“Cannabis is peace and love. It’s stupid that it’s not legal, bro.” The phrase sets the tone for Jon Z from the start. The Puerto Rican trap star speaks about marijuana with conviction, without hesitation. For him, the plant isn’t an accessory: it’s part of his life, his music, and his way of being in the world.

Born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Jonathan Resto Quiñones, known as Jon Z, was one of the first Latin urban artists to show himself publicly with a joint in his hand. And not as a pose, but as a declaration of identity.

From teenage curiosity to daily ritual

His story starts early, though he recommends people not follow his example and wait until they’re of legal age to use cannabis. “I was 14 the first time I tried cannabis. I was at a party and felt weird, so I didn’t do it again. But at 17 I started smoking more often with my friends and I liked it,” he recalls.

What began as teenage curiosity became routine. While many insisted cannabis led to laziness, Jon Z integrated it into an active lifestyle. “I work out every day and I can smoke a philly [joint] before or after training and it’s all good. It’s not like alcohol: if you get drunk, the next day you can’t train at all.”

Over time, he realized weed didn’t just accompany his workouts; it also helped him calm down. “I’m explosive, really fast-paced. Cannabis helps me relax, think things through, not make rash decisions.”

The tolerance break that changed everything

At one point, he took a break: three months without smoking. The famous tolerance break. What did he learn? “It was hard, I couldn’t sleep well. I was too impulsive, making quick decisions that I later regretted. Weed gives me calm, inner peace. When I have a problem, I light a philly and think better.”

The plant became a compass. “With cannabis, I think more about the consequences. I call my wife, talk to my boys, ask for opinions. I don’t make desperate decisions. That’s what I like most about cannabis: it makes me think a lot.”

‘We were miseducated about cannabis’

The stereotype is everywhere: the stoner is lazy, unproductive, couchlocked. Jon Z breaks it with a smile and a hyperactive routine. “I wake up, smoke a quick philly and get active: make breakfast, take care of my dogs and cats, head to the gym. That’s before, during, and after training. My trainer also smokes with me,” he says, laughing.

The trapper practices martial arts, trains hard. And always with the plant by his side. “The thing is, we were miseducated about cannabis. Cigarettes and alcohol kill people, and they’re legal. Cannabis has more pros than cons.”

He even points to evidence: Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients who improve with cannabis. For him, there’s no doubt. “It’s a plant. If cannabis is illegal, then all plants should be illegal. Our ancestors used plants to heal. Cannabis has always been here; it wasn’t born yesterday.”

From Puerto Rico to the world: cannabis ventures

In 2017, when talking about cannabis was still taboo for many urban artists, Jon Z broke the mold: he was the first in Puerto Rico to launch a line of prerolls. “I was the first one who dared. At first, no artist wanted to because of the fear of being canceled. But I couldn’t pretend to be something I’m not: I like lighting a philly on stage, smoking anywhere.”

That same year, he got his medical license and later released his own strain, Tormenta Z, grown on the island. Now he plans to go further: a new strain designed not just for Puerto Rico but also for every country where it’s legal.

The trapper knows he opened a door. “After me, a lot of artists started putting out their own products. Someone had to do it first. I broke that door.”

La Perla, RAW, and the rules of the barrio

In Jon Z’s world, RAW rolling papers are a true passion. “I’ve always been a fan of RAW and of Josh, because he invents new things. I like rolling long phillies, experimenting with weed. One day, I wrote to him and he answered. Since then, we’ve had the connection: he sends me boxes, I make content. I’m dying to meet him; he seems to have a super good vibe.”

His dream is for RAW founder Josh Kesselman to visit Puerto Rico. “If I don’t bring him to an event there, I’ll see him in the U.S. soon. And if I do bring him to Puerto Rico, I’ll take him down with me to La Perla,” he says, laughing. But he quickly clarifies: in that San Juan neighborhood, there are rules. “If you record with your phone, there are consequences. But if you show respect, people treat you well. I want to show people our reality.”

The ‘Latin Wiz Khalifa’ and the dream of a song with Snoop

His U.S. connection opened doors he never imagined. He shares a track with Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg, two of his idols. “It was a dream. Wiz is humble. I’ve followed him since Black and Yellow. I hope to see him again in Los Angeles. I also want to collaborate with Snoop Dogg. He’s always been an inspiration to me. I think we’d connect a lot because we’re the same: we don’t care about smoking anywhere.”

It’s no accident that people call him the “Latin Wiz Khalifa” or the “Latin Snoop.” Jon Z embraces the labels and turns them into ambition: he wants solo tracks with each. “Those are goals I have: Wiz and Snoop in my catalog. That would be historic.”

Art, creativity, and ambition

In the studio, cannabis is never missing. “If I don’t have weed, I don’t go. There’s always a philly lit: before recording, during, and after,” says Jon Z. The plant is part of the creative process, a ritual that guides every song.

His ambition, he insists, isn’t about money or chains. “My ambition is to progress, succeed, help my people, represent Puerto Rico everywhere. Inspire the kids so they see you can come up from the bottom.”

