After years of struggling to get off the ground, several cannabis operators have bucked the trend of companies unable to acquire financing.
SWAY Adult-Use Recreational Cannabis Dispensary, the first queer- and BIPOC-owned cannabis company in Illinois, is in the former Town Hall Pub in the Lakeview neighborhood. The new dispensary is a collaboration between cannabis equity advocate Edie Moore, center, and LGBTQ civil rights and local business leaders José “Pepe” Peña, left, and Art Johnston, as seen on April 12, 2024.
“After all of these years of prohibition,” Johnston said, “it will be an honor to provide safe access to cannabis for our community and beyond.” The openings come as many of those companies face difficulties meeting a July 11 deadline to open. The state will grant further extensions based on need. Since opening in April, the store has already signed up thousands of loyalty customers, and it draws a diverse set of clients, including tourists and Cubs fans. It’s also partnered with the Brave Space Alliance, a Black- and trans-led LGBTQ center on the South Side.
Co-owners Dan Pettigrew, second from right, and former NBA star Al Harrington, right, pose with employees on June 20, 2024, after the opening of their new Village dispensary in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago.
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