Photo credit: Clay Good
Kenneth Starr, the Independent Counsel who investigated President Bill Clinton, on matters ranging from the death of White House Counsel Vincent Foster to the Whitewater real-estate transaction, and ultimately the Monica Lewinsky scandal, has found a new mission:
To help school districts punish students who even joke about marijuana, even outside of school hours and off of school property.
High school students in Juneau, Alaska held up a banner that read, “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” as the Olympic torch was being carried past, in order to be caught on television cameras. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has already ruled that this was protected First Amendment speech. And despite the humor and whether or not they might have known it, there could even be some truth to their prank.
But Ken Starr isn’t just representing the school district, he’s doing it so pro bono — free of charge.
I guess it looked too much like people having fun, and we can’t have that in America.
Read more here from the Wall Street Journal.
Update: Here’s some history from Cannabis News.
Update 2: More perspective from Beth Bragg. Hat-tip to Pete Guither.
cannablog 
August 28, 2006 at 4:27 pm
That Starr would take up this farce says a world about Starr, and nothing about the case. It also says bad things about Starr’s trail. One good example of that is the entire Peperdine University – with emphasis on the Law School.
August 28, 2006 at 5:30 pm
we’ve got a discussion thread about this story over at: https://liftwhileclimbing.wordpress.com/2006/08/27/bong-hits-for-jesus-and-schrooms-for-ashcroft/. feel free to dive in.
August 28, 2006 at 6:47 pm
Yup. No fun in the US and another dumb case to waste taxpayer money. I have a feeling the kids will be let off and hopefully Mr. Starr will do something stupid in the process.
September 22, 2006 at 9:30 am
I actually prefer joints. Tho as long as whatever you do is intention’d with healing prayer, then thanks for the bong hits and keep representin’ the Youth. Wisdom thought for the day: May all those inflicting pain, feel what they are doing to, and may it intensify and infest with only healing actions alleviating until they are converted to human beings and not stupid lizards obeying who is a satanist. So welcome to the biggest coverup in History because you have nothing to do with me and you will pay for what, again, is done in my name, karmically belongs to me, and gets in the way of me achieving what is destined.
December 1, 2006 at 4:26 pm
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December 1, 2006 at 4:32 pm
I have to wonder if Starr, Antonin Scalia and the other Christianists on the court will actually take any bong hits 4 Jesus during the court’s deliberations. Might help deliver a fair and copacetic ruling!
December 1, 2006 at 5:45 pm
I doubt they would.
January 31, 2007 at 9:23 pm
hi folks…
nice counter culture website.
the photo you are displaying was taken by me. i teach at juneau douglas high school.
you may legally purchase pubication rights through http://www.zumapress.com.
or you can email me and ask for a courtesy copy with proper photo credit.
please do the right thing or take the photo down.
thank you for your speedy response and good luck.
sincerely…clay good
February 1, 2007 at 12:11 am
Sorry Clay, it’s fair use, and will not be taken down without a court order. Would you like to call your friend Ken Starr and have him get in touch?
February 1, 2007 at 8:08 am
Also, you might want to take a look at the Wall Street Journal‘s commercial use of this image without attribution.
Incidentally, if you do manage to get paid by someone, do you intend to share the revenue with the students who made and displayed the banner that was the subject of the photograph?
February 9, 2007 at 3:53 pm
I must agree with clay good, “nice counter culture website”, but I have to wonder if clay good really took the picture? That is an amazing picture, and there really is a counter culture here in River City, is Mr. Clay holding out his hand for some of those pieces of tarnished silver?
February 9, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Gw, all I can confirm is that Clay Good is accessing this blog from Juneau, Alaska.
February 15, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Hey Whig and Gw…
Thanks for the Wall St. tip. I don’t mind making a buck off them.
Call it tarnished silver if you want, Gw, but you’ll have to explain why I offered a free courtesy copy to post legally to the keepers of this blog.
And yes, Gw, I did take the picture and several others from that fateful day for those interested and polite. Feel free to check my photocredit on the Juneau Empire archives if you need further assurance.
And Whig, why would you think I’m in accord with K. Starr? Kinda hasty in your assumptions. You cats sure are uptight and paranoid for Rasta men.
I offer a free photo with credit and get your crap in return. Good luck advancing your cause if you can’t tell your friends from your enemies. So take a deep puff and chill out, guys.
Drop me a line when you’re willing to play nice.
February 15, 2007 at 9:27 pm
If you’re just asking for a credit, I can do that.
