The dulling/numbing is definitely a mutual effect, but I think the biggest benefit from weed is the mental state that allows genuine self-reflection without the pain/shame we feel doing so without weed. It is almost a 3rd person analysis of yourself that functions very much like therapy.
I definitely do agree that they both have long term side effects, though I am not sure if they are equal. Either way, I don’t plan to be a long term user, largely because I am concerned about the negative long term effects