A small group gathered April 12 at 3340 N. Halsted St. to celebrate the grand opening of a historic new Northalsted business.
SWAY, Illinois’ first queer and BIPOC-owned cannabis company, marked the opening of its dispensary with a few words from co-owners and elected officials along with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Afterwards, folks were welcomed in to begin shopping the store’s selections of cannabis products and related items.
The co-ownership is a collaboration between cannabis equity advocate Edie Moore and Sidetrack co-owners and husbands Art Johnston and José “Pepe” Peña, along with entrepreneur Kevin Hauswirth. The partnership highlights Black, brown and queer communities’ shared history in the sphere and the need for safe spaces in the community.
The speaking portion of the grand opening began with thank you’s from Moore to everyone who has made the company possible, including SWAY team members, friends and legislators who have supported her as a Black woman in the industry. Johnson and Peña followed with comments about how the business been a dream of theirs for many years, including a Spanish language address from Peña.
Johnston also spoke on the queer community’s history with cannabis.
“SWAY dispensary is the logical next extension of the
