CHICAGO (AP) – Medical marijuana sales in Illinois picked up in January as more dispensaries opened around the state.

Program director Joseph Wright announced Tuesday that patients legally purchased more than $1.2 million in marijuana last month. Seven new dispensaries joined the program, bringing the total to 28 shops as of Tuesday.

Wright says retailers served 2,774 unique patients during January.

December retail sales had been just over $1 million. In January, concentrates and edibles became more widely available contributing nearly $132,000 to total sales.

Figures indicate the retail price per gram on average was roughly $14.

Marijuana wholesalers pay a 7 percent tax to the state. The wholesale sales reported Tuesday indicate growers paid roughly $66,000 in taxes for sales in January.

Legal marijuana sales began Nov. 9 in Illinois.