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A young marijuana plant is shown in February at a medical-marijuana dispensary in San Jose, Calif. Today, the New York Senate's Health Committee approved a medical marijuana proposal; now the legislation is in the hands of Sen. John DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse.

(David Paul Morris | Bloomberg News)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A proposal to allow medical marijuana in New York passed the state Senate Health Committee today by just one vote.

The 9-8 vote marked a key victory for advocates as the bill moves closer to a full floor vote in the New York State Senate for the first time.

But it's unclear whether the proposal will make it through the Senate Finance Committee, which is chaired by Sen. John DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse.

DeFrancisco has said recently he believes the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, and not state lawmakers, should regulate pharmaceutical drugs. Today he said through a spokeswoman he is reviewing the bill and would make a decision later today about whether to put it on the committee's agenda.

Sen. Diane Savino, the sponsor of the bill, said at today's hearing she believes the states shouldn't wait for the federal government to allow people to use a drug if it can alleviate certain conditions.

"Given the choice between Uncle Sam and Mother Nature, I come down on the side of Mother Nature," Savino, D-Staten Island, said before the vote.

Susan Rusinko, of Auburn, drove up today for the vote. "I cried," she said afterward. Rusinko uses marijuana daily because she says it helps her manage the effects of multiple sclerosis.

At today's Health Committee meeting, senators voting yes were: Ruth Hassell-Thompson, D-Mount Vernon; Brad Hoylman, D-Manhattan; William Larkin, R-Cornwall-on-Hudson; Velmanette Montgomery, D-Brooklyn; Ted O'Brien, D-Irondequoit; Jose Peralta, D-Queens; Diane Savino, D-Staten Island; and Jose Serrano, D-Bronx.

Those voting no were: Greg Ball, R-Patterson; Hugh Farley, R-Schenectady; Simcha Felder, D-Brooklyn; Martin Golden, R-Brooklyn; Kemp Hannon, R-Garden City; Jack Martins, R-Mineola; James Seward, R-Milford; and Catharine Young, R-Olean.

Contact Teri Weaver at tweaver@syracuse.com, 315-470-2274 or on Twitter at @TeriKWeaver.