Types of Pre-Roll Tubes You’ll See in Dispensaries
Not all pre-roll tubes are built the same, and that’s exactly why they can be confusing the first time you meet one. Here are the main cannabis pre roll container styles you’ll run into at modern dispensaries and smoke shops.
Push-and-Turn (Classic Child-Resistant)
This is the most common child resistant pre roll tube style, and the same basic idea as a pill bottle. You’ll see this a lot in regulated markets and premium brands.
- Looks like: A small plastic tube with a flat, often ribbed cap.
- How it works: You push down on the cap and twist at the same time to unlock the child-proof mechanism.
- Why it’s used: It’s certified CR pre roll packaging, which means it’s designed so kids can’t easily open it, but adults can with a bit of pressure and coordination.
- Common use: Often labeled as a push and turn pre roll container on packaging or wholesale sites.
Squeeze-to-Open (Side-S
How to Open a Push-and-Turn Pre-Roll Tube (Most Common – Used by hemployd)
Most child resistant pre roll tubes in dispensaries, including hemployd pre roll packaging, use a push-and-turn pre roll container system. If you’ve ever opened a pill bottle, it’s the same idea—but smaller and usually tighter.
Step-by-step: How to open a push-and-turn pre roll tube
- Grip the tube firmly
- Hold the body of the marijuana pre roll tube in your non-dominant hand.
- Position your hand close to the cap so the tube doesn’t flex or bend.
- Place your thumb on top of the cap
- Put your thumb (or palm) directly over the center of the cap.
- Your other fingers wrap around the side of the tube for leverage.
- Push straight down
- Press the cap down toward the tube with steady pressure.
- You should feel the cap “sink” slightly—usually 1–2 mm.
- Turn while pushing
- Keep pushing down and twist the cap counterclockwise (lefty-loosey).
- Don’t release the downward pressure until you feel the cap loosen.
- Lift the cap off
- Once it spins freely, stop pushing, twist a bit more if needed, then lift.
Common mistakes beginners make
- Not pushing hard enough
You try to twist, but the cap won’t move. With CR pre roll packaging, the push is what unlocks the safety teeth. - Twisting without pressing
The cap just “clicks” or slips and feels stuck. That’s the lock working properly. - Holding the tube too low
If you grip the tube near the bottom, it bends instead of letting you apply force, making the child proof joint tube feel impossible.
Pro tip: How to tell if you’re pushing hard enough
- You’re pressing correctly if:
- You feel a small drop or “give” as the cap moves down.
- The cap makes a soft click and then starts to turn more smoothly.
- If it just feels solid with no movement:
- Increase pressure slowly.
- Use the heel of your palm instead of just your thumb for more force.
Visual description so you can picture it
Imagine a small pill bottle-style cannabis pre roll container:
- Short tube with a rounded shoulder and a wider cap.
- Cap has a slightly textured top so your thumb grips.
- When you press down, the hidden “teeth” inside the cap line up with the teeth on the tube neck.
- When they line up, the cap finally twists free.
If you’re interested in why these tubes are designed this way and how brands certify them, I break that down in more detail in our overview of child-resistant packaging manufacturers in Canada and global compliance standards.
How to Open a Squeeze-to-Open Pre-Roll Tube (Side-Squeeze)
Squeeze-to-open pre roll tubes look simple, but the “child resistant” design is exactly why most beginners get stuck. Here’s the easy way to open this kind of cannabis pre roll container.
Where to Press on a Squeeze-Top Pre Roll Tube
Most squeeze top pre roll packaging has two flat spots or arrows on the sides of the tube, just under the cap. That’s your target.
Step-by-step:
- Hold the tube upright in one hand.
- Find the two flat spots or embossed dots on opposite sides of the tube.
- Place your thumb on one side and your finger on the other, directly over those spots.
- Squeeze the tube walls, not the cap, until you hear or feel a small “click.”
- While squeezing, pull the cap up with your other hand (or let it pop up slightly on its own).
This is how most CR pre roll packaging is designed to unlock—the squeeze releases the child resistant lock in the tube wall, not in the lid.
Why Squeezing the Cap Alone Doesn’t Work
If you only squeeze the cap, nothing moves in the locking mechanism. On a child proof joint tube:
- The lock is in the rim of the tube, not on top of the cap.
- Squeezing higher up just flexes the lid and wastes your grip strength.
- You’ll feel like the pre roll tube won’t open even though you’re doing it “hard enough.”
Always press the sides of the tube body, right under the cap line. That’s the only place that actually disengages the lock.
