Ubiquitous for years, rolling paper brands selling pre-rolled cones are now upping their game to give smokers different sizes, paper materials, and flavorings. From experienced joint rollers to sausage-fingered fools, just about everyone is always down to puff on a super-inviting cone. Celebrate the free-spirited aura that complements utter simplicity with these updated takes on the classic cone.

RAW cones

Since the early ’90s, Josh Kesselman, the all-around paper-obsessed owner of RAW, has continued to innovate and build on the rich history of rolling paper products with his commitment to the excellence of his brands. 

“It’s just a different way of doing things,” said the RAW head honcho on a recent call with Leafly. “You bring the quality and craftsmanship as close as you can get it towards perfection, with the hope that the person after you can bring things even further.” 

RAW organic cones

To think Kesselman’s original RAW cone could ever be topped is crazy, but these slow-burning, boat-resistant organic cones have done just that – essentially leaving behind nothing but the full flavor of dank, ground-up bud in their wake. 

Smoke sessions with RAW organic cones exude the same dedication to natural and unrefined ingredients as the local sushi place you’ll probably hit up on DoorDash afterward. The natural tendencies of the hemp plant make for an optimal paper due to their lighter, yet virtually impenetrable paper construction. By combining those quality traits with the unique RAW watermark that ensures an even burn until the end of a session, RAW organics are easy to revere as a mainstay in your arsenal.

RAWkets ready for liftoff

“RAW papers and cones are designed to truly elevate smokers to the highest level,” Kesselman also noted as a clear distinction of his brand.

By that heady decree, it can also be said that it’s the care and over-the-top fun that RAW puts into their brand and products that separate them from the crowd. RAWkets are a prime example of that contagious joy–manifested into kits such as the Classic 5 Stage and 20 Stage RAWket Launcher Packs. 

The RAWket 5 Stage runs the spectrum from a 1¼-inch cone up to the 10-gram capacity of the Supernatural cone – a pre-roll that’s out-of-this-world with its commanding presence and ability to smoke out the better part of a class reunion. Meanwhile, the RAW 20 Stage RAWket Launcher Pack includes 20 pieces of seven different-sized cones – all within an oversized novelty box – making this adult construction set a consistent conversation starter and go-to for a wide variety of pre-roll sizes to explore.

VIBES pre-rolled cones

First launched in 2019, cannabis mogul Berner created VIBES pre-rolled cones to provide fans with multiple, high-quality pre-roll paper options such as Hemp, Organic Hemp, Rice, and Ultra-Thin varieties.

Organic Hemp VIBES are exceptional in how they allow the smoker to sit and meditate for a moment here and there without the joint constantly extinguishing or burning away like a lit fuse on a stick of freakin’ dynamite. VIBES Organic cones are also noteworthy for how the natural hemp paper makes the terpenes of the weed the main focal point.

Tobacco-free pre-rolled blunt cones

Terpene profiles have taken over the last decade or so and flavor rules. Enhance and complement the taste and terps of your stash with the best natural alternative to classic blunts – terp-infused, tobacco-free blunt cones that burn almost as long as a Tarantino flick and are just as gloriously sublime.

King Palm terp-infused palm leaf cones

Around since 2016, these game-changing stuffies now come in over 30 different flavors that include Berry Terps, Banana Cream, and Lemon Haze. Size-wise, you can fill anything from a half-gram Rollie cone up to a quarter zip into King Palm’s limited edition and appropriately-named XXXL offering. Stuffing some Grape Biscotti into the cannons that are King Palm Grape HD Mini 5 Packs is just one example of how to best pair your bud with the many varieties of King Palm Terp-Infused Cones. 

The slow burn of King Palm cones is as smooth as the hits that emanate from the unique pop and snap, terp-infused corn husk filter KPs are now famous for. Calling them blunts would be doing these real leaf cones a disservice—the lack of any tobacco after-taste puts natural and proprietary terps at center stage. 

