International

RAW Founder Josh Kesselman Buys High Times Magazine for $3,5 Million

Published

4 weeks ago

June 18, 2025

AI-generated image featuring portrait of Josh Kesselman by Laura Ramos | CannaReporter®

Josh Kesselman, founder of the world-famous RAW rolling papers, has just purchased the rights and intellectual property of High Times magazine for $3,5 million and is pledging to invest an additional $1,85 million to bring it back to life, both in print and online. With U.S. cannabis sales expected to reach nearly $33 billion by 2025, the timing couldn’t be better. CannaReporter® conducted a life-changing interview with Josh Kesselman during the latest edition of Spannabis in Barcelona in March and will be publishing it soon.

In a post published today on his LinkedIn page, Josh Kesselman justified the purchase of High Times: “I am doing this for the community that raised me! Let’s come together and fight the lies and misinformation generated by money. The plant is the truth and the plant will win,” he wrote.

High Times: From the Counterculture Bible to the Shadow of Itself

Founded in 1974 in the United States, High Times was born as an irreverent manifesto of cannabis counterculture, mixing investigative journalism, political activism and alternative culture in a single magazine, becoming the reference for an entire generation. For decades, it was more than just a publication: it was a symbol of resistance to the war on drugs, a space to celebrate cannabis and a platform for serious debates on politics, science and individual freedom.

Between pages with close-up cannabis leaves and interviews with names like Hunter S. Thompson or Bob Marley, the High Times built a global community — and in many ways helped shape an entire generation and the modern image of the plant.

However, with the legalization of cannabis gaining ground in the US, the magazine faced new challenges. Far from its print glory days, it transformed into a digital business focusing on events, rankings and commercial partnerships. It tried to adapt to the legal market, but lost part of its editorial identity and credibility among older readers. Between management changes, lawsuits and financial difficulties, the brand High Times seemed to have moved away from the roots that made it legendary.

Breaking the profit-first mentality

Josh Kesselman was photographed and interviewed by CannaReporter® at Spannabis in Barcelona in March 2025. Photo: Laura Ramos

Josh Kesselman, known for being the founder of the famous RAW rolling papers and for the passionate and fun way he lives his profession in the world of cannabis, has now committed to investing more than 5 million dollars to breathe new life into High Times.

It acquired its intellectual property for $3,5 million and has injected an additional $1,85 million into a business revamp. The funds are being used to cover trademark costs, digitize decades of cannabis-related archives, relaunch the website and the Cannabis Cup, the magazine’s legendary competition celebrating the best cannabis products.

Josh Kesselmann’s mission now is to restore the rebellious spirit that once defined the publication in the 70s and 80s. Rather than focusing solely on monetization, Kesselman’s approach emphasizes the authenticity, passion, and cultural legacy that are inherent to the publication.

Under Oreva Capital’s previous management, High Times had strayed from its roots, prioritizing financial gains over reader engagement. The resulting disconnect contributed to its decline – culminating in Hightimes Holding entering liquidation in April 2024 and ceasing publication since September of the previous year.

“The old High Times had to be burned to the ground,” Kesselman told the Wall Street Journal“We needed to eliminate that way of thinking to restore his soul,” he said.

The Return Strategy: Print, Digital and Community Integration

Despite knowing the risks of today’s fragmented media landscape, Kesselman is committed to a multi-platform renaissance. And that includes:

Special edition for long-time fans and collectors;
Renewed digital presence, with a new website designed to provide cannabis news, legalization updates and cultural features;
Reactivation of the Cannabis Cup, a globally recognized event that celebrates innovation and excellence in cannabis;
Licensing agreements for High Times branded products, including collaborations with RAW.

Former High Times co-owner Matt Stang, who is joining forces with Kesselman, shares the vision and is helping to reunite the magazine’s former editorial team. Together, they believe High Times still has a strong appeal for cannabis enthusiasts around the world.

Why High Times Still Matters in Today’s Cannabis Landscape After 50 Years

As cannabis becomes more popular, many new media outlets have emerged to cover the industry’s growth. However, few have the heritage, authenticity, and name recognition of High Times.

Kesselman was first exposed to cannabis culture through High Times as a teenager, at a time when cannabis was still illegal. For him, this renaissance is personal—more than a commercial move, it’s a tribute to the roots of cannabis advocacy and culture.

“The most important thing for us was to save High Times,” he explained. “We didn’t have a business plan — just a deep need to preserve what it stood for,” he said.

Josh is a rockstar of sorts and a regular at cannabis events, where a long line of fans wait to meet him. Photo: Laura Ramos | CannaReporter®, Spannabis 2025

Looking ahead, the new High Times will expand beyond traditional media outlets. Kesselman and Stang plan to integrate the brand into the modern cannabis community through:

Shroud partnerships, leveraging RAW’s global presence;
Collaborations with cannabis influencers, bringing modern voices to the High Times ecosystem;
Event licensing and merchandising, transforming the publication into a lifestyle brand that resonates with a new generation of cannabis users.

The revitalization of High Times reflects the transformation of the cannabis industry as a whole—from a taboo subject of counterculture to a legitimate, multibillion-dollar industry. As more states legalize recreational cannabis use and public support continues to grow, High Times is poised to reestablish itself as the go-to resource for cannabis connoisseurs and curious newcomers alike.

Its new leadership isn’t just selling cannabis culture—it’s preserving its history, championing its future, and connecting communities through content that speaks to the heart of the movement.

High Times is more than a magazine – it’s a movement

With its return to print and digital platforms, High Times is reigniting the flame of cannabis journalism. Thanks to Josh Kesselman’s unwavering dedication and Matt Stang’s industry expertise, the publication is well-positioned to reclaim its place as the definitive voice of cannabis culture.

In a world where cannabis is becoming increasingly commercialized, High Times aims to stand its ground – rooted in the culture that started it all and inspired by the desire to inform, entertain and unite a growing global community of cannabis lovers.

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[Disclaimer: Please note that this text was originally written in Portuguese and is translated into English and other languages using an automatic translator. Some words may differ from the original and typos or errors may occur in other languages.]

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João Xabregas

With a professional background in CAD technical drawing (2D and 3D), João Xabregas is an activist and advocate for all uses and applications of cannabis. He discovered and entered the world of cannabis during his youth, where he developed a special interest in the cultivation of the plant, which led him on a journey of self-learning through the world of cannabis that continues to this day. His adventures linked to cannabis cultivation began with the same goal as many others: to be able to guarantee the quality and eliminate any possible risks to his health of what he consumed, as well as to avoid any type of dependence on the illicit market. However, he quickly began to view the world of cannabis and everything related to it with a very different perspective. He admits the enormous passion he has for the most persecuted plant in the world and about which he is always willing to write and have a good conversation.

Laura Ramos

With a degree in Journalism from the University of Coimbra, Laura Ramos has a postgraduate degree in Photography and has been a Journalist since 1998. Winner of the Business of Cannabis Awards in the category "Journalist of the Year 2024", Laura was a correspondent for Jornal de Notícias in Rome, Italy, and Press Officer in the Office of the Minister of Education of the 21st Portuguese Government. She has an international certification in Permaculture (PDC) and created the street-art photography archive “Say What? Lisbon” @saywhatlisbon. Co-founder and Editor of CannaReporter® and coordinator of PTMC - Portugal Medical Cannabis, Laura directed the documentary “Pacientes” and was part of the steering group of the first Postgraduate Course in GxP's for Medicinal Cannabis in Portugal, in partnership with the Military Laboratory and the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon.

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RAW Founder Josh Kesselman Buys High Times Magazine for $3,5 Million

International