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 As mentioned in our Special Review section this time, we get
excited about new and/or unique products. And while the subject of this issue's Rolling
Papers review is by no means a new item, it is most definitely among the most unique and
useful innovations we have seen. Welcome to the world of Randy's
Wired Rolling Papers. A product of CTC, LTD of San Francisco, Randy's has
been making papers since the mid-1970's. In all that time, although I had heard the name
more than once, I had never tried their product. Considering how much I smoked in the 70's
of things that could be rolled in a paper, and even more to the point, how many times I
burned my fingers back then for want of a roach clip, it is incomprehensible to me that I
was unaware of these papers. When I asked my kids (kids, hell, they are all in their mid
to late twenties) about Randy's Wired papers they looked at me like I must have been in a
coma. They were fully aware of these utilitarian devices and assumed most other people on
the planet were likewise. While it may be that Randy's Wired papers were originally
intended for a younger and more "wired" audience, they are every bit as useful
for tobacco rolling. Most people I know who actually roll their own cigarettes (as opposed
to injecting tobacco into tubes like I prefer) face the same problem with burned fingers
that I used to experience. The
secret to this paper's design is a very thin, steel wire embedded in the bottom edge of
each paper that allows A healthy percentage of tobacco shops already carry these papers, but not all. I have yet to find them at Safeway or other mainstream grocery stores. Hopefully, this will change as word spreads of their unique functionality for the RYO market. The "head/paraphernalia" shops that still exist all seem to carry them. Of course, they are available on-line at randys.com
Private Labels - "Promote Your Company"
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| EDITOR'S NOTE: These reviews are solely for the convenience of people of legal age who already smoke, are trying to cut down on smoking, wish to spend less money on their smoking, want to roll their own cigarettes from high quality tobacco, and, in general, wish to have a far more satisfying, and economical smoking experience when compared with smoking pre-manufactured cigarettes. We, in no way, encourage people to smoke. Further, we prescribe to a sane, more logical approach to smoking that involves common sense as to quantity coupled with a strong desire to manage the habit until it becomes an occasional, freely chosen, diversion, that can be fully enjoyed with minimal health risks. Finally, we strongly encourage those who do smoke to take it outdoors, or to appropriate environments where tobacco can be enjoyed away from those who do not smoke, most especially children. We do not sell tobacco or related products from this site; We distribute information about our perceptions of the quality of what is available and where it can be obtained. If you are under 18, it is illegal to buy tobacco and you should immediately exit this site. If you do not smoke, it would seem illogical to start. |
A Publication of
The Andromedan Design Company
the smoker something to hold on to as the cigarette
burns down (see picture at right). The wire is high quality stainless steel and is
chemically non-reacting, adds no taste, and somehow manages to stay cool. The presence of
this wire also seems to stabilize the paper making rolling actually somewhat easier. And
considering the fact that the price of Randy's wired papers are very close to that of
non-wired papers, you can hardly go wrong. 
Randy's
makes several different designs and sizes including a non-wired variety by the name of
Rita's. All of the papers we tried were of excellent quality and though the wired versions
are made 
from a somewhat heavier paper, there was none of that offensive
paper taste occasionally associated with heavier rolling papers. In addition to the
standard 70mm Randy's paper, they also make a larger (longer) 90mm length known as King
Randy's (shown at right) as well as a EuroRandy's that appears to be very similar to the
"King."
Perhaps the most interesting thing about Randy's operation (in
addition of course to the sheer uniqueness of their "wired" products) are their
"Private Label" papers.
Specifically, Randy's will make papers for you with your own design (business logo, info,
etc.) right on the cover. For all intent and purposes these papers will look like your own
brand. This is, potentially, a great 
promotional item for tobacco stores as well as other businesses that would be comfortable
with rolling papers as a leave behind "gift" or as an attention getting calling
card. Much better than a matchbook (is there still such a thing as matchbook advertising)
and certainly useful for those that smoke. With all the fuss over smoking, and the fact
that RYO smoking will likely become the only way that many people will be able to afford
to smoke at all, the rolling paper should enjoy a consistent popularity and success. We
can think of no more unique product to catch the attention of those we wish to attract
than with a Randy's, or even better, an RYO Magazine Rolling Paper . . . and . . . that,
in conjunction with Randy's, we are working on as these words appear. 