Tyson 2.0 x Futurola ‘The Toad’ Blunt Cones

Tyson 2.0 X Futurola Tobacco-Free “The Toad” Blunt Cones are the result of a collab between the famous Amsterdam-based rolling paper brand and Tyson Ranch. Iron Mike has cannonballed into the weed game since starting the Tyson Ranch brand and opening his mind up to the psychedelic healing of “The Toad.” 

Tyson Ranch toad cones provide a glimpse into the singular taste of the toad venom experiences that have changed the former heavyweight champ’s life. The actual taste? Somewhat indescribably salty, sweet, and sensational “toad” terpenes applied to the tips and papers of these individual, glass-tubed cones. The unique terps nicely accentuate the flavors and heady highs of strains like Green Crack, Durban Poison, and Tyson’s own The Toad strain to create something of an even more stimulating experience.

See also: Zig-Zag’s Infused Cones; Edie Parker Crush Cones

Smoke Roses Goji Berry Cones

Exotic terps also abound with the Organic Goji Berry Cones made by Smoke Roses. Owner Charly Jordan got the inspiration for these goji berry fruit-infused blunt cones during her many travels. The experience of seeing how other cultures utilized unusual and unadulterated rolling materials translated into pre-rolled cones that delight the senses with their mouth-watering, tobacco-free goji berry essence.

The 1-gram capacity pre-rolls burn slower than just about most other pre-roll papers available on the market and ensure any procrastinators in the circle aren’t gonna cause a tiff. To the dome, it’s perfect to puff for what seems like all day.

Whether it’s king-sized organic cones, terpene-infused “blunt” cones, or pre-roll kits that let you stuff a doink the size of your forearm, set some important goals for yourself this summer. Achieve what’s possible with these pre-rolled cone brands and products that are currently hitting it out of the park and beyond!

See also: Zig-Zag Rose

And that’s it for our cones round-up this summer. Pack those cones, twist the top, and get out there!

Anthony DiMeo

Anthony DiMeo is a cannabis advocate and journalist who still believes countercultural evolution is possible. His work and advocacy has been featured in DOPE, Extraction Magazine, Terpenes & Testing Magazine, and the Philadelphia Inquirer.

View Anthony DiMeo’s articles

Sweltering summer days bring, mercifully, temperate summer nights, and with them a bevy of possibilities for you and your weed stash. We live on a planet obsessed with progress, technology, and what’s new, but when was the last time you stopped to smell the flowers or look at the stars? Whether you live in a bustling city or a cozy town, there will always be a rooftop or grassy field nearby to lie back and marvel at Mother Nature’s cosmos. 

Recently, NASA released the first images from their swanky new James Webb telescope cameras, and man—they are something else. In unparalleled quality, nebulas now look like brooding amoebas, and swaths of deep space resemble desert mountains or a set from the new Thor film. Seriously, I didn’t know that swirling galaxies millions of lightyears away could be pink, or that I could gaze upon a meteor and see the texture as clear as the pimples on my teenaged face. I get why Matthew McConaughey and Buzz Lightyear would risk a devastating time warp now.   

How amazing would these images look with some inspiration from weed? What I wouldn’t give to share a joint with Neil deGrasse Tyson and pontificate about what it all means. He’s probably busy, so in the meantime, here are some of the best strains that suit a night out staring at the stars, or perusing pictures of planets and universes still beyond our understanding.

Space Queen

I, for one, have never forgotten the power of Space Queen. She’s not only a heady hybrid of Romulan and Cindy 99—both trippy, cerebral stains in their own right—she tastes good too! She’ll have you marveling at the depth of hues and scope of the stars, then wondering if aliens really did build the Egyptian pyramids.

Cat Piss

Do not let the name fool you—smoking this strain always makes me feel like I am blasting off to Pluto. As a pheno of Super Silver Haze, Cat Piss gives you the same buzzing euphoria and introspection from its Haze and Northern Lights parents, just stinkier. If you don’t mind the ammonia smell, this is a Neil Armstrong experience.

