COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio Department of Commerce on Friday announced 11 companies that will grow medical marijuana in the state's new program.

The department announced winners for smaller, level II grows of up to 3,000 square feet of growing space. A department spokeswoman said the larger tier I license winners will be announced in the coming weeks.

Level II licenses were awarded to:

Fire Rock Ltd., with sites in Columbus, Canton and Akron (Score 178.92 points)

FN Group Holdings LLC, Ravenna (176.76 points)

Mother Grows Best LLC, Canton (172 points)

OhiGrow LLC, Toledo (168.76 points)

Ancient Roots LLC, Wilmington (168.76 points)

Ohio Clean Leaf LLC, with sites in Dayton and Carroll (160.56 points)

Ascension BioMedical LLC in Oberlin (157.08 points)

Agri-Med Ohio LLC in Langsville (156.60 points)

Paragon Development Group LLC in Huber Heights (154.56 points)

Hemma LLC in Monroe (151.28 points)

Galenas LLC in Akron (148.92 points)

The licenses are for one site each, and companies that applied for several sites have 10 business days to choose one for the license. Paragon Development Group LLC might have to choose a different site because Huber Heights, a Dayton suburb, passed a moratorium on marijuana businesses after the company submitted its application in June.

The businesses have nine months to fully comply with state law and regulations and receive a certificate of operation after a state inspection. Spokeswoman Stephanie Gostomski said that includes following all local zoning laws. Gostomski said the department could award a 12th license before Sept. 8, 2018.

Applicants were scored on their plans for running the business, following the state's rules for packaging and quality control and security. They also had to meet financial requirements.

The department in June received 185 applications -- 76 for 12 tier II licenses and 109 for 12 tier I licenses for up to 25,000 square feet of growing space. Most of the applicants were clustered around Ohio's large cities. Marijuana businesses can't be within 500 feet of a school, library, church or playground.

The licenses are the first marijuana business licenses awarded by the state, which patients and industry observers worried will delay the program's start date. Applications to make marijuana edibles and other products and to sell marijuana in dispensaries will be collected in November and December.

Ohio lawmakers passed the medical marijuana law in May 2016 but gave state agencies more than two years to set up the program. The program must be fully operational by September 2018.

Once established, people with one of 21 medical conditions can buy and use marijuana if recommended to them by a physician. The law does not allow for smoking marijuana or growing it except at the state-licensed commercial grow sites.