UPDATE:
Bridget Kirouac found not guilty Friday of cultivation and possession of cannabis. You can find the updated story here.
BREAKING: Bridget Kirouac found NOT GUILTY of cultivation and possession of cannabis. More tonight on @WPTV pic.twitter.com/KTNuuRqXd7
— Jason Hackett (@JHackettWPTV) September 16, 2016
EARLIER STORY
The Martin County woman on trial for growing marijuana in her home defends herself on the stand.
Bridget Kirouac told a jury she needed the pot to ease her pain.
Now this case, which legal analysts nationwide are watching closely, is in the hands of a jury.
“I’m not a criminal, I'm a patient,” Kirouac told the courtroom Thursday morning. “All I'm trying to do is survive.”
With tears in her eyes, she gave an emotional and at times personal testimony.
“When you get to that point, and you tried as many of the options that are available to you as I have…dying becomes a very attractive prospect,” she said.
Kirouac says years of poor health left her in constant suffering.
RELATED: Stuart woman faces 10 years in prison in medical marijuana case
“I have low back pain, I have hip pain, I have knee pain, I have foot pain.”
After prescription meds proved ineffective, she says her doctor in Maine recommended marijuana.
Kirouac then testified she then moved to Florida for the warmer weather.
“It gives me some measure of a life back,” she said.
Prosecutors focused on that decision - and the legality of her cannabis use here in the state - saying medical marijuana in Florida wasn't legal at the time of her offense.
Kirouac's attorney countered with a medical necessity defense – and argued her need outweighs the law.
Voters in Florida will go to the polls in November to decide whether Medical Marijuana should be legal in Florida.
However, the jury cannot consider that possibility now.
If they convict her, Kirouac could spend up to 1 year in prison.
The jury is set to continue deliberation Friday morning.