Picture this, you just walked into your favorite dispensary in Bangkok. You’ve picked out a beautiful jar of “KD Koh Tao” Sativa or maybe a heavy “Phuket Indica.” You are excited. You walk up to the counter to pay, and there it is, the wall of accessories.
Dozens of colorful packs stare back at you. Red packs, blue packs, black packs, silver packs. Some say “Rice,” some say “Hemp,” and some just have cool holographic logos. You hesitate. You usually just grab whatever is cheapest or whatever the budtender hands you.
But as you walk out into the humid Thai air and spark up, you wonder “Does it actually matter?”
Is there really a difference between that 20 Baht pack of standard papers and the premium ultra-thin pack that costs a little more? Or is it just marketing hype designed to make us feel fancy?
Here is the short answer, Yes, it matters. A lot.
In fact, the thickness of your paper is arguably the second most important factor in your smoking experience (right after the quality of the weed itself). It changes how your joint burns, how it tastes, how difficult it is to roll, and even how much ash you end up wearing on your shirt.
If you are serious about getting the most out of your rolling paper in Thailand, you need to understand the “Thin vs. Thick” debate. Let’s strip away the marketing jargon and get down to the nitty-gritty of why your paper’s weight is making or breaking your session.
What is GSM? (Don’t Worry, It’s Simple)
In the paper world, thickness is measured in something called GSM (Grams per Square Meter). You don’t need a calculator for this, but you do need to know the basic rule:
- High GSM (20+): This is “Thick” paper. Think of the standard white cigarette papers your grandfather used. They are opaque (you can’t see through them), feel sturdy like printer paper, and burn very fast.
- Medium GSM (14-19): The middle ground. Standard rolling papers fall here.
- Low GSM (10-13): This is “Thin” or “Ultra-Thin.” These are the translucent, gossamer-light sheets that top-tier brands like RAW and Smoking are famous for.
In the old days, high GSM was the standard because people were mostly rolling tobacco. Tobacco needs a paper that burns quickly to keep up with the leaf. But cannabis? Cannabis is different. Cannabis wants to burn slowly.
As the market for rolling paper in Thailand has evolved from tobacco to premium buds, the race for the thinnest paper on earth has begun.
1. Tasting the Terpenes, Not the Tree
The number one reason to switch to an ultra-thin paper is flavor. It’s simple math.
When you smoke a joint, you are inhaling a mix of burning cannabis and burning paper. The thicker the paper, the more “paper smoke” is entering your lungs. Thick papers are made of more wood pulp or flax fibers. When they burn, they create a distinct, harsh, slightly metallic or woody taste.
If you are smoking cheap brick weed, maybe you don’t care. The paper taste might actually mask the harshness of the weed.
But you aren’t smoking brick weed anymore. You are in Thailand in 2025. You are smoking exotic strains with complex terpene profiles, lemon, berry, pine, mango.
When you use thick paper, you are throwing a heavy blanket over those flavors. You are dulling the high notes.
Enter brands like RAW. Their RAW Black line was specifically engineered for the “new generation” of high-quality cannabis. It is double-pressed and extra-fine. It is so thin that when you smoke it, the paper flavor is practically non-existent.
When you use an ultra-thin paper, the ratio of “weed smoke” to “paper smoke” shifts drastically in favor of the weed. You taste exactly what the grower intended you to taste. If you are a flavor chaser, thickness is your enemy.
2. Why Rolling Paper Needs to Burn Slow
Have you ever lit a joint, taken two puffs, put it down to sip your drink, and looked back 30 seconds later to find half your joint has turned to ash?
That is the curse of thick paper.
Thick papers (especially bleached white ones) often contain combustion agents, additives like chalk or salts that keep the paper burning even when you aren’t drawing on it. This is great for cigarettes, but it is a disaster for cannabis. It wastes your stash.
Ultra-thin papers, like the Mascotte Extra Thin or Vibes Rice, have very little biomass to keep the fire going. They are naturally self-extinguishing.
If you are smoking a Vibes Rice paper and you put it down in the ashtray to tell a story, the cherry will likely go out. This is a good thing. It means your expensive flower isn’t burning away into the atmosphere while you aren’t enjoying it.
Thin papers force a slower, cooler burn. A cooler burn preserves more cannabinoids (THC) and terpenes, which are destroyed by high heat. So, ironically, using a thinner paper might actually get you higher.
3. Why Beginners Love Thick Paper
If thin papers taste better and burn better, why does anyone still sell thick papers?
Because rolling with ultra-thin paper is hard.
Imagine trying to wrap a silk scarf around a pile of sand. That is what it feels like to roll with Smoking Thinnest.
Thick papers have rigidity. They hold their shape. When you curve them between your fingers to make the “trough” for the weed, they stay curved. They have friction. They are easy to tuck. If you are a beginner, or if your hands are shaky, a classic thick paper is forgiving.
Ultra-thin papers are slippery. They are flimsy. They react to the slightest bit of moisture on your fingertips. If you try to roll a RAW Black inside a windy tuk-tuk, you might end up crying.
