Patients suffering from painful ailments that include fibromyalgia, muscular dystrophy, shingles and rheumatoid arthritis should be able to get medical marijuana in Connecticut, a state panel of doctors urged Wednesday.

The proposed expansion of Connecticut's medical marijuana program to cover more types of diseases and conditions is part of a national surge toward making pot more available to help ease severe medical problems.

South Carolina lawmakers are now looking at legalizing medical marijuana. In Arkansas, a state commission has just proposed authorizing 32 dispensaries for medical marijuana. A New York licensed marijuana grower announced Wednesday its plans to provide home deliveries in New York City, Westchester County and on Long Island.Medical cannabis is also being looked at in Connecticut and around the nation as a less-addictive pain killer than drugs like OxyContin that have led to an epidemic of illegal opioid use and thousands of related deaths.

Connecticut Consumer Protection Commissioner Jonathan Harris said Wednesday that the state's medical marijuana...