Northern Lights

If sativas aren’t your thing, Northern Lights is an excellent catalyst for wondering: ‘But, like, what is a black hole?’ This is a true indica made from some of the best landrace strains to grace Earth—the perfect companion for astral projecting to Neptune and seeing the northernmost lights that human technology allows.

White Widow

White Widow has been around since the ‘90s, and she endures because she makes us feel so damn good. She’s cerebral without inducing anxiety, and I’ve had some of the best contemplative conversations and joyful movie nights thanks to packing her in the bowl.     

Runtz

We know you love Runtz for its candy-coated terps and intense intoxication without the fatigue, but it can also inspire a new interest in meteor showers, red dwarves, and milky ways. Why else do you think it’s found its way into half a dozen rap songs?       

Supernova

Formerly known as “Chronic,” Supernova is an indica-hybrid that has been immortalized forever in stoner culture canon with Dr. Dre’s 1992 debut album of the same name. A supernova is a star exploding at the end of its life; your brain will do the same as you trace the sky’s constellations.  

Durban Poison

I warn you, this is not for a casual gazing session—Durban Poison is a full-throttle wormhole of a strain. This is a sativa for tracking shooting stars, though whether they’re really out there or just in your head is anyone’s guess. I think if Jupiter was a strain, and not a giant planet of toxic gas, it would be this one.

Bruce Banner

Don’t worry, you do not need to fight an infinity way or defeat Thanos to enjoy this hybrid. But Bruce Banner’s marvelous creative qualities pair smoothly with our galaxy and the next. You may just develop a hulking obsession with the stars.

Amelia Williams

New York-based freelance cannabis journalist Amelia Williams is a graduate of San Francisco State University’s journalism program, and a former budtender. Williams has contributed to the San Francisco Chronicle’s GreenState, MG Magazine, Culture Magazine, and Cannabis Now, Kirkus Reviews, and The Bold Italic.

View Amelia Williams’s articles

Vape cartridges are a popular consumption method thanks to their ample variety, relative ease of use, and delicious, terpy clouds. But it’s easy to get sticker shock when browsing vape carts online or at the store.

Since they are highly concentrated weed, a gram (or even half gram) can cost upwards of $100. Don’t worry, there are plenty of cost-conscious 510 thread vape cartridges out there for under $50.

Whether you like indicas, sativas, high-CBD, or balanced strains, there’s a little something for everyone on our list.

CBN:CBD Lemon Skunk X CKS & CRM

Brand: Northbound Cannabis

Licensed producer: Medipharm Labs

THC: 0.20 – 0.60%  |  2.00 – 6.00 mg/g

CBD: 46.00 – 52.00%  |  460.00 – 520.00 mg/g

The CBN:CBD Lemon Skunk X CKS & CRM is a solid option for those who are looking for a cartridge heavy on the CBD and low on the THC. It is a sativa-dominant cross of Lemon Skunk X CKS & CRM (Cookies & Cream), made with individually selected terpenes nerolidol, limonene, beta-caryophyllene, beta-myrcene, and terpinolene, with a focus on the minor cannabinoid CBN.

Mango Haze Live Resin

Brand: Color Cannabis

Licensed producer: Entourage Health Corp. (formally WeedMD)

THC: 28.00 – 34.00%  |  280.00 – 340.00 mg/g

CBD: 40.00 – 46.00%  |  400.00 – 460.00 mg/g

For those seeking a more balanced experience, Dosecann’s Mango Haze Live Resin cart offers just the ticket. This sativa-dominant formula is made using pure cannabis extract with a rich mango aroma and hints of spice and pine.

Mango Haze Live Resin carts offer a 2:1 CBD|THC ratio, crafted from the Mango Haze strain, which boasts Northern Lights, Skunk, and Haze in its lineage. This live resin is crafted from freshly frozen cannabis flower and contains no diluents.

