NEW YORK, NY April 22, 2009 —Supporters of medical marijuana say legislation to make it legal in New York has a good chance of passing. Karen DeWitt has more from Albany.

REPORTER: For the first time, identical bills to legalized the use of medical marijuana for New Yorkers with certain chronic diseases are sponsored in both the assembly and the Senate. Both houses are now controlled by Democrats. But Senate sponsor and health committee chair Tom Duane says the issue goes beyond politics.

DUANE: This is about compassion. This is about medicine.

REPORTER: Senator Duane says he believes the bill will have enough bipartisan votes to eventually pass in the Senate. Another factor in the bill's favor: the federal government under President Obama will no longer attempt to prosecute states that legalize the use of marijuana for medical needs. In Albany, I'm Karen Dewitt.