There’s a new fruity cannabis strain coming to the Lakeview area of Chicago on May 16 at Sway Cannabis Dispensary, 3340 N. Halsted St. Sway is the first recreational dispensary in Illinois to be Black and Latino co-owned by José Pepe Peña and Art Johnston, who also own the massive queer bar Sidetrack Chicago across the street. Illinois law allows residents over 21 years of age to legally possess and purchase marijuana products with limits at a state-licensed dispensary
RuPaul Drag Racer LaGanja Estranja is bringing the green to Sway, where she is launching a new line of weed named Laganja: Her Bold Sativa Blend and is cultivated by nuEra Cannabis.
The Dallas-born drag queen competed on the sixth season of the main show in 2014 and appeared on season six of All Stars as a lip synch assassin. In 2021, she came out as transgender and is the drag daughter of Alyssa Edwards.
Based in Los Angeles, the outspoken entertainer visited the Windy City on 4/20 to talk about her ganja launch on Big Gay Sal’s Pizza’s back patio.
Windy City Times: What has brought you back to Chicago?
LaGanja Estranja: I partnered with Sway for the first time last year and it was an automatic click. Their ethos really matches mine. They are all about diversity, inclusivity and celebrating cannabis in a space where you can be who you want to be or who you are as you are.
That really aligns with my brand. My brand is all about vulnerability and authenticity. I felt safe in their space. From the moment I walked in, everyone was so kind.
It was very different. There’s a reason my last name is Estranja. I like being strange and different.
It felt like the perfect match. I have been trying to create a cannabis line for over 10 years. One of the biggest problems with stoners is follow-through. What I love about SWAY was once we decided to do this collaboration, it has been full steam ahead.
I was potentially going to be moving to Thailand and I lost my mother. There have been things happening that have made it difficult for me. They have been there every step of the way to provide me with what I need to make this dream a reality.
WCT: What other aspects of Sway appealed to you?
LE: Sway is queer and BIPOC owned. Cannabis spaces are very white and the industry has been stolen from Black people.
WCT: There are only a few Black-owned cannabis businesses in Chicago. You have spoken on experiencing homophobia within the cannabis industry. How do you feel things are changing?
LE: This is my first time back in the industry after some time. The industry got so dark for me that I had to pull out and had to stop partnering with companies. Places weren’t putting their money where their mouth was.
I became a token Pride prize, where I wouldn’t hear from companies for months until June. When I discovered that I was tokenized, I stopped working with certain companies.
This is the first time in five years that I am returning and dipping my toes into the pot, pun intended. I am excited to see how this project will change the landscape.
WCT: What have you done to create change?
LE: I am not only queer and a drag queen, but I am also a trans activist. The space was homophobic when I was in it, so I can only imagine, as a trans woman, what it is like. With this partnership, I can show people that cannabis is for everyone.
This goes back to my roots in California. Cannabis was legalized medically because of queer people who needed it when they were suffering from HIV/AIDS. This feels like a return to my home and it reminds people of the original message.
WCT: How is the release of your line coming along?
LE: We are showing people a new and inventive way to launch a line. There are several celebrities who launch lines, but many of them are white-label. What Sway did was grow a strain called Green Crack, which is my favorite and I have loved it since I was in college.
It shows the work that has gone into this. They didn’t just slap a sticker on a product they already had. I was a part of the design process and rollout. I have been an integral part of the process and it has been a special gift from Sway.
WCT: Does ownership feel like a personal project?
LE: It does personal, which is another reason why I hesitated to do product lines with other companies. If it wasn’t done the way I wanted, such as the black and golden Versace packaging, then I wasn’t interested.
I am so glad that Sway allowed me to come in and be a creative force behind this product.
WCT: Chicago rapper Vic Mensa founded the first Black-owned cannabis brand, 93 Boyz, in Illinois four years ago. Are you familiar with him?
LE: No, but I will look into his work. I have been lucky to partner with Snoop Dogg for Leafs and B-Real from Cypress Hill in the past. This is the first time I have a platform to shine on my own.
The brand is elevated by the community, which is so important, especially for trans people right now.
WCT: Did you watch the latest season of RuPaul’s Drag Race?
LE: I watched it when I was paid to. I don’t think it was very memorable and I don’t agree with the winner. I don’t mean to be shady, but ultimately, I feel that seasons four through six were when Drag Race was at its peak. Ever since then, it has lost its magic.
Many of the contestants are carbon copies of other girls who came before them. I haven’t seen anyone push the envelope except for Darlene Mitchell on the 18th season. I am not a huge fan of mall drag, but what she did authentically as herself while sticking to her own brand was something different and I applaud that.
WCT: How was working with pop singer Sabrina Carpenter for the Video Music Awards?
LE: She was amazing. She is five feet tall and one of the nicest pop stars I have ever worked with, after working with Miley Cyrus, Madonna, Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Lopez. What made her so special was how genuine she was. Every day, she would come in with a hug and greet us. There were 30 drag queens in the room, so that was difficult.
She is an authentic person who is grateful for the opportunity that she has worked for. She included the message of trans rights in that performance, which was a powerful statement. I was proud to be a part of that.
WCT: Didn’t you release a dope new song this year?
LE: I was featured in the lyrics and music video this year for “S!ut” by Valencia Grace. I am working on my debut EP titled Highconic and my music has always been my number one passion.
I truly believe that I am a pop star, so I am waiting for someone with money and power to help me take my music to the next level.
A couple of summers ago, I released “Hawt,” which was my last solo single. Stay tuned because there is more to come.
To RSVP for the Saturday, May 16 event at Sway, click the link everybodysway.com/laganja.