Trick for Weak Hands or Long Nails
If you’ve got weaker grip strength, arthritis, or long nails, use leverage instead of raw force:
- Use a table edge
- Stand the tube upright.
- Press one flat side against the table edge.
- Use your thumb on the opposite flat side to squeeze.
- Once you feel it flex, lift the cap with your free hand.
- Use both hands for the squeeze
- Hold the cap lightly with one hand.
- Use both thumbs on one flat spot and both index fingers on the opposite spot to squeeze harder with less pain.
- Avoid using nails on the squeeze points
- Use the pads of your fingers so you don’t chip or bend your nails while opening the marijuana pre roll tube.
If you’re choosing packaging for your own brand, this is exactly why I lean into clearly-marked, user-friendly, child resistant pre roll tubes and support it with clear pre roll tube instructions on-pack—especially if you’re targeting new or medical consumers. For brands, combining CR function with intuitive use is just as critical as good cannabis branding and design.
How to Open Pop-Top & Pinch-Top Pre-Roll Containers
Pop-top and pinch-top pre-roll tubes look similar, but they don’t open the same way. If you’re forcing it the wrong way, it’ll feel “stuck” even when it’s not.
Pop-Top Pre-Roll Tube vs Squeeze / Pinch
| Type | How it Opens | What You Do with Your Hand |
|---|---|---|
| Pop-top pre-roll tube | Hinged lid that “pops” upward | Push on one side of the cap edge |
| Pinch-top pre-roll tube | Cap releases when sides are pinched | Pinch the sides where it’s thinnest |
| Squeeze-to-open (CR) | Child-resistant, needs firm squeeze | Squeeze marked area + pull up/twist |
Key difference:
- Pop-top = pressure on the front edge of the cap to make it snap open.
- Pinch-top / pinch-to-open = pressure on the sides of the tube, not the top.
How to Open a Pop-Top Pre-Roll Tube
Use this if the lid has a visible hinge on one side:
- Hold the tube in one hand so the hinge is facing away from you.
- Place your thumb on the front lip of the cap (opposite the hinge).
- Push down and slightly forward with your thumb.
- The lid should “pop” upward on the hinge so you can flip it open.
If it doesn’t open:
- Shift your thumb closer to the edge of the cap, not the center.
- Press in one quick, firm motion instead of a long, slow push.
How to Open a Pinch-Top / Pinch-to-Open Pre-Roll Tube
These are the classic “pinch and pull” joint tubes people call doob tubes:
- Find the flat or thinner area on opposite sides of the tube, right under the cap.
- Pinch both sides firmly with your thumb and finger.
- While pinching, pull the cap up or twist slightly as you lift.
- The cap should release from the groove and slide off.
Pinch and pull method that actually works:
- Don’t squeeze the very bottom of the tube—pinch close to the cap line.
- If you have weaker hands or long nails, use the side of your thumb instead of your fingertip to get more leverage.
Once you’ve got it open, you’ll want to keep that joint fresh. If you’re storing extras, it’s worth knowing the basics of keeping marijuana fresh over time, and I break that down clearly in my guide on how to keep marijuana fresh without losing potency and flavor.
What to Do If Your Pre-Roll Tube Still Won’t Open
If your child-resistant pre roll tube still won’t budge, don’t force it right away. Here’s how I’d handle a stuck marijuana pre roll tube step by step.
1. Check for simple issues first
Before blaming the packaging, quickly check:
- Cap alignment: Make sure the cap sits evenly on the tube, not cross-threaded or crooked.
- Seal ring or plastic flash: Look around the rim for extra plastic or a torn seal that might be jamming the lid.
- Hands and grip: Dry your hands and use a small towel or rubber jar-grip to improve traction on the cap.
If you’re a grower or retailer comparing packaging quality, this is exactly why I obsess over reliable CR pre roll packaging in the same way I do with our cannabis flower packaging guides.
2. Safe ways to open a stuck pre roll tube
If the pre roll tube won’t open with normal pressure, try these low-risk methods so you don’t crush the joint:
- Warm water trick:
- Run warm (not boiling) water over just the cap for 20–30 seconds.
- Dry it, then try the usual push and turn or squeeze top motion again.
- Grip upgrade:
- Wrap a rubber band around the cap for extra friction.
- Hold the tube close to the cap so you don’t bend it in the middle.
- Micro-tap method:
- Gently tap the side of the cap on a soft surface (like your palm or a folded towel).
- This can loosen tiny plastic burrs without shocking the joint inside.
Avoid pliers, knives, teeth, or bending the tube hard—those are the fastest ways to snap or flatten your pre roll.
