NEWS RELEASE
New BIPOC, Veteran, Queer-led, Adult-Use Cannabis Dispensary Receives Zoning Board of Appeals Approval and Broad Community Support to Open in Chicago’s Northalsted Entertainment District
Long-time social equity cannabis advocate Edie Moore teams up with LGBTQ civil rights and business leaders Art Johnston and José “Pepe” Peña as owners of the proposed dispensary
The location will bolster one of the nation’s last remaining queer enclaves while adding diverse representation to Northalsted business ownership
[Chicago / April 23, 2023]
KAP-JG LLC (KAP) plans have been approved by the Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals to open an adult-use cannabis dispensary in Chicago’s Northalsted neighborhood at 3340 North Halsted Street in the former Town Hall Pub space. The new dispensary brand, SWAY™, will be among the only queer-owned cannabis companies in the nation. Construction planning is currently underway, and the business will open to the public after passing the required State and City inspections. The public may sign up for updates at www.EverybodySWAY.com.
The project results from a collaboration between cannabis equity advocate Edie Moore with LGBTQ civil rights and local business leaders Art Johnston and José “Pepe” Peña. Their professional expertise and social equity integrity reflect both the letter and the intent of the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (CRTA).
“We’re grateful for the overwhelming support of our community and neighbors as we move one step closer to opening a successful, inclusive dispensary,” says Peña on behalf of the owners. “Together, we’re building a safe, welcoming space that will positively contribute to the future of one of the country's few remaining queer enclaves.”
KAP owners engaged in an open and transparent process for community input, which included sending notices to local property owners, informing local media, consulting with the local Alderman’s office, hosting an open community meeting, and attending standing meetings of multiple local community groups. Several local and community leaders submitted letters of support, including:
“Thriving, inclusive local businesses are essential to the continued success of Northalsted as a progressive, safe haven in Chicago. KAP went above and beyond to engage with neighbors and listen to community needs. I'm proud to support this dispensary and eager to work together.” -Bennett Lawson. 44th Ward Alderman-Elect
“I have known KAP owners Art and Pepe for decades, and we have worked together on a wide variety of community investment projects. Through the years, I have come to know them as upstanding local business owners and deeply-rooted community leaders with the Northalsted neighborhood’s best interest at heart…I share my neighbors’ support for this venture.”- Sara Feigenholtz. Senator of Illinois’ 6th District and a life-long resident of Lakeview
“KAP is owned by people of color, veterans, and LGBTQ Chicagoans. This reflects both the evolving needs of the Northalsted community and the need for representation in the cannabis industry…Businesses like this proposed dispensary will bring visitors and foot traffic to the neighborhood, benefitting the surrounding shops and restaurants. I strongly support KAP-JG’s Special Use application and believe their dispensary will positively impact our neighborhood.,” Ann Williams. State Representative of Illinois’ 11th District
“The owners of KAP-JG presented their plans at our regular March 21 meeting, including floor plans, security measures, and anticipated neighborhood impact…The plans were generally well received as a positive addition to the neighborhood, compatible with the block they’ll be on. Heart of Lakeview firmly supports the dispensary proposal and looks forward to their continuing involvement in the thriving and vibrant North Halsted community.” -Heart of Lakeview Neighbors Association. Michael V. Rafferty, Secretary
“The Northalsted Business Alliance supports KAP’S proposal for opening a cannabis dispensary at 3340 N. Halsted Street and believes that it will bring additional visitors to the neighborhood, which benefits other businesses located here, and the City of Chicago as a whole.” -Northalsted Business Alliance. Kevin Barbeau, Executive Director
“During the course of my career, I have actively served marginalized populations and underserved communities. Art Johnston, and José Peña, along with Edie Moore have been strongly instrumental in providing me with both resources and counsel… I strongly support KAP-JG's Special Use application and believe their dispensary will positively impact our neighborhood.” - Channyn Parker. CEO of Brave Space Alliance.
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND
Moore is a U.S. Army veteran, co-founder and first Executive Director of Chicago's regional chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (Chicago NORML), and co-founder of the Illinois Minority Cannabis Business Owners Association. She is a well-recognized advocate and activist in the cannabis industry.
Johnston and Peña are civil rights pioneers, husbands, and the owners and operators of Sidetrack, an internationally-acclaimed queer bar at the heart of the Northalsted entertainment district. Since opening in 1982, Sidetrack has grown from a 900-square-foot windowless bar to a pillar of Chicago’s queer business district. Johnston is also a co-founder of Equality Illinois, the State’s oldest and largest LGBTQ civic rights organization. The couple’s nearly 40-year love story and life of activism is the subject of an award-winning documentary film, ART AND PEP.
Since 2016, when her mother was seeking to access medical cannabis, Moore has been a staunchly outspoken advocate for criminal justice and Black/Brown cannabis business ownership. “The ‘war on drugs’ disproportionately impacted communities of color, a reality that is even more dire for LGBTQ people of color,” says Moore, noting that Black transgender women living in the Chicago area are ten times more likely to get arrested than the general population and that 85% of incarcerated queer youth are people of color. “Partnering with my friends and allies, Art and Pep, brings together our shared commitment to equity, a passion for safe and accessible cannabis, and a recognition of a need for more safe spaces in Chicago--- especially for queer folks and people of color.”
Peña fled Cuba in 1962 and has worked in Chicago gay bars since 1970, “Opening a successful, inclusive dispensary is about more than cannabis. It’s about the future of queer enclaves and safe spaces for marginalized communities,” says Peña. “Ensuring representation in business ownership is a big part of the solution to keep our communities safe and ensure progress.”
According to the National Library of Medicine, marijuana usage rates among gay men and women is nearly two and three times the rate of their straight counterparts, respectively. Yet, according to Johnston, this would be the first queer-owned dispensary in Illinois and one of the few in the country. “Access to cannabis is part of our history as queer people, beginning from the early days of the AIDS epidemic, when people were desperate to treat the pain and loss of appetite caused by the disease and early treatments,” says Johnston, ”We got organized and helped get cannabis to those suffering. After all of these years of prohibition, it will be an honor to provide safe access to cannabis for our community and beyond.”