Jack Flash

Brand: Mood Ring

Licensed producer: Neptune Wellness

THC: 80.00 – 86.00%  |  800.00 – 860.00 mg/g

CBD: 0.00 – 3.00%  |  0.00 – 30.00 mg/g

Mood Ring products often drop to rave reviews, selling out in whatever market they sell in. The Jack Flash 510 Thread Cartridge is no exception—this cart is a popular pick among consumers. It is crafted from the sativa-dominant hybrid strain Jack Flash , a cross of Jack Herer, Super Skunk, and Haze.

Made using a cold ethanol extraction process, botanical terpenes are blended with the live resin concentrate. Jack Flash offers flavours of lemon off the start, followed by notes of red berries, juniper, sandalwood, and spice.

CBD Mint

Brand: Foray

Licensed producer: Auxly

THC: 2.10 – 2.80%  |  21.00 – 28.00 mg/g

CBD: 62.50 – 67.50%  |  625.00 – 675.00 mg/g

The CBD Mint 510 Thread Cartridge is another excellent budget-conscious choice for those looking for a cartridge option without a lot of THC. This minty vape cart features CBD-dominant distillate and botanical terpenes with eucalyptus and menthol, for a fresh-tasting cart with a sweet, earthy, minty flavour.

Sour Apple

Brand: Back Forty

Licensed producer: Auxly

THC: 79.00 – 82.00%  |  790.00 – 820.00 mg/g

CBD: 0.00%  |  0.00 mg/g

Back Forty is another brand retailers can’t seem to keep on the shelves due to demand. The Sour Apple 510 Thread Cartridge offers a heavy hit of THC in an indica-dominant strain.

Prominent terpenes include limonene, linalool, and pinene. This cart starts off with a fresh burst of sour flavour before moving into a sweet finish. It is made using the Sour Apple strain, also known as Sour Apple Diesel, using an ethanol extraction process.

Jean Guy Liquid Wax

Brand: Good Supply

Licensed producer: Aphria

THC: 79.00 – 85.00%  |  790.00 – 850.00 mg/g

CBD: 0.70 – 0.80%  |  7.00 – 8.00 mg/g

A popular strain among smokers, the Jean Guy Liquid Wax cart is conveniently available in a 510 cart from Good Supply. It is made using the sativa-dominant Jean Guy strain, using a butane extraction process.

This process creates a full-spectrum liquid wax product that’s rich in terpenes with wider cannabinoid retention. The strain is known for its energizing and uplifting properties.

Organic LA Confidential

Brand: The Green Organic Dutchman

Licensed producer: The Green Organic Dutchman

THC: 76.00 – 82.00%  |  760.00 – 820.00 mg/g

CBD: 0.00 – 1.00%  |  0.00 – 10.00 mg/g

For those who prefer their cannabis organic, the Green Organic Dutchman has the Organic LA Confidential in a 510 thread cartridge. Made from only organically-grown LA Confidential cannabis oil and organic terpenes, this cart contains no synthetic flavours or additives. This strain is an indica-dominant flower with aromas of pine, black pepper, and subtle hints of citrus.

Up In The Sky Liquid Wax

Brand: Broken Coast

Licensed producer: Tilray

THC: 63.75 – 86.25%  |  637.50 – 862.50 mg/g

CBD: 0.00 – 0.99%  |  0.00 – 9.90 mg/g

Made from premium, BC-grown cannabis, Up In The Sky brings liquid wax into a standard 510 cartridge. The resulting vapour is packed full of citrus flavour, with consumers noting the prevalence of lime and orange zest.

Using a high-THC, sativa-dominant strain, the cart is made using an ethanol extraction. Up In The Sky is known for its strong and unique terpene profile. It has notes of citrus and spice, from caryophyllene, myrcene, and limonene.

Leafly editors and contributing writers choose products based on personal experience, consumer feedback, and overall quality. At times, we take samples to inform our reporting but receive no commission from any resulting sales.

Caitlin McCormack

Caitlin McCormack is a writer based in Toronto. Her work has appeared in MSN, Lift & Co., HuffPost, What to Expect, and Mashable, among others. When she isn’t writing, she’s busy chasing after her two sons, testing out new recipes, and working on her century-old fixer-upper.

