[mr_j]

What are its long-term effects?

Marijuana smoke contains some of the same cancer-causing compounds as tobacco, sometimes in higher concentrations.Studies show that someone who smokes five joints per week may be taking in as many cancer-causing chemicals as someone who smokes a full pack of cigarettes every day.

How is it used?

Most users roll loose marijuana into a cigarette called a "joint". It can be smoked in a water pipe, called a "bong", or mixed into food or brewedas tea. It has also appeared in cigars called "blunts".

long term effects are caused by the fact that you are smoking it and not because it is a drug
can we assume from this that consuming it with "food or as tea" has no long term side effect?

it is still better than nicotine