Many marijuana activists in New York were excited to hear about the recent legalization of medical cannabis. According to The New York Times, only 51 patients have registered for licenses so far. This customer base will not be enough to keep the medical marijuana market afloat.

There are five licensed cannabis consumers in the state, all of which are only permitted to sell concentrates such as oils or tinctures. Several New York physicians who work for Compassionate Care attempted to show the government that smoking marijuana is not as harmful as often perceived.

According to High Times, the state is still refusing to accept this data and only allows its medical patients to treat their symptoms by ingesting the medicine. The founder of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws believes that other states will follow in a similar path, creating a more restricted medical market that prohibits smoking the drug.

To obtain a medical card a patient must be diagnosed with a disease that is severe, debilitating, or life-threatening. Physicians and patients have suggested that more illnesses be added to the list, but the state has denied all proposals so far.

To read more about how New York is regulating a medical marijuana market, check out the full High Times article.