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Medical marijuana could be legalized in New York this spring: advocates

Proponents of medical pot say newly revised legislation could be approved in Albany this year, which would make New York the 22nd state to legalize medical marijuana. Gov. Cuomo has hinted at his support, but opposition remains in the state Senate.

ALBANY — Medical marijuana may finally be growing on state lawmakers.

Bolstered by growing public acceptance and hints of support from Gov. Cuomo, proponents of pot as medicine believe newly re-drafted legislation will be approved in Albany this spring — making New York the 22nd state to legalize medical marijuana.

“We’re closer to this than we have ever been before,” said Gabriel Sayegh of Drug Policy Alliance.

Hoping to overcome the remaining opposition in the state Senate, advocates revised the legislation, placing tighter restrictions on how the drug can be used. The new version, introduced Friday, removed language that gave doctors freedom to prescribe pot for a wide array of symptoms.

Instead, the new version limits its use to about 20 serious conditions, including cancer, traumatic brain injury, AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The new version also prevents anyone under 21 from being able to smoke marijuana for medicinal purposes — though they could be prescribed the drug in other forms.