RAW
TypePrivate
Industry
Founded1995 (1995)
FounderLiam Tunbridge, Nicolas Rodriguez
HeadquartersPhoenix, Arizona
Area served
Number of employees
2000 (2018)
WebsiteRawthentic.com
Package of RAW 1 1/4 size classic rolling papers.

RAW is a brand of rolling papers created in 1995 by Josh Kesselman.[1] Rolling papers are designed to be used for smoking cannabis and tobacco.[2] RAW filters and hand-rolling machines are also products from the same brand.

History

1993–2004

While in college, Josh Kesselman researched opening a “very small” smoke shop as part of a project. At the time, he was also trading rolling papers with collectors in Europe. After receiving an 'A' on the project, he decided to open the store in real life.[3]

In 1993, after graduating and selling all of his possessions, except for a $500 van and a self-built Harley Davidson, Kesselman was able to start a smoke shop named Knuckleheads in Gainesville, Florida.[3][4] He imported specialty rolling papers from Europe and sold smoking paraphernalia, such as pipes and bongs.[3] He was able to charge higher premiums because his customers wanted the rare rolling papers.[3]

In 1996, Kesselman accidentally sold a bong to a woman whose father worked for the US government. Kesselman was raided and placed under house arrest.[4] Many of his products were confiscated, except for his rolling papers as those were not illegal.[3] Later that year, Kesselman moved to Arizona to start a smoke shop supply and distribution company called HBI.[5]

Around that time, Kesselman met the owner of a rolling paper factory in the Alicante province of Spain, where papers had been produced since around 1764.[3][6] The owner was looking for a new customer to help create and sell new products.[4] Through the partnership Kesselman developed two brands, Juicy Jay's, which are flavored papers, and Elements, which is a brand of rice papers.[4]

2004–present

After opening his store in 1993, Kesselman realized that the market was lacking natural unbleached papers.[3] These papers, Kesselman believed, would improve the smoking experience because they wouldn’t alter the flavor of whatever was smoked.[4] In 2004, he made a $1 million investment to a supplier of natural, less processed and unbleached base paper , which could be made into "vegan" unbleached rolling papers in booklets. The concept was successful and RAW became the first company to offer "vegan" unbleached papers.[4] In 2005, RAW fully launched its first line of rolling papers.[7] The paper was made from unbleached plants and was free of chemicals, additives, and dyes.[8]

Around 2008, hip-hop artists started using RAW and sharing it with their friends.[3] At the same time, people were looking for a better smoking experience.[3] This helped the brand grow.[3] It is sold across the U.S., and the company has offices in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.[4] During the coronavirus pandemic, demand for RAW’s products tripled.[9] In 2023, the company clarified its Organic Hemp rolling papers are made in Benimarfull, a village in the Alicante Providence of Spain using unbleached certified organic hemp milled from mills in Southern France.[10] In August 2023, the company created the RAW Seeds Fellowship for “legacy cannabis operators who built the cannabis industry.”[11] It is given through the JUSTÜS Foundation.[11]

Manufacturing

The papers are produced in a variety of styles and sizes.[12] These papers are made from unbleached and less processed plant fibers, which gives them a unique texture and a natural brown color.[4] RAW papers also use a water-based gum.[13] The base sheet production in the mill involves blending the fibers, creating a pulp, drying the paper, and inspecting it for quality. Something that sets RAW rolling papers apart from other brands is a unique watermark. The watermark is created by pressing and rolling the paper between two metal rollers with constant pressure, which leaves a distinctive pattern on the paper. The additional process required in creating the watermark brings changes to the density of the paper.[14]

Products


RAW’s paper products come in different types, including classic and organic.[2] The line RAW Black, is thinner than the original papers and may burn slower.[12][2] The papers do not contain chemical whiteners.[15] The vegan papers do not contain animal products including dye, some of which can be made with lactose, and the gum line is a plant-based, not animal-based, adhesive.[4]

Some of the products include:

  • King Size Slim Organic Hemp - made with pure hemp and has a vegan gum[2]
  • Classic[2]
  • King Size[2]
  • 1 ¼ Organic - made of pure hemp paper and vegan gum[2]
  • Classic Natural Unbleached Pre Rolled Cones[2]
  • Organic Rolling Paper 5 Meter rolls[2]
  • Black Natural Unbleached King Size Slim Rolling Papers - the company’s thinner rolling paper[2][13]

Accessories[2]

  • Rolling machine
  • Filter tips
  • Pre-rolled filter tips
  • Loader
  • Rolling tray
  • Rolling kit
  • Organic hemp wick[16]

RAW founder, Josh Kesselman, designed and sells an umbrella with a slot for holding a cone and a mouthpiece so people can smoke and walk in the rain.[17] Kesselman said that thinking of fun and eccentric products that resonate with the business is part of the joy of being in the rolling papers community.[17]

Activism

RAW commits a portion of its total sales to environmental groups such as Water is Life International, Trees for the Future, Wine to Water, CarbonFund.org, Home ‘Fur’ Good, and Kiva.[18] Donations are made through the company’s philanthropy initiative, RAW Giving.[10]

