Hightimes, the iconic stoner mag of the ’70s, is back. After years of editorial drift, the legendary pro-cannabis counter-culture publication has risen from the ashes under the impetus of Josh Kesselman, founder of the Raw empire known for its brown rolling papers and the antics of its CEO. Kesselman’s stated aim: to restore the magazine’s disruptive DNA, away from gift guides and advertorials disguised as articles.
RAW power
High Times magazine, emblem of the cannabis counterculture, has just changed hands. For $3.5 million, Josh Kesselman, founder of the RAW brand, has bought this underground monument, which he himself read in the 1980s. He intends to resurrect the rebellious spirit that made the newspaper famous, founded in 1974 – back when its pages were home to the likes of William S. Burroughs and Charles Bukowski, and its covers featured Bob Marley and Andy Warhol.
Since it was bought out by an investment fund in 2017, High Times had lost some of its lustre. Gone were the smuggling stories and acidic investigations, replaced by “top cannabis accessories” and consumer advice. But after the financial failure of the parent company, Hightimes Holding Corporation, the magazine was seized by a creditor and put up for sale. The September 2023 issue was to be the last.
Back to basics
For Kesselman, 54, this acquisition is more a matter of heart than business: “ This is not a money-making operation. The aim is to make High Times what it used to be. “What did it represent? A window into another, freer, bolder world. “ Discovering High Times was like opening a door to a universe I hadn’t even imagined.”
Created in 2005, his RAW brand is now ubiquitous in gas stations and smoke shops the world over. According to a spokeswoman, its worldwide sales are close to a billion dollars.
With his partner Matt Stang, former co-owner of the magazine, Kesselman is planning a return to a more demanding format: limited and collectable paper editions, but also digital versions – podcasts, documentaries, short videos.
Cannabis Cup revival
Another key promise is the return of the Cannabis Cup, the legendary competition launched in 1988, where an international jury tastes and evaluates the best weed varieties. An event which, like the magazine, blends knowledge, experimentation and communion of spirit.
For Kesselman, it’s not just a question of putting the plant back in the spotlight, but also of recreating a space for reflection, debate and freedom. ” High Times has always been a fight for freedom, not just for the plant, but for the very spirit of what a free media should be. ”
