| Type: | Private |
| Founder: | Josh Kesselman |
| Hq Location: | Phoenix, Arizona |
| Num Employees: | 2000 (2018) |
| Website: | Rawthentic.com |
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.
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. He imported specialty rolling papers from Europe and sold smoking paraphernalia, such as pipes and bongs. He was able to charge higher premiums because his customers wanted the rare rolling papers.
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. 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.[6] The owner was looking for a new customer to help create and sell new products. Through the partnership Kesselman developed two brands, Juicy Jay's, which are flavored papers, and Elements, which is a brand of rice papers.[4]
After opening his store in 1993, Kesselman realized that the market was lacking natural unbleached papers. These papers, Kesselman believed, would improve the smoking experience because they wouldn’t alter the flavor of whatever was smoked. 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. 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. At the same time, people were looking for a better smoking experience. This helped the brand grow. It is sold across the U.S., and the company has offices in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. 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.
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. 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]
RAW’s paper products come in different types, including classic and organic. The line RAW Black, is thinner than the original papers and may burn slower. 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.
Some of the products include:
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. 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]
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.
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.
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]