3. When it might be a manufacturing defect
Every now and then, you’ll run into a defective child proof joint tube:
- The cap spins freely but never opens.
- The push-and-turn mechanism doesn’t “click” or engage.
- The tube is visibly warped or cracked from molding.
If that’s the case, don’t keep fighting it. A bad push and turn pre roll container is rare, but it happens.
4. When to take it back to the dispensary
Bring the stuck dispensary joint tube back if:
- You’ve tried the safe methods above and nothing works.
- The joint inside clearly hasn’t been tampered with.
- It’s from a licensed shop and you still have the receipt or label.
Most dispensaries would rather swap out a faulty cannabis pre roll container than have you injure yourself or destroy the product. Just explain that the pre roll tube won’t open and you suspect a defect—they’ll understand.
How to Close & Store Your Pre-Roll Tube Properly
Keeping your cannabis pre roll container closed the right way matters for safety, smell, and freshness. Here’s how I tell customers to handle any child resistant pre roll tube after they’ve opened it.
How to close a push and turn / squeeze top pre roll tube
- Press the cap down firmly until you hear or feel a clear click.
- On a push and turn pre roll container, you usually don’t need to twist to close—just push straight down until it’s fully seated.
- On a squeeze top pre roll packaging, release your fingers from the squeeze points and push the lid down flat.
If the cap sits even slightly crooked, it’s no longer a proper child proof joint tube and may leak odor or dry out your joint.
Keep it child-resistant
To keep your CR pre roll packaging child-resistant:
- Always fully seat the cap—no gaps around the rim.
- Don’t trim, bend, or “loosen” the mechanism just to make it easier to open. That defeats the whole point of a child resistant pre roll tube and can break compliance.
- If you’re curious how these mechanisms are designed, you can see how certified child-resistant systems work in our breakdown of the components of child-resistant cannabis packaging.
Maintain freshness and prevent crushing
Treat your marijuana pre roll tube like a little humidor and armor for your joint:
- Store upright when you can—filter side down helps keep the tip from getting bent.
- Keep tubes in a cool, dry place, out of direct sun and away from heat (no car dashboards, no radiators).
- Don’t toss them loose in a packed bag or back pocket; instead, keep them in a side pocket or small compartment so the tube doesn’t get bent, which can cause a stuck pre roll tube or a cracked lid.
- Always close the tube right after use to lock in terpenes, reduce odor, and avoid the paper going stale.
Closed properly, a good cannabis pre roll container protects your joint from being crushed, drying out, or getting contaminated—so you’re not wasting product or money.
FAQ – Quick Answers About How to Open a Pre-Roll Tube
Why are pre-roll tubes so hard to open?
They’re designed to be child-resistant, not user-proof.
Most cannabis pre roll containers use push-and-turn or squeeze top child proof joint tube mechanisms that need a bit of pressure plus the right angle. If it feels “impossible,” it’s usually a technique issue, not a defect.
Are hemployd pre-roll tubes child-resistant certified?
Yes. Our hemployd child resistant pre roll tubes use CR pre roll packaging that’s third‑party tested to meet child-resistant standards in legal markets.
We design everything to be discreet, compliant, and reusable, just like our other cannabis packaging solutions.
Can I reuse pre-roll tubes?
Absolutely.
Good reuse ideas:
- Store half-smoked joints
- Keep small pre-rolls or infused joints separate
- Odor control when traveling (pair with smell proof jars for flower-heavy sessions: smell-proof cannabis jars)
Just make sure the seal still clicks and the cap isn’t cracked.
How to open a pre-roll tube one-handed
Works best with push-and-turn pre roll containers and pop top pre roll tubes:
| Tube Type | One-Handed Method (Right Hand Example) |
|---|---|
| Push-and-turn pre roll container | Grip tube in fist, press cap into palm, twist with fingers |
| Pop-top / pinch-to-open | Squeeze the “pinch” spot with thumb and index, flick lid up |
Practice with an empty tube first so you don’t crush the joint.
Difference between a pre-roll tube and a doob tube
| Feature | Pre-Roll Tube (Dispensary) | Doob Tube (Slang / Generic) |
|---|---|---|
| Main Use | Retail marijuana pre roll tube packaging | Any tube holding a joint |
| Child-Resistant | Usually CR / child-resistant | Often not child-resistant |
| Certification | Tested for compliance | Not always tested |
| Common Terms | “CR pre roll packaging”, “joint tube” | “doob tube”, “stash tube” |
In short: every child resistant pre roll tube can be a doob tube, but not every doob tube is compliant or child-resistant.
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