Hundreds lined up in the wee hours at retail marijuana shops throughout the city and suburbs. “I’m just glad I don’t have to worry about getting busted”

Jackie Ryan rang in the New Year in Wrigleyville by showing up at Cresco’s Sunnyside retail marijuana shop on Clark Street at 3:30 a.m. to make the first purchase of newly legal recreational weed in the wee hours of Wednesday.

“It’s better than Christmas when I got a Barbie Dream House,” she exclaimed to a throng of photographers.

A daily marijuana user, she said she’s glad to be able buy at a store instead of from a dealer. “It makes things easier,” said the 35-year-old Forest Park resident, who spent $120 on some buds, joints and edibles. “It’s always in the back of your mind, you’re going to get busted. Now it’s less of a big deal.”

Ryan was among thousands who lined up outside marijuana shops in the city and suburbs to buy marijuana on the first day its sale became legal in Illinois, braving temperatures in the 20s while most people were still sleeping off New Year’s revelry.

Some are regular users like her who welcomed the chance to buy weed in a brightly lit store in the light of day. Others wanted to be part of history as Illinois became the 11th state to allow recreational sales of marijuana. [Read More @ Crain’s Chicago Business]