February 16, 2007 at 10:46 am
Why should we consider you a friend, Clay, when you came here with demands and faint praise of what you obviously spent little time actually reading or considering? Like calling me Rasta, what kind of insulting nonsense is that? I have respect for Rastafari, but I am a Christian.
February 16, 2007 at 3:27 pm
whig…
thank you for the photo credit.
please accept my apology for offending your religious sensibilites.
peace….clay
February 16, 2007 at 4:19 pm
Clay, as long as you’re here, why not tell us a little about yourself and what you are allowed to talk about regarding this case?
February 17, 2007 at 5:17 pm
hi whig…
as i mentioned earlier, i am a high school teacher, and like hundreds of students and other teachers, i was there when j.f. unfurled his banner.
i was amused when i took the picture, not imagining that the issue would escalate into a supreme court case. kind of a dubious way to put little old juneau on the map of popular culture, isn’t it.
as far as being allowed to talk about the case, unlike j.f., there are no restrictions on my freedom of speech. what details are you interested in?
clay
February 17, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Thanks for offering to share your perspective. The court findings provide most of the relevant details of the case, I would imagine, but their conclusion is what is being reviewed on appeal.
Given that, as I understand it Alaska has recognized that adults may privately possess a certain quantity of cannabis, and the student in this matter was an adult, is it the position of your school administration that it is impermissible for cannabis to be mentioned, even by indirect reference or inference, at any time during school hours, and how does that comport with your educational mission?
February 17, 2007 at 7:41 pm
i aint no attorney and i sure dont speak for the district, but i can say that alaska law on the issue of possession of pot is confusing.
we have a 1970’s state supreme court ruling that may be at odds with federal law on possession of small amounts of pot in the home.
as well, we have a state referendum law that recriminalized pot in the 90’s, in apparent contradiction to the above mentioned court ruling.
on the issue of freedom of speech or expression as it pertains to the school’s educational mission, jdhs students are not to wear clothing or articles with messages promoting use of any illegal substances, including tobacco and alcohol. the same rules apply to messages of hatred or violence toward others or dressing too revealingly.
from a teacher’s view in a classroom full of students wanting to express themselves in a variety of ways, i want students to feel safe, welcome, valued and unimpared in order to maximize the quality of all their learning.
it’s no wonder the line gets fuzzy when we are asked to determine when the school’s educational mission has been compromised by something a student does, wears or says or posts.
students at jdhs generally enjoy many freedoms… with an open campus, student publications, drama and debate etc etc. we offer a very popular law class where freedom of speech is vigorously studied.
as a voting community, juneau is a fairly liberal town. ie, the aclu probably feels at home in juneau. i think its safe to say that parents here want their children to enjoy freedoms within safe boundaries.
so we’re back to drawing lines…and we’re about to receive guidance in drawing those lines from the supreme court. it’s too bad, really, that we need their help.
as the former advisor for the student newspaper, i have defended student freedom of speech on numerous occassions. however, i must confess that i am disappointed that the issue debated here is over a nonsense message when there are so many real and truly important issues for students to express themselves about.
as a teacher…this disappoints me most. i want students to be smart an say important things. to use their minds well. its hard enough to defend students freedoms of speech without having to spend so much time and energy on a non-message.
j.f. got his wish for fame and attention. but, what a waste of an opportunity to say something really important.
bong hits 4 jesus misses the point of freedom of speech and makes it cheaper than it ought to be, in my opinion.
there’s my $.02
February 17, 2007 at 9:48 pm
Bong Hits 4 Jesus was an important thing to say, even if the student had to pretend it wasn’t meaningful in order to protect himself against even worse disciplinary action by your school district.
Perhaps you will read some more of this blog and then we might discuss the relevance of cannabis to Christianity.
February 18, 2007 at 7:25 am
Incidentally, in Alaska at present, adults are permitted up to one ounce under current law according to the most recent court ruling, and this is founded on a constitutional provision which the Alaskan Supreme Court recognized to protect your right to privacy.
February 18, 2007 at 7:43 am
I do have a question for you, Clay. As a teacher, are you subject to testing or discipline for using cannabis, legally under state law, privately in your own home?
February 18, 2007 at 11:05 am
i can agee that saying something like bong hits 4 jesus is important in as much as it brings the issue of student freedom of speech into the public discourse. but i’ll bet most of us could think of something stronger and more important to say.
and there is no law or practice for drug testing school teachers. i am not aware of anybody, teachers or otherwise, who have been disciplined for using pot at home, though i don’t think testing for pot can tell where or when it was used, which may be important to consider for folks who are tested….like bus drivers, etc.
