In a cannabis industry still learning how to truly reflect the diversity of the communities that built it, few launches feel as personal—or as culturally resonant—as the new partnership between Laganja Estranja and SWAY Dispensary. Timed intentionally ahead of Pride Month, the collaboration marks the debut of Laganja: Her Bold Sativa Blend, a strain developed in partnership with Illinois cultivator nuEra Cannabis and launching exclusively in Illinois.
For Laganja—known globally as a drag performer, choreographer, LGBTQ+ advocate, and outspoken cannabis voice—the release represents more than another celebrity-backed cannabis product. It’s the culmination of nearly a decade of attempts to build a seed-to-flower cannabis brand that genuinely reflected her identity, aesthetic, and community.
“After a decade of trying and more failed attempts than I'd like to admit, I'm finally launching my own seed to flower cannabis brand,” Laganja shared in the announcement. “As a trans woman, it's empowering to do this with SWAY, a Queer and Black-owned dispensary in a city that has fought so hard for our community — a space where you come as you are, or as you've always wanted to be.”
The collaboration immediately stands apart because of the partners behind it. SWAY Dispensary made history as Illinois’ first queer and Black-owned recreational cannabis dispensary, quickly becoming a cultural fixture within Chicago’s Northalsted neighborhood. Rather than simply licensing her name, Laganja was reportedly involved throughout the development process, personally selecting and blending strains to create what the team describes as a bright, citrus-forward “strain salad” designed to inspire creativity and uplift mood.
According to SWAY co-founder Edie Moore, the collaboration was intentionally built around Laganja’s vision from the ground up.
“She knew the experience she wanted to create: bright, citrus-forward, uplifting, something that sparks creativity and feels good in your body,” Moore explained. “Our role was to translate that into a terpene profile and a product that actually delivers.”
The launch arrives at a moment when cannabis culture and queer culture continue reclaiming shared space after years of commercialization often flattened authenticity in both worlds. Instead of leaning into celebrity spectacle alone, the rollout centers community celebration, Pride energy, and local visibility in Chicago.
The official launch weekend kicks off May 15 with a “soft launch” viewing party hosted by Laganja at Sidetrack in Chicago, followed by the main event on May 16 at SWAY Dispensary. The event will feature a green carpet, meet-and-greet, branded merchandise, and a Weed Bus parked outside for community consumption and celebration.
The flower itself will initially release in two formats: whole flower eighths and pre-roll five-packs, with pricing ranging between $45 and $55 before tax. A limited-edition merchandise collection—including rolling trays, tote bags, and enamel pins—will also accompany the launch, with expanded accessories planned later this summer.
For longtime fans of Laganja, the collaboration also feels like a full-circle cultural moment. Long before cannabis brands aggressively pursued celebrity partnerships, she was already one of the most visible public figures openly merging cannabis advocacy with queer artistry and performance. Over the years, she became a recognizable presence not only through RuPaul's Drag Race, but through dance, music, activism, and digital content that helped normalize cannabis conversations within LGBTQ+ spaces.
Now, with Pride approaching and cannabis conversations continuing to evolve nationwide, the launch of Her Bold Sativa Blend feels less like a branding exercise and more like a long-awaited recognition of someone who helped shape the culture before the industry fully caught up.
Available May 16 exclusively at SWAY Dispensary, the line expands statewide across Illinois beginning June 1 through select retailers and nuEra Cannabis locations.
Launch Events
May 15 — "Soft Launch" at Sidetrack (3349 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60657)7:00–9:30 PM. Laganja hosts the RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars viewing party, followed by a red carpet meet & greet.
May 16 — Official Launch at SWAY Dispensary (3340 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60657)4:20–7:00 PM. Green carpet. Meet & greet outside the store with her adorable dog, Lil Dabbers. A Weed Bus will be parked out front so #BUDS can enjoy with the QWEEN herself. RSVP HERE.
Availability
- May 16: Exclusively at SWAY Dispensary (3340 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60657)
- June 1 (Pride Month): Expands statewide to all nuEra Cannabis dispensaries and select Illinois retailers
