What are the downsides to smoking weed?

I've been smoking for eight years, so here are the downsides I've experienced;

lung damage- I've started wheezing and coughing a little, after eight years

smell- my roommate doesn't like the smell.

memory problems- I'm assuming they are a result of my smoking

That's it.

Otherwise, it is a wonderful plant with medicinal properties. I smoke whenever I have a headache, and it goes away immediately. I smoke before I go to bed every night, and sleep like a baby, whereas when I'm on a break I wake up multiple times throughout the night. Obviously its very fun as well.

Downsides if you are under the age of 21 is that your brain isn't fully developed so YES. Smoking weed at a young age can damage your brain with learning and memory. Amongst other things. Losing a job can be a factor if you get drug tested.. People who say "lazy" is a factor is just stereotyping the entirety of people who smoke. I know plenty of people who aren't lazy and smoke weed on a regular basis while getting stuff done.

But overall, you could end up losing your job, if you don't have the extra expenses to buy weed then don't, getting caught is also bad as it's not exactly legal everywhere and some places have very high penalties (in my state it's a 5,000 dollar fine just for one joint) also there is only a SLIGHT dependence on weed and only a small percentage actually gets addicted and there's only a mental addiction. No physical withdrawals.

I'm neutral on the subject but you wanted downsides so here's a stab...

Negative image, loss of job, lazy, smell, dependence on something, cost to obtain, smoking anything damages you lungs (even if only slightly), arrested, jail, wasted time (if that's important to you and applies to partying in general)

If anything costs you a job it could hurt those that depend on you...so you could argue it can hurt others...even more so if you see jail time or have a felony added to your rap sheet

I smoke weed all day everyday. It makes me work better and faster. I can sit down at the end of the say smoke a bowl and be just on another level. If you ever saw the movie half baked I would be the enhancement smoker. I feel it makes me better mentally. I stay level headed while everyone else is going crazy.

There are positive, nuetral and negative effects to smoking weed. I am only listing the nuetral and negative here as that what you wanted to know. If you want to know the nuetral and positive effects check my source link.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

NEUTRAL

general change in consciousness

increased appetite, snacky-ness

slowness (slow driving, talking)

change in vision, such as sharpened colors or lights

closed-eye visuals (somewhat uncommon)

tiredness, sleepiness, lethargy

stimulation, inability to sleep (less common)

blood-shot eyes (more common with certain varieties of cannabis and inexperienced users)

mouth dryness, sticky-mouth (varies with strain)

interruption of linear memory; difficulty following a train of thought

cheek, jaw, facial tension / numbness (less commonly reported)

racing thoughts (especially at high doses)

time sense altered (for example, cars seem like they are moving too fast); time dilation and compression are common at higher doses

NEGATIVE

coughing, asthma, upper respiratory problems

difficulty with short-term memory during effects and during periods of frequent use (Ranganathan M, D'Souza DC, Psychopharmacology, 2006)

racing heart, agitation, feeling tense

mild to severe anxiety

panic attacks in sensitive users or with very high doses (oral use increases risk of getting too much)

headaches

dizziness, confusion

lightheadedness or fainting (in cases of lowered blood pressure)

paranoid & anxious thoughts more frequent

possible psychological dependence on cannabis

clumsiness, loss of coordination at high doses

nausea, especially in combination with alcohol, some pharmaceuticals, or other psychoactives

can precipitate or exacerbate latent or existing mental disorders

HANGOVER / DAY(S) AFTER

dry mouth

tired, red, dry, or itchy eyes

joint stiffness

fatigue, drowsiness, foggy or slow thinking

reduced memory skills, slower speed of recall

WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS (after stopping heavy use)

mild to moderate, non-life-threatening withdrawal symptoms occur after daily use in some users.

Withdrawal symptoms normally last 2-4 days, up to six weeks with long term use. Severity of symptoms is related to frequency and duration of use and individual sensitivity.

anhedonia (reduced experience of pleasure)

headaches, general unease/discomfort

difficulty sleeping

desire to smoke cannabis

slight loss of appetite

finding non-stoned life a bit dull, increased boredom

fatigue, lethargy

slow thinking, talking

stoned-like abstract thinking, impatience with or annoyance at linear thinking