February 19, 2007 at 12:31 am
Perhaps he could have just said Jesus Smoked Pot, would you have considered that stronger and more important? Or do you just assume it is ridiculous and dismiss it without consideration? I think he might have considered that a clear statement like that would be more likely to subject him to punishment.
February 19, 2007 at 8:31 pm
i do think the statement is ridiculous, and j.f. said so as well.
you suggested earlier that he is only pretending that it is ridiculous to protect himself from even even harsher punishment from the school system.
well, you have me on that one.
but maybe he wasn’t afraid of punishment and enjoyed taking risks and pushing the mans buttons….just maybe.
why is “bong hits 4 jesus” an important message from your perspective?
February 19, 2007 at 9:27 pm
I don’t claim to be a mind reader, but if the sign was meaningless to anyone there was no basis for disciplinary action, I hope you’d agree.
My position is quite simple, cannabis is an essential part of the Jewish and Christian religious sacraments.
February 21, 2007 at 3:53 am
re: why is “bong hits 4 jesus” an important message from your perspective?
This message is something like an artery in the body of American culture, it transits many areas of American culture.
It includes not only the ideas of freedom of speech, but also peeks into the US governments failed multi-billion dollar prohibition, it links cannabis to the good and faithful under Christ, and this further discussion by the most learned men in the highest courts of law in the lands shows how powerful a statement this really is.
February 25, 2007 at 10:11 am
it also peeks into the tasks of the educator, the women and the mother, as long as the father, and his coat that shelters from the the cold night wind.
What happened to that good Mr. Clay, did he he have a chance to read his contract?
February 25, 2007 at 10:34 am
Did I forget to mention, some little words, for the fallen, in the news of today, brave soldiers, innocent children, and the whole horror filled basket of empires and Gods?
February 25, 2007 at 10:47 am
cannabis is the antidote to so many worldly poisons, it is not a drug, it helps you to see, it takes your pain and sends it to the one who is counting your taxes, counting your lashes, until you pay and pay until you confess your place in this silver lined existence.
February 25, 2007 at 10:57 am
meant to say, so many worldly prisons and the sad idea in Hell
the afterlife has its wonder
this existence is filled with so many
idiots, christians, jews and muslims
there is one sky
February 25, 2007 at 11:27 am
this idiot is checking in
I see that we’ those people do not have an alter, after so many years, so filled with fat bellies and comforting blessings, oops, did you notice, there was some flash, from the side of the eye, be assured, the ‘best doctors, and the best human beings, are examining the results.
They are looking at the best interest rate, in that meantime
you can try to resurrect your honor, and bring to life’
if you are thinking, that is good, much like some kind of aerobic dance that shakes the motherloving place, where you can be private, come before the Night Sky, someplace where you know you will hookup, with that special person, who happens to be
looking in that direction of freedom
February 25, 2007 at 11:40 am
when the night comes before the dawn
consider my shadow
its like a vote, you have decide
you have to look at your hand,
you have to look some part of your body
February 25, 2007 at 11:42 am
Gw, I don’t think we are idiots here.
February 25, 2007 at 11:45 am
did you look?
was it your part?
It is time, Cannabis is an essentil herb, along side my basil and oregano,
February 25, 2007 at 11:49 am
I agree, cannabis is an essential herb and provably so, it is the only herbal source of the Omega-3 essential fatty acid EPA, otherwise to be found in fish oils.
February 25, 2007 at 11:54 am
I believe they can do some kind of extraction from algae as well, perhaps seaweed. But of course cannabis only grows on land, and those are perhaps the “cannabis of the sea” (from the perspective of those creatures which live in water).
February 25, 2007 at 11:58 am
Omega-3′ is that what you call it
February 25, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Eicosapentaenoic acid.
February 25, 2007 at 12:04 pm
what is an idiot? to much for another day of remembrance
February 25, 2007 at 12:05 pm
An idiot is someone who thinks he is the only one in the room.
February 25, 2007 at 12:09 pm
Are you able to listen to the music here, Gw?
February 25, 2007 at 12:11 pm
or some one in the room
who thinks they are personally part in national madness
February 25, 2007 at 12:16 pm
what music is that you are humming?
do not tell me that you also will scorn me
push me out in that awful world
filled with so many bad people
February 25, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Try the Music tab. There’s more to this blog than this particular post.
February 25, 2007 at 12:24 pm
may we safely assume
the photographer witnessed the reproduction
February 25, 2007 at 1:01 pm
why did you link to some middle east problem?
have we not enough prisoners?
here in river city?
February 25, 2007 at 1:07 pm
relinking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-NRriHlLUk
Give Peace A Chance
February 25, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Gw, I posted a version of that here. Like I’m saying, there’s lots of stuff on this blog, if you just poke around.