However, this is the rite of passage. Mastering the roll with an ultra-thin paper is the mark of a pro. Once you get the “touch”, that gentle, precise friction needed to tuck a ghost-thin paper, you will never go back.
4. Aesthetics Matter
We smoke with our eyes first. There is something undeniably beautiful about a well-rolled joint where you can see the green and orange hues of the flower through the paper.
Thick papers look like cigarettes. They are stark white (or opaque brown) and hide the contents.
Ultra-thin papers, like Smoking Thinnest or Vibes Ultra Thin, are almost like glass. They are translucent. Seeing the oil ring form on the paper as the resin melts, seeing the colors of the grind… it adds to the ritual. It signals to everyone in the circle, “There is nothing to hide here. Just pure quality.”
Which Ultra-Thin Brand Should You Buy?
So, you are convinced. You want to ditch the blankets and start rolling with silk. But which brand of rolling paper in Thailand is the king of thinness?
Let’s break down the top contenders available at RPT.
RAW Black (The Modern Classic)
If you ask any connoisseur what they are smoking, there is a 50% chance they will say “RAW Black.”
- The Tech: RAW Black is unbleached and double-pressed. Pressing the paper removes air bubbles and compacts the fibers, making it incredibly thin without losing structural integrity.
- The Feel: It feels smooth, almost silky. It has a very low “slip” factor for how thin it is, thanks to the natural hemp texture.
- The Verdict: The gold standard. If you want maximum flavor, this is the baseline.
Smoking Thinnest (The Ghost)
The brand Smoking (from Spain) has been around since the 1800s, but they aren’t stuck in the past. Their “Thinnest” line (look for the red pack with black text, or the brown unbleached version) is mind-blowing.
- The Tech: These papers clock in at around 10 GSM. That is 20% thinner than the average “thin” paper. They are so light they could practically float away.
- The Feel: It feels like holding nothing. You have to be delicate with these. If you are heavy-handed, you might crush it.
- The Verdict: For the expert roller who wants the absolute minimum barrier between them and the herb.
Mascotte Extra Thin (The Dutch Master)
Mascotte brings Dutch engineering to the table. Their Extra Thin line (often in the beige or holographic packs) is a masterpiece of balance.
- The Tech: Mascotte manages to make a paper that is incredibly thin (12 GSM) but still surprisingly strong. They don’t tear as easily as some other ultra-thins.
- The Bonus: Many Mascotte ultra-thin packs come with their signature magnetic closure. In the humidity of Thailand, this is a lifesaver for keeping those delicate thin papers crisp and flat.
- The Verdict: The most reliable ultra-thin. Great for those transitioning from standard papers.
Vibes Rice (The Flavor Chaser)
Vibes, the brand created by rapper/mogul Berner, is all about the “Cigar” experience in a paper format. Their Rice line (the Blue pack) is their thinnest offering.
- The Tech: Rice paper is naturally different from wood pulp or hemp. It has zero “ash taste.” It burns extremely slowly.
- The Feel: It has a slightly “crisper” feeling than hemp. It doesn’t stretch; it crinkles.
- The Verdict: If you are smoking super-sweet, fruity Thai Sativas, the Vibes Rice paper is the best choice to let those sugary terpenes shine.
Humidity vs. Thickness
Thailand is a tropical paradise, but humidity is the enemy of rolling paper. This is where the thickness debate gets tricky.
Ultra-thin papers are more sensitive to moisture. Because there is less paper mass, they can absorb ambient moisture quickly. If you leave a pack of RAW Black open on a balcony in Phuket for an hour, the gum line might curl, or the papers might stick together.
Thicker papers are more robust. They can handle the humidity a bit better without warping.
If you are going ultra-thin (which you should), you need to be smarter about storage.
- Don’t leave the pack open. This is why we love the Mascotte magnetic packs, they snap shut and seal out the moisture.
- Keep them dry. If you are taking your papers on a boat trip or to the beach, put them in a ziplock bag or a dedicated stash case.
- The “Lick” Technique. When sealing an ultra-thin paper in high humidity, you don’t need to lick it like an envelope. The air is already moist. A tiny, tiny amount of moisture is enough. If you over-lick an ultra-thin paper in Thailand, it will tear or dissolve.
Less is More
In many parts of life, “More is Better.” More money, more food, more holidays.
But when it comes to rolling paper in Thailand, Less is More.
Less paper means more flavor. Less ash means a cleaner smoke. Less thickness means a slower burn.
While thick papers have their place (mostly for tobacco smokers or absolute beginners learning to roll), the evolution of your smoking journey naturally leads to the ultra-thins. It is a sign that you respect the flower you are smoking.
You wouldn’t serve a Michelin-star steak on a paper plate, and you shouldn’t wrap top-shelf Thai exotic weed in a blanket of wood pulp.
Ready to Challenge Your Skills? If you have been using standard papers, try this, go to the RPT shop and grab a pack of RAW Black, Smoking Thinnest, or Mascotte Extra Thin. Sit down, take your time, and roll one up. It might be a little harder to tuck. It might feel slippery. But when you light it up and taste that pure, unadulterated flavor, you will understand.
Thickness matters. Choose wisely.