Roach (drug culture)

A Roach is vernacular for the remainder of a spliff after most has been smoked. It is derived from the Mexican Spanish slang term for marijuana, la cucaracha, "cockroach". These can be smoked further through use of roach clips. They are often discolored to a yellow-brown by the build-up of resin and so will burn slower than the rest of the joint.

Joints are rolled with tobacco to help them burn. The tobacco leaks tar, which can cover and burn the smoker's lips and fingers. A roach is a small piece of cardboard, often torn from the pack of rolling papers, which is rolled and placed into the mouthpiece of the joint. This makes it easier to hold and also makes it possible to smoke the entire joint without the aid of a roach clip.