Your problems are not the only important ones.
February 26, 2007 at 12:57 pm
I have been poking around and wonder about all those people, who so easily surrender to music’, did you, whig ever wonder, how this world has found so many human beings in such helpless situations?
My problems, have no bearing on my comments, it may be my pay back for working in a university, so many wonderful young people, who work so hard, to reach that capital goal, be assured, I push them out into this wonderful world, and assure them that all things are possible, much like that Obama child, and that Hillary Gal, when it comes to that music tab, I offer no direction, for some Mozart fills the emptiness, for others it is some other Mozart, it seems that the greatest moments of art have been about those unspeakable places.
Fare Thee Well
February 26, 2007 at 1:18 pm
We are as capable of being Mozarts as we are of being social and political leaders. I would rather be a composer of music which people will listen to with pleasure and gladness than an author of violence. We cannot make one another understand, we can only speak and in using music we have another language that gets beyond our usual barriers to communication.
February 26, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Did forget to mention Zen Places
those one touch happy places
where one finger can change
the face in the mirror, do you think i have a problem?
what i have been trying to say http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-NRriHlLUk
Can you find your bone of peace?
February 26, 2007 at 1:52 pm
was that bone solid?
did you receive the big payoff?
did you have a moment
to look around?
February 26, 2007 at 2:06 pm
was that bone soiled?
did it have dirt all of over it?
when the minister sprinkles
dirt on your grave
did i forget, my place in this effedup cemetary
look around
February 26, 2007 at 2:23 pm
how do you want to vote?
a women in the white house
a women in the kremlin
a women tehren
a women in jurusalam
it is time
February 26, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Gw, please visit some other pages here and comment on something topical.
February 27, 2007 at 4:06 pm
hey whig, what is ‘topical?
do you mean to say topical as in current events?
do you mean the tv news?
do you think that a women in the white house is not topical?
so sorry that I did not share your vision of these times,
it was the best of times, it was the best world, that could be bargained in the courtroom, topical, do you think i stray from topical issues in this society?
please tell me, what happened to that person who unfurled that flag of bong hits 4 jesus?
has that flag withered so many rotten bones, and to that person who took a photograph, never did hear from him again, guess this was another post that should be forgotten.
whig, please set the stage, i do love you and i may remember my place where i vote, with conscience, that little platform that my best intentions and thoughts are some figment of my gift and curse for I did breathe and I did catch a look around.
So, have the Elders heard the case against the young man who said” bong hits 4 jesus, it is topical, he could have said, bong hits for jews, bong hits for muslims, bong hits for women, bong hits for justice honor and History.
February 27, 2007 at 4:08 pm
The supreme court has not yet heard the case. I believe it is scheduled to be argued in March.
February 27, 2007 at 4:21 pm
re: scheduled to be argued in March”
imagine that, some young person advertises bong hits 4 jesus, next thing you hear they found the rotted bones of jesus, mary the magdeleen, and their son judah, did they have a ‘good life?
February 27, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Gw, you might enjoy this video and I’d appreciate any comments you might have on that thread.
March 1, 2007 at 12:08 pm
bong hits for jesus!! hallelujah here’s my bong hit– and some goats. I hope you don’t mind me linking this post
March 1, 2007 at 2:56 pm
was some nice green, and so very organic, my best guess, it was only a few steps from Eden, hallelujah!
March 1, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Davebones, thanks and happy 4:20. The little baby goats are cute.
March 3, 2007 at 10:13 am
What I’m not seeing here is what I consider equally important. Why didn’t Frederick’s family file a personal lawsuit against Principal Morse? Last time I looked, theft and destruction of private property is a crime.
What’s that you say? What “private property” do I mean? Why, the banner. It don’t make noneveryoumind WHAT the message was. The instant Morse seized and damaged/destroyed the banner (Frederick’s property) she was unquestionably in violation of one or more real laws. Laws that exist irrespective of whether someone is offended or not. Frederick’s parents should have “sent a message” to the zerotolerancias of the school district by suing Principal Morse’s ever-so-righteous butt. Unfortunately, the expiration of the statute of limitations in this case makes the entire issue moot.
March 3, 2007 at 11:03 am
it is not moot, that banner, may it wave high, and to the sails of freedom.
March 3, 2007 at 11:11 am
meant to say into the sails of freedom..
March 3, 2007 at 11:53 am
Gerry G, what do you think was the value of the banner, and how much money do you think that Frederick would be entitled to be reimbursed? Maybe a dollar? Probably less than that.
March 4, 2007 at 9:37 am
add pain and suffering$$$$$$$
March 4, 2007 at 9:47 am
No, Gw. That wouldn’t be right in this case.
