Pot eyed for chronic pain

The state is considering dramatically expanding the new medicalmarijuana law to include tens of thousands of New Yorkers suffering from chronic or severe pain, such as arthritis.

The Health Department announced its intention in a report released Tuesday recommending changes to the 2-year-old medicalmarijuana law, known as the Compassionate Care Act.

Under the law, marijuana can be be prescribed only to patients who have cancer, HIV/AIDS, Lou Gehrig’s disease, Parkinson’s, MS or epilepsy.

About 7,000 patients have registered.