Laura Nahmias at Capital New York reports that New York Assembly Democrats plan to include a bill legalizing medicinal marijuana in their budget proposal next week, according to State of Politics. "Assemblyman Dick Gottfried, chair of the Assembly Health Committee, confirmed in an interview with Capital Tonight that the budget would include a measure very similar to his own proposed Compassionate Care Act, legislation that would create a structured system for dispensing the drug for a variety of ailments," Nahmias wrote. Gottfried's bill is cosponsored by Independent Democrat Diane Savino in the Senate, and slightly different then the Assembly plan. Both plans are much larger then the mild proposal Governor Andrew Cuomo made earlier this year. Senate Republicans have indicated a willingness in recent weeks to consider a bill to legalize medical marijuana, according to Nahmias. Majority co-leader Dean Skelos, who had been opposed to any legalization, this week said he is now willing to consider a bill that would legalize non-smoke-based forms of the drug. Statewide polling shows a majority of New Yorkers of both parties support using the drug for medicinal purposes, and some national polls show a majority in favor of legalization. Read the full story in Capital New York.