I think his legal expenses could be compensated, however. I think a lot of that has been provided by organizations, and without charge to Mr. Frederick.
So far as the supreme court is concerned, this is not a question for resolution. That would be on remand to a lower court to resolve. At the moment we are concerned with the protection of Mr. Frederick’s right to display his banner.
March 8, 2007 at 1:37 pm
whig, you have a good sense of humor, regarding that Frederick child, did you forget his family has a lawyer, and they marched into the closest court of land, yup, some place where goobers, also known as the deep south adjudicate, I know how them goobers want to vote, the south was correct, every good and Christian, can “own” a slave, especially if the skin is dark, worth some where around the worth of a “junkie”. or some Hippy, a communist, some unwed mother, and those forgotten “bastard” children, who grow up and become doctors, have had a chance to look into the latest writers?
March 8, 2007 at 2:08 pm
did mean to say waters’
are you a ‘good person?
did you look at your reflection?
are you all’ certain, when you have some chance
to ‘reflect, after some fine brandy, did you notice that there is something odd, not only with the tempreture, the law of the LAND, is crying for justice, for ,money, and that special place of righteousness , are we’ all not special?
March 8, 2007 at 2:36 pm
re: are we’ all not special?
in our mind’s our Hearts and everlasting souls’,
witness every day, the complete destruction if women
March 8, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Gw, please don’t continue to post random things on this thread. Choose an open thread or some place more appropriate.
March 17, 2007 at 4:02 pm
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March 21, 2007 at 12:33 pm
i dont think he should be punished just for a joke plus it was off school property he
June 25, 2007 at 7:16 pm
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November 2, 2007 at 7:46 am
God and Jesus came to where I live and talked to me. Mel Steffor
November 2, 2007 at 7:46 am
This is what he told me. This is an important issue with God. Please read and pass it along. The message is from God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost respectively sent in the Spring of 2006. It is about the meaning of First is Last and Last is First . The message is this:
In the morning I go to Heaven. In the afternoon I live my life. In the evening I die, death. What does this mean? In other words this means Birth is Last and Last is Birth. Think of this as a continous circle of life. Birth, Life, Death, Birth. God also said that Judgment will be before Birth in Heaven. AS birth on Earth is painful so will birth in Heaven. Yes, God has recently made contact and he sent a messenger. Spread this message along, just like a chain letter. OH, one more point of interest. Did you know that Mike Douglas died on his birthday? Mel Steffor 😉
November 2, 2007 at 7:52 am
Your the ones that put Jesus on the sign. So I am not to far off subject. Jesus just took it in another direction. Jesus does have a sense of humor. I think the sign reading ‘Bong hits 4 Jesus’ was funny too. Now God is serious about his message. Mel Steffor
November 2, 2007 at 11:52 am
You’re not too far off subject, Mel. God speaks to many people, I gather. Are you well?
I had nothing to do with putting up that sign, this is just a blog where I’ve talked about it with people.
You are welcome here.
November 4, 2007 at 8:28 am
Thanks for the welcome Whig! I feel great on most days. Now chain letters may not be Gods way of getting his message out but I have been on the Internet talking to people since January 2007 and the word just isn’t spreading. I’d say the work is moving at a snails pace. Maybe people just don’t get it or they don’t believe it. Now I do have proof. Lots of it. One piece of proof is in the story of three famous people, Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin, and Nancy Reagan. The story is long so I will make it brief here. Mike dies on his birthday. Merv Griffin dies the day after. Merv and Nancy are born on the same day. Now I found this interesting but I didn’t get it. That night I have a dream. In the dream I hear:
We each die in succession, then we are born on the same day. Now I get it. The reason I believe this dream is from God is that it seems to link up to the message above about First is Last. Plus previous messages, I’ve been on alert. Then this also seems to be something that God would have to say. Another thing about this dream, that was odd, is that it wasn’t in living color, or any pictures at all like the rest of my dreams. I just hear a voice, a pleasant voice. So I think this message is important to him. He also had more to say than this. Mel Steffor
November 4, 2007 at 8:34 am
I think Jesus would take a hit from a bong. He also spent time in the evening drinking wine and having fun with his friends. (Or Disciples). So Jesus is pretty cool about stuff ….
November 4, 2007 at 9:55 am
I believe Jesus was anointed with cannabis, FWIW.
We all have different ways of experiencing the world, even including the world we cannot see with our outward eyes. There is no privileged perspective, your experiences are as valid as mine.
Music is how I prefer to hear and understand the divine.
April 11, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Happy Easter