New York will become the 21st state in the union to legalize marijuana in some form, if the latest reports from Albany are to be believed.

According to the RT Network, in stark contrast to NY's harsh Rockefeller laws -- which are some of the harshest drug laws in the nation -- Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that he will sign a bill which will allow limited use of medicinal marijuana.

Under Cuomo's proposed law, "twenty hospitals across New York State would prescribe marijuana to alleviate the symptoms of a list of certified conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and glaucoma. The dispensaries and medical protocols have not yet been approved, but the state reportedly hopes to put the infrastructure in place within the year. Since growing marijuana plants remains illegal, it is not clear how the drug would be obtained by medical institutions, though there has been suggestion that they may acquire it from the confiscated stocks of law enforcement agencies."

There's a huge difference, it should be noted, between marijuana for recreational use being legal -- which, at the moment, only two states have made legal at this point (Colorado and, later this month, Washington) -- and marijuana for medical use being legal (which, at the moment, 18 states have made legal). Cuomo's proposition falls under the latter.

Originally, too, according to Slate.com, Cuomo was vehemently against the legalization of marijuana, whether for medicinal or recreational purposes. So, what changed his mind? According to the pundits over at Slate, Cuomo saw what rival Republican governor Chris Christie was getting in terms of support for his desire to legalize marijuana in New Jersey. In addition, Cuomo is said to be feeling the pressure about Bill Diblasio being the "celebrity politician" in New York.

"Barack Obama -- himself an admitted cannabis smoker in his younger years -- has said that his administration will not challenge state practices, but has made no attempt to push through a nationwide legalization of the drug," continues the RT Times.

It should be interesting to note if Cuomo does, indeed, legalize marijuana for medical purposes... or if it's even passed in the New York Senate.