Stiff competition for medical marijuana growing in Illinois

CHICAGO (AP) – It’s not the just the Illinois Valley that’s gone gung ho for growing and selling medical marijuana. More than 350 groups have applied to be the first to legally grow or sell medical marijuana in Illinois.

The state received 158 applications for cultivation centers and 211 applications for dispensaries. Only 22 cultivation centers and 60 dispensaries will be allowed.

Peru has led the way in the Illinois Valley with a half dozen companies receiving the go ahead to apply for a cultivation center license. La Salle, Oglesby, Princeton and Ottawa are also competing for a cultivation center. At least one company also applied to have a dispensary in Ottawa.

The Illinois Department of Ag expects to announce the winners of the licenses by the end of the year with medical marijuana finally available to patients next spring.