While a newly signed legislation will allow some Minnesota residents to legally use marijuana for the first time since the federal ban 75 years ago, the scope of the bill limits those who could benefit from its passage.

After passing in both the State House and Senate, Governor Mark Dayton signed the medical bill  May 29. Minnesota is now the 21st state to legalize marijuana access for those affected by serious medical conditions such as cancer or AIDS. However, unlike Colorado and Washington which legalized the substance in the 2012 elections, Minnesota has merely taken a small step in the right direction.

Unlike other medical bills, which allow a wide range of patients to consume marijuana in edible or leaf form provided doctor approval, Minnesota’s limits patients purchasing to one of eight centers throughout the state and only in edible form, which is as ineffective by some advocates of legal consumption. Furthermore, while the bill is intended to prevent the general populace from consuming the drug, the tough and restrictive qualifications under it will prevent many from seeking treatment that could ease pain.

Minnesota should look to states like Massachusetts or California for revising and amending the law in the future. The former, which saw its medical legalization take effect in 2012, has legalized over 4 times the amount of dispensaries Minnesota currently allows, with 35 scattered across the state. These dispensaries bring in an average annual profit of $4 million each, according to Worcester Telegram, with a large amount of that going directly back to the state for medical and infrastructure development.

Thus, while the current bill will help some in alleviating the pain of serious and often deadly afflictions, it should nonetheless be revised to loosen state controls and limits such as laws of other states with more established policies.