RAW Rolling Papers

RAW Rolling Papers began with founder Josh Kesselman's college project in 1993, when he opened a tiny smoke shop called Knuckleheads in Gainesville, Florida after selling everything he owned except a $500 van and self-built Harley Davidson. In 1997, Kesselman founded HBI and developed partnerships with Spanish paper mills in Alcoy, creating brands like Juicy Jay's and Elements. However, he realized the market lacked natural, unbleached papers that wouldn't alter the smoking experience.In 2004, Kesselman invested $1 million into natural, unbleached hemp fiber, officially launching RAW in 2005. The brand gained momentum when hip-hop artists started using RAW around 2008, with rapper Wiz Khalifa eventually dedicating a song to the brand. During the coronavirus pandemic, demand for RAW's products tripled, cementing its position as a global phenomenon. Forbes referenced RAW as #1 in total dollar sales in the Rolling Papers & Accessories category in the U.S. as of April 2025.

RAW operates as the flagship brand of HBI International, with over $100 million in wholesale annual sales in the US alone and products found in thousands of shops worldwide. The brand has expanded far beyond its original headquarters, with offices in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and significant production operations in Alcoy, Spain.RAW's product portfolio includes multiple rolling paper lines: Classic, Organic Hemp, RAW Black (ultra-thin), Artesano, Connoisseur, and specialty sizes ranging from standard 1¼ to the massive 600mm Challenge papers. The brand also offers pre-rolled cones, rolling trays, tips, filters, and innovative accessories. Each product maintains RAW's signature standards: unbleached, vegan-friendly papers made from hemp and plant-based adhesives, featuring the trademark criss-cross watermark that promotes even burning.In 2023, RAW clarified that its Organic Hemp rolling papers are made in Benimarfull, Spain, using certified organic hemp from Southern France mills. The brand's commitment to authenticity is so strong that they provide methods for customers to verify genuine RAW products versus counterfeits.

RAW's mission centers on "uplifting the world through the magic of smoke" with the goal of making "the absolute best rolling papers ever created" using "plant-based perfection." Founder Josh Kesselman's personal ethos is to "live and run my business like a rolling paper" - with one simple, beautiful job: to uplift people without judgment.The company is committed to natural, sustainable products that don't alter the smoking experience, believing that natural unbleached papers improve the smoking experience by not changing the flavor of what's smoked. RAW embraces a philosophy of collective elevation, with their humanitarian initiative embodying "We all get higher together."RAW commits a portion of total sales to environmental groups like Water is Life International, Trees for the Future, CarbonFund.org, and others through RAW Giving. The brand's social responsibility extends to supporting cannabis justice through partnerships with organizations working to reform prohibition laws.