How to grind Weed Without a Grinder

By Samantha Haas

Initially Published on potguide.com--- May 13, 2021

PC: Canna Provisions

Have you ever had some awesome bud that you want to roll up, but you don’t have a grinder? What do you do now? Look around the house, of course! Here are some simple and creative but effective ways to grind your bud in a pinch. 

1.  Scissors & a shot glass

An oldie but a goodie, this one is pretty self-explanatory. Grab a shot glass and a pair of scissors. Put your bud in the shot glass and cut it up with the scissors. If you’re having trouble cutting up the larger parts, mix it up with the sharp end of the scissors. This will expose the larger pieces. This method is a perfect way to grind up bud during a house party!  

2.  Pill bottle & coin

Got an old pill bottle lying around and a dime? Then you’re in luck! While this method is more efficient with dry bud, it still works great! Take your flower and put it in the pill bottle with a small coin. Be sure to fill it up no more than ¾ full and pack it loosely; the bud can move around when shaken. Take the coin and put it on top of the flower, but do not push it into the weed when you set it on top. If you do, the coin will have difficulty moving around, and the bud will not get as ground as it should. The last step is to put the lid back on the bottle, making sure that it is air-tight, and then shake it rigorously for a minute or two. 

Please note: Sanitation is very important with this method! Be sure to sanitize the coin and pill bottle with rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer, or vinegar and dry thoroughly before doing any of this. No one wants germs and pill remnants mixed in with their bud—especially in the age of COVID-19. 

3.  A grinder card 

If you’re away from home but have your wallet, a grinder card will do the trick. Most are made from stainless steel, which makes them durable. They also have sharp teeth on the edges, so all you have to do is move it down on top of the bud, and the card does the rest. Some of these cards even come with roach holders! This method is perfect for festivals and other social events! 

4. Cheesegrater

If you like to cook or just like fresh cheese, chances are you have a cheese grater in your kitchen somewhere. Grab it, along with something to catch the bud while you grate it. This could be a dish or a Tupperware container, or you could grate it right into your bowl if you really wanted to. Take the bud, hold it over the container with one hand, and move the cheese grater up and down on the bud with the other, or if your grater is shaped like a pyramid, move the bud up and down against the blades. Either way, be careful not to cut your fingers! 

5.  Coffee grinder/blender 

If you would rather go the technological route, using a coffee grinder or blender is awesome for grinding bud! Just put in your flower, plug it in, press a button, and wa-la, perfectly ground! However, this method may work the best if you’re trying to grind a large amount of bud at one time. 

6. Mortar & Pestle 

Our ancestors have been using this method to break down herbs for food and medicine for centuries, so why not use it on your bud?  Fill the mortar halfway and pack loosely so it’s easier to grind. Then, push the pestle firmly into the flower and move it around the bowl continuously until it is ground to your liking. Like the pill bottle and coin method, this works best with a bud that is dried. The stickier the bud is, the more difficult it will be to break up. 

So, in the end, it doesn’t really matter how you grind your bud—what matters is how finely it’s ground because we all know that the finer it is ground, the more smoke sessions you’ll get out of it.