Legal recreational marijuana in Illinois: 4 things we learned on the first day of sales

Wednesday, Jan. 1, marked the first day of legal marijuana sales in Illinois. Shaw Media Illinois reporters were at several locations to document history.

After spending the first day talking to people in line waiting to make their first legal purchases in the state, here are four things we learned about buying recreational marijuana in Illinois.

1) Customers do not see cannabis products before they buy them. Orders are made and paid for before purchased items are put into sealed packages in a back room and then presented to the customers. - Bob Okon, The Herald-News

2) A medical marijuana patient walked right up to the door and got straight in. [Verilife in Ottawa] had a limit of 10 recreational users at a time so I figured the medical marijuana patient would have to wait outside for at least a few minutes, but they did not. - Brent Bader, The Times

3) Many people aren't afraid to talk openly about smoking recreational marijuana. The topic is becoming less taboo, and many people expressed that opinion on Wednesday when talking about the topic. - Ali Braboy, News-Tribune

4) Adults of all ages, genders and of different races were there to purchase marijuana. - Ali Braboy, News-Tribune