent tariff reductions offer immediate relief, underlying uncertainty continues to challenge cannabis businesses. Over time, diversified sourcing strategies and increased domestic production will improve supply chain resilience, ultimately creating a stronger, more stable cannabis market less dependent on imports.

Adapting alongside industry shifts will help consumers maintain an enjoyable and affordable cannabis experience in an evolving market.

It’s time to throw out the lazy stoner myth. Yet another study has found that cannabis promotes more physical activity—not less! Published in the Journal of Cannabis Research, this recent study found that cannabis, particularly legal cannabis, is linked to greater levels of physical activity. 

The study found legal medical cannabis is associated with increased activity for those experiencing chronic medical conditions. Meanwhile, legal recreational cannabis is associated with even greater increases in physical activity for those without these conditions. 

Will cannabis make you lazy or active? 

On the other hand, a number of studies have found that cannabis use is associated with more physical activity in adults, including exercise and light activity like walking.

Being sedentary is tied to a lot of health issues, such as cancer, obesity, and diabetes. But in the US, most adults don’t meet the suggested levels of exercise to stay healthy. So, it’s important to know if a substance like cannabis will cause disruptions to your physical activity levels. Many studies have investigated this, but the results have been mixed.

Some evidence has suggested cannabis use can lead to increases in sedentary behavior for teenagers. One 2017 study also found a tie between less physical activity and cannabis use in adults. 

On the other hand, a number of studies have found that cannabis use is associated with more physical activity in adults, including exercise and light activity like walking. One study also found that teens aged 15-18 who exercised more had higher levels of cannabis use. 

Study limitations could explain inconsistent findings

These inconsistent findings could be due to the fact that studies defined physical activity in a variety of ways, with different studies including different types of activity. But they could also be due to limitations in the studies showing less physical activity. 

These studies didn’t control for factors like chronic conditions, which could explain both early cannabis use and sedentary lifestyles. While pain can both reduce physical activity and motivate cannabis use, these associations could be misunderstood as cannabis causing the reductions in activity. 

Does legality or health status change cannabis’ impact? 

The authors of this new study were motivated to find out whether the association between cannabis and physical activity would remain if they controlled for certain factors, like chronic medical conditions and whether cannabis is legal. 

They hypothesized that greater physical activity would be associated with current cannabis use. They also thought there would be more physical activity in states with legal cannabis, and that cannabis use would help those with chronic conditions stay more active. 

To study this, they analyzed the 2016-2022 data from a cross-sectional study conducted each year on 400,000 adults in the US. The questionnaire included questions to assess physical activity, cannabis use frequency, medical conditions, demographic characteristics, and whether cannabis is legal for medical and/or recreational use in their area. With this, they were able to look for any statistically significant associations between cannabis use, physical activity, and the other factors involved.   

Legal cannabis consumers are more active

The results of the analysis supported all three of the researchers’ hypotheses. 

There were significant associations between cannabis use and increased physical activity. Cannabis use has almost doubled between 2016 and 2022, going from 7.48% to 14.71%. Physical activity levels also went up by 3.5% during that time. Throughout the time studied, the association remained strong between cannabis use and more physical activity. 

There were significant associations between cannabis use and increased physical activity.

More physical activity was also associated with areas that had legal recreational or medical cannabis. Cannabis use was also 6.5% higher in areas with legal recreational cannabis, and 0.7% higher in areas with legal medical cannabis (compared to areas where it is illegal). 

Importantly, the association between physical activity and cannabis use frequently depended on the legal status of cannabis—with the association dropping away for illegal cannabis use. Only using legal cannabis was associated with more physical activity, with the highest levels associated with legal recreational cannabis. 

The authors argue that “it may be that the greater flexibility in how a person can use cannabis because of legalization for recreation can explain this result.” Those free to use cannabis however they see fit may be more likely to use it to encourage exercise.

Legal medical cannabis boosts activity in chronic illness

The results also supported the third hypothesis, that cannabis use would mediate how much someone could exercise if they had a chronic illness. Each year, those with a chronic condition had consistently lower levels of physical activity than those without. But for cannabis consumers, this association did not remain significant, suggesting that cannabis use allows those with chronic conditions to stay more active. 

While this study adds to the growing body of evidence that cannabis is beneficial for physical activity, it is limited. The survey only asked about specific conditions, and did not ask if they were controlled or consistent, which may have shifted results. Since it was a survey, physical activity and cannabis use were self-reported and not measured physically.

Although many variables were controlled for, it was underpowered to be able to show causal relationships between cannabis and physical activity. 

Still, the results suggest that cannabis may allow for more physical activity, something that benefits those with and without chronic health conditions.