Zig Zags – World's Best Cannabis Rolling Papers?

Ever rolled a joint? If you have, chances are you did it with Zig Zag rolling papers. In fact, most of the Cannawayz.com crew can't recall rolling a joint with any other rolling papers. Probably because since Zig Zag launched their trade, no rival has managed to improve upon their simple, elegant, and effective rolling paper design.

So, what catapulted this particular brand to the top of the leafy fumar wrap game? And, in turn, made the breaded bloke with the hoodie gracing the cover of every zig zag pack synonymous with smokin' weed?

From Pipe to Paper

Turns Zig Zags' origins date back over 150 years. According to the company website, a French soldier, then known as Zouave,  fighting Russian forces at the 1855 siege of Sevastopol – a notable battle in the Crimean war, which involved some half a dozen nation states – has his tobacco pipe literally shot out of his mouth by a stray bullet.

Not "missing a beat," the Zouave tore a scrap of paper from his gunpowder sack and used it to roll his pipe tobacco into a cigarette. The event, which seemed to transcend bravery and embody dogged determination, gained mythological status and earned a place in the pantheon of French history.

24 years later, two French brothers, Maurice and Jacques Braunstein, founded a cigarette company on the outskirts of Paris. And inspired by the tale of the mythological cigarette-rolling soldier, the brothers drafted a simple sketch of the celebrated smoking Zouave, making him the face of what would eventually become an iconic brand.

Putting the Zig Zag in Zig Zags

As you can undoubtedly imagine, cigarettes, already several centuries old by the late 1800s, were by no means a novel concept.

But a clever invention, patented by the Braunstein brothers in 1894, vaulted the company to the head of the pack. Their innovation involved an "interleaving process" in which each rolling paper pulled from the flat package would "auto-dispense" the leading edge of the following paper. Thus, making it simple to swipe out one rolling paper after another.

Up to that point, standard practice was to bind each rolling paper to the spine, arranging the papers like pages in a book. Users would then tear them out, one at a time. A clumsy process that often results in half sheets torn out and rendered unusable. Thus, the Braunstein's game-changing design revolutionized rolling paper packaging.

Trademarking The Zig Zag Name

The Braunstein's ingeniously simple invention was well received and highly praised, earning a gold medal at the Paris Universal Exposition. Feeling indebted to their product's monstrous success, the brothers decided to officially name the company Zig Zag. Eventually trademarking the moniker and the smoking Zouave graphic.

An unusual name for sure, the title was inspired by the "zig-zag" pattern the interlocking rolling papers create when assembled into a pack.

Becoming a Pop Culture Icon

Growing into an internationally recognized brand over the past century, Zig Zag and its illustrious smoking Zouave have weaved their way into the fabric of pop culture.

Famed '60s rock singer Janis Joplin borrowed heavily from Zig Zags' renowned logo in an infamous promotional concert poster, hyping a gig at San Francisco's Avalon Ballroom. Done without permission, the obvious nod to Zig Zag's pivotal role in the emerging counterculture likely helped its designers avoid any legal wrangling.

In 1969, Zig Zag launched a "Captain Zig Zag Wants YOU!" promotional campaign, with ads aping the Uncle Sam propaganda posters promoting military service. Though the campaign only ran for a short time, the iconic smoking Zouave used in the ads was dubbed "Captain Zig Zag," a name still commonly referenced today.

Legendary hip hop impresario, Dr. Dre, used Zig Zag's package as the basis for the cover of his debut solo album, 1992's Chronic. Paying homage to his favorite rolling papers, Dre used a pic of himself, sporting his trademark stony glare, in place of Captain Zig Zag. Achieving triple platinum sales status and earning a Grammy for Best Solo Rap Performance, the album's popularity exposed the brand to a new generation of would-be consumers. And further solidified the connection between Zig Zags and cannabis consumers.

What Does The Future Hold For Zig Zag?

A majority of US states have either legalized some form of cannabis use or at least decriminalized passion. Several cannabis legalization bills are floating through congress. And President Biden recently called to “de-schedule” cannabis, removing it from Schedule I Controlled substance ranks.

In this light, the future is looking incredibly bright for Zig Zag – The world’s greatest cannabis rolling papers!

Need Some Weed to Roll Up In Your Zig Zags? Order From A Cannabis Delivery Service!

Looking to put a little zig in your zag – In other words, sprinkle some of your favorite weed into your favorite rolling papers? Well, if you're all stocked up on Zig Zags and have no desire to visit your local dispensary, why not order online from a cannabis delivery service? Fast and convenient, most cannabis services offer same-day turnaround times on deliveries to your home or office.

Both medical marijuana delivery services and recreational cannabis delivery services are typically available in most legalized areas.

Do a quick search for "weed delivery near me," and you'll find plenty of vendors in your area.