Gov. Cuomo plans to legalize medical marijuana for the seriously ill, state officials said Saturday.
The governor — long a hard-line opponent of any form of legalization — will announce the limited-use program in an executive action this week, officials said.
The program won’t require new legislation, and would be administered by the state Health Department, which would limit availability to patients with such serious illnesses as glaucoma and cancer, said officials speaking on condition of anonymity in advance of the official announcement.
Pot would be available only by prescription, and be dispensed though a limited number of hospitals statewide.
The move comes as polls show high levels of support for medical pot for the sickest of patients.
A full 70 percent of state voters — including 58 percent of Republicans — are in favor of prescription pot, according to a recent Quinnipiac University poll.
State Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, (D-Manhattan) hailed Cuomo’s plans as a good first step.
“I’m grateful that the governor recognizes the medical benefits of marijuana for tens of thousands of sick patients in New York,” said Gottfried, who chairs the Assembly Health Committee.
Gottfried, who was briefed by Cuomo’s staff, said the governor is activating the powers he has under a 1980 state law.
That law legalized medical marijuana, but was employed only on a limited basis at hospitals before its use was abandoned.
“There is support for medical marijuana in every part of the state. The bill passed the state Assembly four times with bipartisan support,” said Gottfried, chief sponsor of the legislation.
The Health Department will set up rules that limit pot use to patients with “life threatening’’ or “sense threatening” conditions.
Hospitals and doctors will determine which patients are eligible to use medical weed.
Gottfried said he will continue to push for passage of his own sweeping legislation that would allow patients to obtain marijuana at dispensary clinics.