Here is a very good scholarly approach to THE BENEFITS OF SMOKING MARIJUANA by Joan Bello:
[books.google.com]

On this subject, I find MJ to be useful in achieving balance in your life, with its seemingly contradictory physical and mental effects.

In this work Joan Bello addresses how MJ can help you move from an unexcited or hyper-exited state, towards a state of balance. She specifically points out how this takes place mentally and physically.

She also points out how it helps do this same thing for your "spirit" as well - but I would call that the mind, attitude and emotions myself...

Physically:
But for some examples of this in my own life, MJ helps me to control my diet by suspending hunger, as well as to stimulate hunger - for me an appetite for more healthy food, especially when my original desire was for less healthy eating choices.

Mentally:
MJ motivates me to physical exercise and other creative and even vocational activity, good for when I just don't feel like doing it. Or I need an attitude adjustment - it helps me get into "my thing".

"Spiritually":
It also helps in helping me have a positive constructive attitude about shit: When I was a substitute teacher I was generally stressed about dealing with those kids, being unnecessarily authoritarian, taking the job just too damn seriously, always in fearful anticipation of what dealing the next class of strange children would entail...
The job became such an enjoyable breeze when I learned to SMOKE A JOINT before going in - and kinda embarrassing when, after smoking that joint later and later in my harried mornings, I was eventually smoking that joint while driving to work, often finishing up in the school parking lot.
A member of the "troubled kids" class I was assigned noticed the smell one morning I had just finished a J, and busted me in front of the whole class - promising not to tell...  

I was considered the hippest sub after that incident made the gossip rounds!

MJ is the original CHILL PILL we all need to sometimes take!

My blood pressure drops up to 15 points from a few tokes. There are many great things about Cannabis, but I also get a hangover if I over indulge. I love some edibles but it takes some experimentation to find optimum dosage. The sublingual and sodas are fantastic. It's legal and abundant here in CA. One thing I have read is today's leaf is so much stronger but I haven't found that to be true for me. Yes it is much stronger than pot from 60s or 70s but strong strains have been on the market since around 2000 or even earlier.

Users have told me that if you smoke it the smoke can be harsh and irritating on your lungs.

It can be very relaxing, I sleep better when I consume.

I am a member of a Medical Cannabis Program in New Hampshire. Edibles only?