Move over Zig-Zag, there’s a new, all-Canadian brand of rolling papers on the market.
You may have seen the packs of buffalo plaid papers at a cannabis retailer or headshop near you.
Made by Canadian Lumber, the company hails from Halifax, NS and came about a couple years ago when Beau-Brandon Cleeton realized there was no Canadian company in the rolling paper market. It was a part of the cannabis space he was fascinated with and passionate about.
As a seasoned creative director who specialized in product and brand development, Cleeton decided to change that.
Beau-Brandon Cleeton and Zach Fraser of Canadian Lumber. Photo by Sean Berrigan
Within months, he came up with a vision for his company—based on the Canadian lumberjack of old who cut down trees and rolled logs—and thus, Canadian Lumber was born. After having the name incorporated, Cleeton got to work bringing his dream to reality.
We want to build a brand that supports responsible, leisurely, adult consumption and gets rid of the stigma attached to rolling papers.
In creating a Canadian owned and operated business, Cleeton wanted to lead the charge for our country’s rolling paper market. As Canadians are the largest consumers of cannabis per capita, it makes sense to celebrate a new industry with exciting products.
Today, Canadian Lumber sells three rolling papers—The Greens, a 13g 100% pure hemp paper, The Woods, a 12.5g 100% wood pulp paper, and The Hippy, a 13 g 50/50 flaxseed and hemp paper. Each of these products is made with 100% all natural Arabic gum, which comes from sap and is water soluble and edible. In addition to rolling papers. The company sells two accessories including an aluminum tray and a smell proof bag, each of which is ideal for a hike in the woods.
Why Buy Canadian?
In Canada, there are few regulations that companies must follow in order to produce rolling papers. In turn, many products on the market run the risk of being filled with chalk, asbestos, bleach and other chemicals. Canadian Lumber has acquired a TÜV SÜD Product Service Certificate that provides brands with a mark ensuring quality and safety. This certification means that the company is adhering to EU Product Standards.
“We send our products and pulp itself to a recognized, certified TÜV third-party lab in order for everything to get tested. There are no regulations for rolling papers in North America, so we’re trying to set up a standard for our industry, especially here in Canada. We reached out to a bunch of different testing companies across the country and ended up partnering with the University of Guelph as our product testing lab. We give them parameters that TÜV are testing for to create a leading standard here,” said Zach Fraser, Digital Manager of Canadian Lumber.
Canadian Lumber’s partnership with the University of Guelph means their rolling papers are tested and verified to ensure users are not at risk of consuming any dangerous allergens or toxins. Their products underwent 18 different tests, confirming there was no cross-contamination in manufacturing or packaging. Cleeton expects their processing facility to double its production capacity in the near future and hopes to take on more of the North American market as a whole.
The company wants to set a precedent within Canada and beyond for the creation of rolling papers that are safe and high quality. Cleeton hopes to both educate and inform the public about responsible consumption and also invite users of his products to provide feedback so he can continue making the best rolling papers on the market.
“We try to stay honest and open about what we’re doing. We want to build a brand that supports responsible, leisurely, adult consumption and gets rid of the stigma attached to rolling papers.”
