On Wednesday morning, community advocates, housing and civil rights leaders, and cannabis industry experts joined together to announce The South and West Side Cannabis Coalition, a trade association focused on serving members from the cannabis industry and ancillary businesses located on the south and west sides of Chicago, while ensuring governing principles are seen through the lens of equity. The South and West Side Cannabis Coalition (SWCC) was formed by three Chicagoans: human rights organizer, William “J.R.” Fleming (Hemp for Hoods, The Anti-Eviction Campaign), Civil Rights Attorney Jon Loevy (Justice Grown, The Exoneration Project, Loevy & Loevy). The goal of the trade organization is to benefit its members by aligning the goals of Community stakeholders, the industry and both the state and city institutions. The SWCC and partners, community creators and project partners are focused on collaborating with more members of the south and west side communities to solidify a community structure.