Correct my if I am wrong but it seems like JoeyBlondeBear hasn't smoked weed, and therefore does not understand it's appeal. The negative side effects, if there are any significant ones, are heavily outweighed by it's ability to heighten reality.
Now on topic, when smoking at a young age I noticed a temporary and very slight loss in short term memory and concentration lasting a few days. Now I experience no symptoms, but I'm sure long term and frequent weed smoking will negatively affect your memory.
However, indirect detrimental health affects can be caused by extreme munchies, obesity is the number one killer in America.
On a side note, how many of you got high when smoking the first time? I did not, just wondering if the myth is true (that you cannot).
You can, just most people can't inhale properly.
And every toker in here needs to at least once in their life do the following:
1. Smoke a whole bowl to yourself with a waterfall bong (you should be pretty far from reality at this point.)
2. Hit the lights
3. Turn on some non-menacing music
4. Fill a balloon with nitrous oxide (Nobody tell me that it's harmful, it isn't)
5. Inhale the contents, and exhale back inside. Repeat.
6. Get some oxygen
7. Watch your ego dissolve, your entire body orgasm, your audio input become distorted beyond belief, and try to stay somewhat calm :)
8. The rest of your high may be more intense than you're used to.
It was more intense than LSD tenfold. And it lasts about a minute. (or eternity in your perspective)