New York may soon be joining a group of states, most recently Colorado, that have loosened their laws regarding the use of medical and recreational marijuana.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York plans to announce, this week, an executive action that would allow approximately twenty hospitals, across the state, to prescribe medical marijuana for those people who are extremely ill.

The New York Times first reported the story, and said that the new laws will be far more strict than those in Colorado and other states. “Mr. Cuomo’s plan will be far more restrictive than the laws in Colorado or California, where medical marijuana is available to people with conditions as mild as backaches,” the Times wrote. “It will allow just 20 hospitals across the state to prescribe marijuana to patients with cancer, glaucoma or other diseases that meet standards to be set by the New York State Department of Health.”

Cuomo has long been against the legalization of marijuana, however he has reconsidered his stance after other states have started legalization, and the pressure he has received from liberal groups. Cuomo will announce the executive order on Wednesday during his annual State of the State address.

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