A first-of-its-kind marijuana competition is launching to put a very specific skill—rolling joints—to the test.
Rolling Derby, which was founded by a group of cannabis industry veterans, announced on Wednesday that they have organized a series of “speed-rolling” tournaments, where adults 21 and older can compete against each other virtually or in person to see who can successfully fashion a joint the fastest.
“At its core, the Rolling Derby is an authentic celebration of speed, craft, and culture, challenging participants to roll the perfect joint against the clock,” the group said in a press release. “The inaugural season will feature both a global online competition open to cannabis enthusiasts worldwide, as well as a series of high-profile live events across California venues.”
Sponsored by RAW Rolling Papers, the competitions will last four months, with a championship final where the top 16 fastest joint-rollers will compete.
Submissions to enter the tournament opened on Wednesday and will be accepted through June 30. To enter, prospective competitors must post a video of themselves rolling a one-gram joint, starting with whole nugs, on X or YouTube with the hashtag #rollingderby.
“The Rolling Derby turns what happens every day in millions of homes into a spectator sport that celebrates real craftsmanship,” Dean Arbit, CEO of bud.com, an e-commerce platform running the competition, said.
“We’re taking something that’s part of cannabis culture’s DNA and elevating it to showcase the incredible dexterity and expertise that goes into a perfect roll,” he said.”This isn’t just about speed, it’s really about bringing deserved recognition to a foundational skill.”
The tournament is also being billed as a unique opportunity for cannabis brands to get involved and connect with marijuana consumers who could get a look at their products as competitors grind and roll them.
“The Rolling Derby celebrates the real artistry of rolling culture, and that is what RAW® is all about,” Josh Kesselman, founder and CEO of RAW Rolling Papers, said. “I created RAW® to let the true rolling and smoking experience shine through, and this competition is all about showcasing that same authentic craft.”
“For the past two decades we’ve worked hard to make the RAW® brand synonymous with rolling excellence, and we’re thrilled to always support the culture that’s supported us from day one,” he said. “We all get higher together!”
Cannabis brands have used a variety of novel promotional tactics to get the word out about their products and services as the legalization movement has continued to spread.
For example, late last year Toker’s Guide—which offers an online directory of dispensaries in several jurisdictions—listed series of job listings seeking experienced cannabis consumers in states across the U.S. to sample and review marijuana products.
Also last year, the rolling paper company DaySavers announced they’d pay $4.20 to volunteers willing to smoke two free pre-rolled joints and provide feedback on their smokability.
DaySavers separately launched a campaign last March to hire for what it calls the “ultimate stoner dream job,” seeking a content creator to “get paid to smoke weed.” The full-time social media creator and event marketer job pays $70,420 with perks including cannabis product testing and all expenses paid travel to marijuana events.
Some other high-profile clients have also offered to pay people for rolling joints–for example Snoop Dogg, who said several years ago that he pays someone $40,000 to $50,000 per year to have blunts readily available.
Meanwhile, although it won’t feature a speed-rolling tournament, the California State Fair will once again feature a cannabis exhibit and competition at this year’s event, with expanded award categories meant to showcase the diversity of the state’s market.
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Photo courtesy of Martin Alonso.
A first-of-its-kind marijuana competition is launching to put a very specific skill—rolling joints—to the test. Rolling Derby, which was founded by a group of cannabis industry veterans, announced on Wednesday that they have organized a series of “speed-rolling” tournaments, where adults 21 and older can compete against each other virtually or in person to see Read More
