With the legislative session in Albany scheduled to end Thursday, a vote is possible on a bill to legalize medical marijuana. Some members of the region's delegation say they could support a bill, provided strict controls are attached.
If Governor Andrew Cuomo, and leaders of the Senate and Assembly reach a compromise on the "Compassion Care Act," Assemblymember Michael Kearns, a Buffalo Democrat, says he believes it would pass both houses.
"I would not support the legalization of marijuana," Kearns said.
"But as you can see, it's an issue that's so important. And it has a health benefit to many people. So I did meet with the sponsor. I did have some concerns, but I did support medical marijuana."
The bill's cosponsor Assemblymember Ray Walter says a lot of people, including children with cancer, are suffering without the drug.
"This will be very strictly controlled for a certain number of listed ailments," said Walter, an Amherst Republican.
"It will be very tightly controlled from seed to sale. So it will not be able to fall in the wrong hands."
In recent years, the Assembly has passed a medical marijuana bill five times. If it passes the Senate this week, Walter says the bill will be amended again, making the drug even more strictly controlled.