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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks at a rally on the steps of the Capitol in Albany, N.Y., on Tuesday, March 4, 2014. Today he said the issue of medical marijuana is not dead.

(The Associated Press)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Negotiations on medical marijuana are ongoing in Albany, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said this morning on WCNY's "The Capitol Pressroom."

"It is not dead," he told host Susan Arbetter.

But Cuomo, a Democrat running for re-election, stopped short of saying whether he supports the so-called "Compassionate Care Act," a version of medical marijuana sponsored by Sen. Diane Savino, D-Staten Island.

"I think there are questions that have to be answered," Cuomo said.

Early this week, that bill appeared to have stalled in the New York State Senate after Sen. John DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse, said he would not take up the legislation in the Senate Finance Committee.

Today, the governor said talks are continuing in Albany as he and lawmakers work toward the session's scheduled June 19 end.

"I support the concept of medical marijuana," Cuomo said, adding that earlier this year he ordered the state's Health Department to take steps under current law to allow patients to use the drug at 20 hospitals. That has yet to happen.

But Cuomo also said legalizing marijuana for medical use is a "big step" because it creates a state-sanctioned way for an illegal drug to be grown, distributed and sold. "It makes law enforcement very nervous," he said.

Savino has said she has enough support for the bill to pass the full Senate. Versions of medical marijuana legislation have passed the New York State Assembly five times in recent years.

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