I am 20 and have smoked marijuana almost daily (~.5 g / day for past 5 or so years) and just stopped cigarettes (was at about 2-4 / day).

How alarmed should I be about small black specs in phlegm and an urge to clear my throat many times per day. The specs usually look like little balls and seem rather soft. Sometimes I can get more 'crap' up than others, and it is always mixed with clear spit (usually looks like 5%-15% of what I am able to clear out is the black specs).

I have no other symptoms aside from the urge to clear throat, and no feeling of inflammation in my throat or chest.

Wondering if this is just my lungs clearing out all the tar or if it is infection or cancer or what?

Also, how much does the marijuana contribute to this? (99% smoked out of water bong)