The legalisation of both, medical and recreational, marijuana has generated a broad debate about its benefits. This paper?s aim is to see up close, by reviewing literature published between 2013 and 2019 in the Web of Science Core Collection database, the effects that legalisation has had in different variables related to physical health. The total number of articles reviewed was 24. The results exhibit an increase in cases and hospital admissions related with accidental consumption of marijuana in children under 18, and in adults due to substance abuse. The number of births admitted to neonatal care has also been affected, in addition to a decrease in the prescriptions of codeine-formulated medications. No stablished link has been made with the number of suicides. It can be concluded that legalization has affected different variables related to physical health, therefore it is necessary to have into account the scientific evidence when debating about the legalisation of marijuana in Spain or other European Union member States.
Asociación Española de Estudio en Drogodependencias, AESED
