Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday named several close allies and aides to a new panel he is convening to draft legislation that would result in the legalization of recreational marijuana.

“I have reviewed the multi-agency report commissioned last January and have discussed its findings with Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker,” Cuomo said in a statement. “The next steps must be taken thoughtfully and deliberately.”

Cuomo’s appointees include his top lawyer, Alphonso David, and his longtime head of the much-criticized Empire State Development Corporation, Howard Zemsky.

The 20-person panel will also include several top public health experts, the state’s budget director, Robert Mujica, and the superintendent of the New York State Police, George Beach II.

The two-term governor has dramatically shifted his position on pot legalization as he faces a spirited primary challenge from activist and actress, Cynthia Nixon.

As recently as 2017, Cuomo called it a “gateway” drug and vigorously opposed its legalization.