ANNA – A southern Illinois group was selected as one of the first 10 recreational cannabis grow sites in the state.

According to a release from the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA), Wellness Group Pharms LLC in Anna was issued a license to grow for recreational purposes.

According to IDOA, only cultivation centers licensed to grow medical marijuana like Wellness Group Pharms can apply for early approval for adult-growth cannabis cultivation. Other applicants will have opportunities to open cultivation centers in an upcoming phase.

Recreational marijuana will become legal in Illinois on January 1st.