LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – Kentuckians have been using marijuana to treat a variety of medical problems for a long time. January 1, 2025 will be the first time many patients will be able to do it legally.

Jennifer Dunegan plans to become a card-carrying patient eligible for legal medical cannabis. She has hopes it will lead her to a new day of relief and freedom.

“This is one dose and I’ve already had one dose this morning,” Dunegan said as she pointed to a tray loaded with syringes.

The syringes contain the daily medicine she needs to treat epilepsy, chronic pain and nausea. But for more than a decade, Dunegan has also come to rely on the healing effects of marijuana. Purchased illegally, Dunegan said the relief it provides is worth the risk.

“You got to watch who you tell or not talk about it,” Dunegan said. “You’ve got to hide what you’re doing to heal yourself.”

Dunegan’s days of hiding will soon be over. She hopes legal medical cannabis products will mark a new day of relief and freedom.

“If I could pick and choose more of what products we could get,” Dunegan said, “then I could actually treat the medical conditions that I have and get rid of probably about 80 to 90% of the pharmaceuticals that I use.”

Dunigan tries to manage her expectations. Making medical cannabis legal is one thing, making it available is another. Dunegan believes she might be waiting for months before Kentucky’s homegrown cannabis products are ready for purchase.

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