if it's really dense stick shit (often this stuff doesn't want to light like a cigarette would) i hold the joint at an angle so the tip to light is higher then the tip to hit from (this keeps the paper from burning before the weed can) i hold the lighter there for a few seconds, get it nice n toasty but it doesn't actually get cherried, then i just light it like a cigarette, works like a charm.... it also helps if you throw in a pinch of tobacco when you roll it up, wont' actuallly taste the tobacco but it helps it burn more smoothly, adds a certain dryness to it (cheap ass cigarettes are best as they are the driest...) there's also always double wrapping the joint if no matter what you do the paper is burning faster then the joint (you end up with a bit of burnt weed sticking out past the paper that isn't even fully cherried.) i don't like doing this as then i can taste the paper pretty well, and well paper is disgusting.. but i have done it on a few occasions.