Carolyn Chu, Founder & CEO at Papers + Ink- Interview Series

I wanted to create something that celebrates inclusivity, diversity, and unapologetic authenticity.

Carolyn Chu

When you hear of stigma, and cannabis stigma to be precise, what comes to mind? Of the many ways to describe #stigma, stereotyping is one that almost always tops the list. We stigmatize based on opinions (mostly baseless) that we have formed about a certain person, group, or thing. Take, for example, a woman smoking anything, be it tobacco or weed. What do YOU make of that?

Carolyn Chu is a BIPOC leader who, against all odds, is using her artistic and entrepreneurial talent to challenge cannabis stereotypes. She is the founder of Papers + Ink, a design studio that custom makes rolling papers from pure and organic hemp. In this interview, she narrates her journey into the cannabis industry and the unique role that her company is playing in ending the cannabis stigma.

Meet Carolyn.

As an intro, how did your career path lead you to the cannabis industry?

I actually started my career in fashion, originally. I studied design at Central Saint Martins and went on to earn an MBA from the University of Southern California (USC). I have always had an avid interest in plant-based medicines like cannabis, and while working in fashion after graduation, I quickly noticed a void in the market for well-designed and consciously produced rolling papers and accessories. So, I decided to blend my love of design and style with my passion for herbal medicine, and Papers + Ink was born!

Introduce Papers + Ink and what you offer the cannabis industry, briefly.

Papers + Ink is a BIPOC woman-owned studio that I created in 2019 to celebrate creativity, and inclusivity through design and support community. Papers + Ink Studio creates and curates design-oriented accessories for the sophisticated and stylish consumer. Working in our studio and with other artisans, we offer unique designs inspired by travel, fashion, vintage textiles, and botanicals. All of our rolling papers are made from 100% organic, pure hemp with natural Arabic gum that is slow-burning, unbleached, and printed in small batches using vegetable-based food grade colorings – all responsibly sourced. We are known for creating premium custom-printed organic hemp rolling papers kits handmade in Los Angeles and other distinct smoking accessories.

You are committed to challenging cannabis stigma and stereotypes? What inspires this commitment?

I wanted to create something that celebrates inclusivity, diversity, and unapologetic authenticity. One of our taglines is, ‘Papers as unique as you,’ and we keep this phrase at the forefront of all products and their designs. Attitudes toward cannabis are changing dramatically, so we see an opportunity for growth in our business. However, we know there is much more work to do in the normalization of cannabis use and other forms of herbal medicine, especially for women. We hope that by offering stylish and fun accessories, along with tools like cone rolling machines, we can help show that cannabis can be casual and accessible to all! I have experienced some of the stigmas around being a female smoker, and hope that by encouraging women to take pride in their herbal medicine use, a greater shift can be made throughout society.

The “safety” of smoking cannabis is controversial. Are you persuaded that this is a safe and effective way to medicate with cannabis? Is it the best way?

Smoking cannabis has always been the most effective and easily controlled way to consume the medicinal benefits of the plant. Papers + Ink adds a spin to the act of smoking that has not been done before in this space. We always have third-party labs test our products to make sure they are safe and effective for our customers.

On a larger scale, there has been a rise in consumer consciousness, with a greater appreciation for transparency in sourcing, production, company mission, and sustainability initiatives from the cannabis they consume. No doubt, legal options have made it easier for consumers to know what they are getting, and learn how best to use it for themselves, which we love to see! Papers + Ink seeks to further help this movement by offering transparency along with sustainable products that consumers can trust and feel safe using.

Are women adequately represented in cannabis leadership?

No, I do not believe women are adequately represented in the cannabis industry. Are women adequately represented in any industry really? There is still a need for more diversity and representation in the C-suite. Fortunately, the cannabis plant is feminine, and an increasing number of amazing female founders and creators are coming out of the ‘canna closet’ and creating things that appeal to and resonate with the traditionally underrepresented consumer segments!

You have been in the legal cannabis industry in California for a good number of years. Can you briefly highlight some of the most epic moments in your journey as a cannabis entrepreneur and advocate?

Papers + Ink is cannabis adjacent, but we still fall under lots of canna regulations. It’s been incredible to see the conversation changed in the few years we have been operating. There is increasingly more acceptance and awareness within and around the cannabis industry, which allows us to truly grow and have fun along the way! We are getting to a place where consumption is normalized and is an understood practice.

Coming from an Asian culture with heavy anti-drug propaganda, it’s incredible to see the AAPI community and elders embrace the plant. Whether speaking with a group of Brooklyn mothers, or 60+-year-old doctors about their consumption practices, it’s always amazing to hear stories of how cannabis has benefitted them. We’ve seen a lot of change during the pandemic, as cannabis has finally been acknowledged as an essential business.

As an entrepreneur in the legal cannabis space, what is the one thing that you wish you knew before you took the big leap?

The one thing I wish I knew was that it is an extremely tough space to be in, but that the community you get to build within means everything! My advice to others trying to get into this industry is to keep going! Get advisors, speak the truth on the archaic propaganda of the war on drugs, and fight for people who are targeted and imprisoned for nonviolent drug violations from a legal plant in over half the states. It is an industry with so much opportunity and so many ways to get involved to advocate for these issues!

It was a great pleasure to have this one-on-one with Carolyn, CEO of Papers + Ink. Readers who wish to maintain pace with the new developments are more than welcome to visit their website.