COLLINSVILLE (KMOX) - The state of Illinois has approved recreational sales of marijuana in the Metro East for the first time.
The state announced Tuesday that HCI Alternatives on Eastport Plaza Drive in Collinsville will be among the first dispensaries statewide selling recreational marijuana on Jan. 1. The company's other location in Springfield was also approved.
Although spokesman Chris McCloud says they'll still focus mainly on medical marijuana, they're preparing for bigger crowds. He tells KMOX they will increase the size of the store, have more points of sale and create "a different experience." On the first of the year, Illinois residents will be able to possess up to 30 grams of cannabis flower, 5 grams of cannabis concentrate and up to 500 milligrams of infused products like edibles.
State law requires medical patients to get precedence over recreational users if there's a supply shortage. McCloud says this is new, so be prepared for long waits for at least the first couple of months.
HCI, like the other dispensaries approved so far, has been selling medical cannabis since it was legalized.