New Owner Gives High Times a Fresh Spark

The founder of a rolling-paper company is bringing back the stoner magazine’s print edition and website

OG article

• The Wallstreet Journal Josie Reich.

• June 17, 2025

  
  

  

  Cannabis has surged into the mainstream, setting the stage for a bold revival of High Times, the iconic magazine that defined counterculture for decades.

In a multimillion-dollar endeavor fueled by passion, the founder of a leading rolling-paper company is poised to restore this storied publication to its former glory. High Times remains a vibrant celebration of cannabis culture, delivering incisive news, compelling essays

championing legalization, and exclusive celebrity interviews.

With U.S. cannabis sales projected to approach $33 billion in 2025, according to industry leader BDSA, and recreational use now legal in over 20 states, the industry is thriving.

Josh Kesselman, founder of RAW rolling papers, acquired the High Times intellectual property rights for $3.5 million. Partnering with former co-owner Matt Stang, he is spearheading a dynamic relaunch, reviving the print magazine with special-edition issues and reinstating the legendary Cannabis Cup competition to recapture the brand’s defiant spirit.

Kesselman is forthright about the challenges in today’s fragmented media landscape, acknowledging that the venture may initially operate at a loss. His goal is to engage a dedicated community of cannabis enthusiasts, with hopes of eventually achieving financial stability.

To fuel this ambitious revival, Kesselman has invested an additional $1.85 million, covering critical expenses such as trademark fees and the digitization of the magazine’s extensive archives.

“While most businesses rely on meticulous strategies, Matt and I took a different path,” Kesselman said. “Our primary objective was clear: to preserve the legacy of High Times.”

Kesselman criticized the magazine’s previous ownership for prioritizing profits over its loyal readership. Founded in 1974 under Trans-High Corp. (THC), High Times was sold to private-equity firm Oreva Capital in 2017. The resulting entity, Hightimes Holding, fell into receivership in April 2024, leaving the website dormant and its final print issue published in September.

“The profit-driven era of High Times had to be dismantled entirely,” Kesselman asserted. “That mindset was unsustainable.”

Before its 2017 sale, the magazine’s website attracted an impressive five million monthly visitors, according to Stang.

Kesselman and Stang are now revitalizing the High Times website and introducing special-edition print magazines, aligning with a broader trend of publications like The Atlantic, The Onion, and Tablet reinvesting in print. Despite the emergence of new cannabis-focused media, Kesselman is confident that High Times can command a robust audience. Stang, who co-owned the magazine for seven years until 2017, is actively recruiting former colleagues to join the effort.

Kesselman, now 54, first encountered cannabis culture through High Times as a teenager, when the substance was illegal in the U.S. He vividly recalls concealing his copy, wrapped in brown paper, from his parents—a moment that sparked a lifelong connection to the brand.

In addition to the revitalized digital platform and periodic print editions, Kesselman and Stang are pursuing licensing agreements to launch High Times-branded products, including RAW rolling papers, and forging partnerships with prominent cannabis social-media influencers to deepen reader engagement.

This strategic yet spirited revival signals a new chapter for High Times, blending its rebellious roots with the demands of a modern, booming cannabis industry.