Legalization isn't always a good thing. Consider that it may not have been illegal before. It's not like if you make something in your wood shop you need to ask the state if it is legal.

Legalization often provides a framework for how they want to treat it, perhaps separate from existing laws. Sometimes they are just saying they are not going to criminalize it. Whether or not special laws are more beneficial than existing ones is a case by case basis.

"friendly" might be a better term.