Signed, Cannabis Dear Cannabis, Rumor always had it that there were few, if any, physical or psychological effects of smoking pot. Recent studies, however, have revealed evidence of some long-term physical effects. Smoking pot causes changes in your brain's chemistry, specifically, inhibiting the function of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, a chemical that transfers information from one nerve cell to another. Smoking pot interferes with one's intellectual performance and impairs thinking, reading comprehension, and verbal and arithmetic problem solving.
Marijuana smoking is particularly harmful to the lungs, more so than tobacco cigarettes.
Marijuana use has been shown to affect male and female reproductive systems, and to affect fetuses during pregnancy. The reproductive cells absorb and hold more THC than do most other body cells. This might cause a problem in men who are marginally fertile. Some studies indicate that testosterone levels return to normal shortly after a person quits smoking. So, yes, there are some side effects of smoking pot, both short and long term.