View Caitlin McCormack’s articles

NY officials are making a mess of their efforts to legalize cannabis—here’s what’s at the eye of the latest shitstorm.

Back in February, New York State’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced that they sent cease-and-desist letters to dozens of shops across the state that they suspect of selling cannabis without a license. Failure to comply with the request could prevent a store from acquiring a legal license once they become available later this year, the letters warned.

But last week, a Freedom of Information request filed by The Gothamist forced the OCM to release the letters. Within them, plain for all to see, were the names of the businesses told to cease operations.

Of the 66 letters, two went to businesses that claim they’ve never heard anything from the OCM or received any letters. One business claimed that they don’t even sell cannabis.

State officials say they want to help ease gray market operators into the fast-approaching legal market. But these cease-and-desist notices, and the public disclosure of who received them, have only created new questions as the state eyes a fall or winter opening day for adult-use sales. 

NYC Mayor Adams sends mixed signals

In June, New York City mayor Eric Adams further complicated the situtation by telling millions of residents and visitors to light up without fear of repercussions. Mayor Adams said unlicensed operators could expect slaps on the wrist for now. But the former NYPD officer hinted that harsh consequences could come to those who ignore initial warnings to stop unlicensed sales.

The day before the mayor told New Yorkers to “light up,” New York’s Senate passed a bill that would crack down on unlicensed possession and sales. That bill needed approval from the state Assembly before June 3 to move forward. But the date passed without a vote. On the same day, NYC’s Mayor encouraged everyone to smoke more weed from the shops, trucks, and legacy sellers that were told by the OCM to cease and desist.

With state officials estimating that New York State will generate $1.25 billion in revenue over the next six years, lawmakers and regulators from the state and every local municipality need to get on the same page, and fast. But only if they’re serious about launching a successful and equitable legal weed market in America’s most populated city. 

If they continue to send legacy providers and users mixed signals, much of that billion and change they project to generate could leak into the illicit market and neighboring states like New Jersey and Massachusetts.

Gray-market providers should proceed with caution

The drama surrounding the letters underlines a paradox of the state’s own making: How can they support the legacy market and bring it into the new system, if they think it’s operating outside of the law?

The letters effectively “out” many of the businesses mentioned. While some are out in the open, others are now exposed to an increased risk of robbery or bodily harm.

“It’s weird. It’s confusing,” Ryan Lepore, a member of Empire State NORML’s Board of Directors, told Leafly. “Anyone in the legacy market should proceed with caution. I don’t say this to fearmonger. I think the state is trying to figure out a way to do this. They’re trying more than a lot of other states have tried at the inception of a program,” he added.

Gray area shops live in pot purgatory

New York State is home to a robust, and dynamic, gray market; New York City allegedly smokes more than any other city in the world. But when NYC legalized marijuana in March 2021— via the Marihuana Regulation & Taxation Act (MRTA)—things got sticky very quickly.

The bill makes it legal for adults to “transfer” cannabis up to three ounces of cannabis to each other, as long as “no compensation” gets exchanged. (It also legalizes most public consumption.) As a result, many “gifting” shops began to sprout up around the city. Sure, customers couldn’t buy pot outright. But anyone could pay $40 or $50 for an NFT, and get an eighth thrown in their bag, free of charge.

Some of these shops stand boldly in the open, for all to see, while others take a more clandestine route. 

New York has shown intermittent support for legacy businesses while building out their adult-use program. Most substantially, Governor Kathy Hochul (D) announced this spring that the state would allocate $200 million to help the first 100 adult-use license holders—who, by law, must be victims of the War on Drugs, or members of disenfranchised communities—to open up shop.

But with the cease-and-desist letters, they’ve muddied their stance on supporting existing businesses.

“There are no businesses currently licensed to sell adult-use cannabis in New York State. Selling any item or taking a donation, and then “gifting” a customer a bag of untested cannabis does indeed count as a sale under New York’s Cannabis Law,” said Tremaine Wright, Chair of New York’s Cannabis Control Board, in a recent press release.

