Rolling paper

Rolling papers are packs of several cigarette-size sheets, often folded inside a cardboard wrapper.

Paper cigarettes became popular in the second half of the 19th century, displacing the more expensive cigars and cigarillos.

During the Crimean War this culture became more prevalent and British soldiers learned how to roll tobacco in newspapers.

The paper is available in rolls and rectangular sheets of varying sizes, and has a narrow strip of glue along one long edge.

To control the smoking properties, this paper has a porosity that is suited to the type of tobacco and contains additives that regulate burning.

[6] A study of commercially available rolling papers found that concentrations of several elements, particularly copper, chromium, and vanadium in some products, may present a hazard to frequent users.

[7] Permeability is defined as the measure of the volume of air that flows through a specified area of cigarette paper in a given unit of time.

[12] According to The Publican, "Low price RYO has seen an astonishing rise of 175% in [2007] as cigarette smokers look for cheaper alternatives and to control the size of their smoke".

Many of these smokers apparently believe that hand-rolled cigarettes are less harmful than manufactured products,[14] although it is equally possible that the increase is due to the steep rise in prices since the early-1990s to the present day.