Founded by Josh Kesselman who started with a college smoke shop project in 1993, RAW officially launched in 2005 after years of developing unbleached, natural rolling papers made from minimally processed plant fibers. Today, RAW holds approximately 30% of the U.S. rolling paper market and is the #1 brand in total dollar sales in the Rolling Papers & Accessories category, growing from Kesselman's initial $500 investment into a global phenomenon. In June 2025, Kesselman made headlines by acquiring the iconic High Times magazine and Oui'd Cup for $3.5 million, bringing the legendary oui'd publication back to life. The company continues to dominate the market, recently being named a leading player in Allied Market Research's 2024 smoking accessories report, which valued the global market at $3.1 billion.