The era of medical marijuana begins today in Illinois. Eight dispensaries are coming online.

More than 3,000 Illinoisans now have medical marijuana ID cards.

Signaling that this will not be like the leading national chain pharmacy, Doug Mars, director of the Marion, IL dispensary, says customers will be welcome to relax in the waiting room as long as they’d like – he’s encouraging a “community feel.”

Security will be available to assure customers get to the parking lot safely. Mars says research indicates security’s an issue in this business.

In other State news, a Springfield woman whose day job is advocating for conservative issues for the Illinois Policy Institute says she just likes Christmas – and is acting as a private citizen by organizing a crowdfunding campaign to light up the Capitol dome this season.

The secretary of state’s office, which maintains the Capitol, says it cannot justify spending the approximately $7,300 this year for the labor and electricity for the outdoor holiday lights. That’s where Kristina Rasmussen comes in.

In the first 24 hours, the online campaign reached more than ten percent of its goal.