Pop culture

Rapper Wiz Khalifa dedicated a song to the brand, titled "Raw."[19] The company’s product has also been supported by Curren$y, 2 Chainz, Mick Jenkins, Chris Webby, Z-Ro, and Futuristic.[20] In 2014, RAW partnered with Wiz Khalifa and he released his own line of rolling papers.[21] Mary Schumacher of The Fresh Toast recommended RAW rolling papers to people who smoke cannabis.[22] In 2022, they were added to the list of best rolling papers by Esquire.[23] In 2017, RAW Black rolling papers were included on the list of best rolling papers from High Times Magazine.[24] Dominic Vasquez, a customized shoe designer, has a RAW line of shoes.[25] He uses RAW-themed decorations and each shoe comes with an extra set of laces made from hemp.[25]

Controversy

On February 9, 2023, HBI and rival brand Republic were involved in a court case. HBI had been accused of having misleading information regarding all papers being made in Alcoy Spain, the company's charitable organizations, and being the "only" provider of organic rolling papers.[26][27][28] In June 5, 2023, the court ruled in favor with HBI regarding Republic’s claim for false advertising. The jury found that Republic had "willfully infringed on RAW’s packaging and marketing." HBI (RAW) was awarded $1,019,620 in June 2021; the court added “prejudgment interest” of $446,203, which brought RAWs total award to $1,465,823.[29][30]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Marks, Ben (2013-05-29). "The Unfiltered History of Rolling Papers, Plus Tommy Chong's Big Fat Jamaican Vacation". Collectors Weekly. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Clark, Becca (2018-06-18). "15 Raw Rolling Papers for the Perfect Joint (2018)". Heavy.com. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hasse, Javier. "Rogue And RAW: The Mind-Blowing Story Behind Josh Kesselman's Rolling Paper Empire". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Yakowicz, Will (2018-04-19). "Entrepreneur Josh Kesselman Built an Empire Selling 'Vegan' Rolling Papers". Inc.com. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  5. ↑ texashempreporter (2021-11-01). "The Story of Raw Papers". Texas Hemp Reporter. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  6. ↑ Marks, Ben. "The Unfiltered History of Rolling Papers, Plus Tommy Chong's Big Fat Jamaican Vacation". Collectors Weekly. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  7. ↑ "RAW Rolling Papers: Your 2023 Buyer's Guide". CNBS. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  8. ↑ Hasse, Javier. "Rogue And RAW: The Mind-Blowing Story Behind Josh Kesselman's Rolling Paper Empire". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  9. ↑ "Josh Kesselman". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  10. 1 2 Hasse, Javier. "RAW Clarifies Origin Of Its Rolling Papers And Philanthropic Efforts Amid Safety Concerns Following Legal Battle". Benzinga. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  11. 1 2 "RAW Rolling Papers and The JUSTÜS Foundation Pass the Joint Back to the Pioneers of the Cannabis Space". Benzinga. August 1, 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  12. 1 2 Am; Reed, a; Tirman, Sean (2022-12-27). "For a Better High, Get Better Rolling Papers". Gear Patrol. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  13. 1 2 "Best Weed Accessories: Top 5 Gadgets & Grinders In 2023". San Diego Magazine. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  14. ↑ Marks, Ben. "The Unfiltered History of Rolling Papers, Plus Tommy Chong's Big Fat Jamaican Vacation". Collectors Weekly. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  15. ↑ Miller, Patricia (2022-01-27). "Rolling With The Best: RAW Founder Josh Kesselman". Cannabis & Tech Today. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  16. ↑ Mayo, Jake (2017-03-14). "RAWSPECT: The Story Of Raw Rolling Papers". RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  17. 1 2 Gelsi, Steve. "Raw rolling papers founder looks to further elevate cannabis name celebrated in Wiz Khalifa song". MarketWatch. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  18. ↑ Hasse, Javier. "Rogue And RAW: The Mind-Blowing Story Behind Josh Kesselman's Rolling Paper Empire". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  19. ↑ Mooney, Harrison (22 November 2018). "12 days of cannabis: A guide to the perfect Christmas stash box". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  20. ↑ Brown, Preezy (2019-04-20). "4/20: A VIBE-Era Timeline Of Hip-Hop's Relationship With Cigars And Rolling Papers". VIBE.com. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  21. ↑ "Wiz Khalifa releases own brand of rolling papers". The Indian Express. 2014-06-25. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  22. ↑ Schumacher, Mary (2018-05-09). "What's The Difference Between Spliffs, Joints And Blunts?". The Fresh Toast. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  23. ↑ "14 Rolling Papers That Will Help You Smoke Better, and Get Higher". Esquire. 2022-03-28. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
  24. ↑ Drury, Adam (2017-11-22). "10 Best Rolling Papers Of 2017". High Times. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  25. 1 2 "NewsRegister.com - News and information for McMinnville and Yamhill Valley, Oregon - wine country newspaper". newsregister.com. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  26. ↑ "RAW Rolling Paper Producer Ordered to Cease Marketing Claims". Analytical Cannabis. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  27. ↑ Walker, Ezekiel J. (2023-02-14). "RAW products recalled after "deceptive" marketing". The Black Wall Street Times. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  28. ↑ Yakowicz, Will. "The Pinocchio Of Pot". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  29. ↑ "RAW Rolling Paper Producer Awarded a Further $446,000 in Lawsuit With Republic Tobacco". Analytical Cannabis. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
  30. ↑ "RAW Rolling Papers Parent Wins $1.5M in Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Against OCB Makers - Ganjapreneur". www.ganjapreneur.com. 2023-06-07. Retrieved 2023-06-16.


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