What weight do these letters actually carry?

The cease-and-desist letters suggest that the state will eventually start punishing businesses that continue adult-sales without a license. But the OCM doesn’t appear to have the power to sanction any punishment at the moment (hence the warnings). And even when they can start cracking down, regulators should be careful not to hassle the legacy providers they claim to be supporting for social equity.

“The state has not done a great job of defining what legacy is, or providing protection [to those businesses],” Lepore, of Empire State NORML, told Leafly.

“[But OCM] is trying to do anything and everything. A lot of people on their staff are not trained and versed in this market. Some of them are. They’re finding their rhythm at the same time,” he added.

“This could be way worse,” Lepore notes. He feels the state has demonstrated restraint by not jumping into attack mode and immediately raiding shops or seizing assets. But that could just mean they are sitting back and allowing targets to build their cases for them.

Syracuse.com reported that the OCM’s view that gifting is illegal is “not unanimously shared by DAs across the state.” In March, the Erie County DA’s office told NY Cannabis Insider that “the current criminal penal law does not prohibit” gifting. NYC mayor Eric Adams has further complicated the situation with his laissez-faire approach.

“There needs to be a system of not heavy-handedness, but going in and explaining to that store that, ‘Listen, you can’t do this,’ give them a warning,” Adams told reporters in June at a cannabis industry expo.

OCM did not respond to a request for comment for this story clarifying whether they have taken punitive actions against any of these businesses yet. Mayor Adams’ office also left Leafly’s request for comment unanswered.

Naming the shops could put them at risk

Lepore believes outing these shops could put them in real danger. “Once you out someone’s location, there are plenty of people that would take advantage of that and try to do nefarious things to those people, knowing there’s cannabis and money there,” he said. “Some of these people could actually get hurt.”

Lepore cited one recipient of the letter, a smoke shop, where employees have balked at coming to work since the warning. He also noted a shop upstate where robbers broke in armed with assault rifles.

Deadly robberies on the West Coast have become more common as businesses must juggle protecting their cash-only operations from both cops and robbers.

With such high stakes riding on New York’s next cash crop, state officials aren’t inspiring confidence. Nicole Reynolds, the owner of an events business that got a warning letter despite never selling or advertising cannabis, told the Ithica Voice that the way the OCM bungled this initial enforcement campaign is a discouraging sign of its ability to handle the massive new industry they’re about to unleash.

Reynolds said “the social media fallout, gossip, questions relating to my/our commitment to this community, and whether we are practicing illicit and illegal activity stings.” The LakeWatch Inn owner added, “the legal ramifications will take time… I have fielded calls from concerned hosts.”

Some businesses will fight the cease-and-desist letters

Some “gifting” stores remain adamant that they are operating within the law. And they’re not being quiet about it. Empire Cannabis Club, in the heart of the NYC neighborhood Chelsea, for one, refuses to close up shop.

The shop’s attorney, Steve Zissou (no, not that Steve Zissou) argues that since the shop sells memberships, not weed, directly, they cannot be shut down. Zissou insisted to CBS New York that “there [is] no compensation for the cannabis that’s distributed.”

During the same event, Adams noted that he’d like to see these illicit businesses join the legal market. If they don’t, he warned there might be repercussions. 

“If they refuse to adhere to the rules, then you have to come back and take some form of enforcement actions, such as a summons,” he said.

Adams regularly touts the burgeoning New York cannabis industry as a potential windfall. Earlier this year, he made headlines by suggesting that the city convert public housing rooftops into ganja greenhouses.

Before thinking that big, city and state officials should come to agreement on the proper way to roll out their next big cash crop.

Max Savage Levenson

Max Savage Levenson likely has the lowest cannabis tolerance of any writer on the cannabis beat. He also writes about music for Pitchfork, Bandcamp and other bespectacled folk. He co-hosts The Hash podcast. His dream interview is Tyler the Creator.

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