He says it from experience: he worked at a pizzeria, recorded freestyles in his car and posted them online until the world noticed him. Today, he acknowledges that getting here required sacrifices: leaving the clubbing, the partying, the drinking behind. “To succeed, you have to give things up and focus.”

‘I want to be remembered as a dreamer’

Jon Z doesn’t just want to be remembered as a trapper. “I want to be remembered as a dreamer, humble, with my feet on the ground. Someone who cared more about his fans than about money. That every show, every photo, was a good experience.”

His vision for the future of cannabis is clear: “It’s not for everyone. If it gives you a bad trip, don’t use it. But for those of us who benefit from it, we shouldn’t be made afraid. I never jumped from cannabis to other drugs; that’s a lie. Hopefully I’ll see it fully legal, in the U.S. and in Latin America.”

And he leaves a phrase that feels like both a farewell and a manifesto: “When I die, I’ll go, but my vibe will stay. My music will live forever.”

Photos courtesy of Jon Z.

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A new decision of an appeal in a trademark dispute, initiated by the RAW Rolling Papers manufacturer, has widespread implications for the rolling paper industry that dismiss the claim that rolling papers are “drug paraphernalia.” It’s also good news for non-cannabis-touching companies that want to protect trademarks.

BBK, manufacturer of RAW rolling papers, announced on April 9 that it won an appeal in its trademark dispute with Delaware-based Central Coast Agriculture, Inc. (CCA) as the Court sided with the popular rolling paper brand on its counterclaim.

According to the lawsuit, CCA’s employment of the “RAW GARDEN” name for its cannabis products, was an infringement of BBK’s “RAW”  trademark. In the past, several other brands have allegedly attempted to rip off the likeness of the RAW trademark in one way or another. RAW GARDEN applied for a trademark at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), beginning in 2017 with subsequent applications.

The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued rulings in two decisions on April 1 that could reshape the landscape of trademark law within the cannabis industry: The district court dismissed BBK’s false advertising claim and ruled in favor of CCA on BBK’s trademark claims. But the district court also ruled in favor of BBK on its counterclaim to invalidate several of CCA’s trademark applications and on CCA’s counterclaim to cancel BBK’s trademark applications for unlawful use.

“BBK is very pleased with the outcome of this appeal. Setting a precedent for the rolling paper industry, the appeals court rejected the suggestion that rolling papers are ‘drug paraphernalia’ and reaffirmed the trial court’s decision that BBK’s RAW^® rolling papers and other RAW^® smoking products are not prohibited by the Controlled Substances Act,” a spokesman for BBK said in an April 9 press release.

“It is equally important that the appeals court confirmed the trial court correctly invalidated the trademark applications improperly filed by CCA,” the spokesman continued. “After years of pursuing efforts in and out of court to protect consumers from being confused and misled by CCA’s unauthorized use of the RAW^® name for CCA’s cannabis products, BBK looks forward to a final resolution after a trial to a jury.”

RAW Black rolling papers were voted the best by the Daily High Club, as well as upvoted to the top in the comments on a Reddit thread, “What papers do y’all generally consider the best?”

Benzinga reports that the rulings could “reshape the landscape of trademark law within the cannabis industry.” Read the appeal ruling in its full text here.

The appellate court’s rulings sent BBK’s trademark infringement claim against CCA back to the district court for a full trial.

BBK representatives say the ruling protects consumers from confusion and misleading practices associated with the unauthorized use of the “RAW” name on rolling paper and other cannabis-adjacent products.

BBK’s team is preparing to present its case to a jury for a final resolution, however this ruling has widespread implications on how lawsuits in the industry will play out.

Not RAW Rolling Paper’s First Rodeo

There are other legal precedents for alleged trademark infringements regarding RAW Rolling Papers. RAW also won a game-changing lawsuit in 2023 when a rolling paper brand Republic Tobacco appeared to rip off RAW’s signature logo design with similarities in color, shape, and so forth.

RAW (BBK/HBI) issued a statement about the final resolution of the seven-year court battle with Republic Tobacco which had brought a series of lawsuits against HBI International, the company that owns the RAW brand.

The ruling on June 5, 2023 finalizes that jury’s decisions after a weeks-long trial, ruling that Republic Tobacco willfully infringed on RAW’s copyright and trade dress, and awarded to HBI damages of more than $1 million. 

When it includes a prejudgment interest award, the Court ordered Republic to pay RAW nearly $1.5 million in total compensation. Today’s conclusion came after both sides agreed on legal fees that RAW will pay to Republic based on only one of Republic’s multitude of claims.

In that case, the judge ruled that “Republic requests the disgorgement of every cent of profit from HBI’s RAW brand during that time period… This extraordinary request, however, is not supported by adequate evidence, nor is it appropriate considering the other factors of the case.”

RAW has also been involved in advocacy efforts. For instance in August 2023, the brand  announced a donation of $100,000 to The JUSTÜS Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization that is dedicated to facilitating the entry of legacy cannabis operators to the legal cannabis market. The RAW Seeds Fellowships aim to provide opportunities to legacy cannabis operators to navigate the legal cannabis market.

The new ruling adds another dimension to the protections that RAW Rolling Papers and BBK are entitled to, pending the appeal’s final ruling.

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