Smoking marijuana is hardly associated with Jesus Christ, but a five-year-old controversy… Smoking marijuana is hardly associated with Jesus Christ, but a five-year-old controversy involving these two subjects has made its way to the Supreme Court. An article from The New York Times tells the story of a young man named Joseph Frederick and his valiant quest to exercise his freedom of speech. Well, actually he was trying to piss off his principal with whom he had been feuding throughout his high school career.

It worked.

Frederick was given 10 days of suspension from school after unfolding a 14-foot long banner that read “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” when the Olympic torch was carried through the streets of Juneau, Alaska, on its way to the 2002 winter games in Salt Lake City. His principal, Deborah Morse, ripped down the banner after he failed to comply with her request for him to take it down. Frederick was sent to her office where he was given the sentence.

Basically, Frederick is the real life version of Bart Simpson, although I’m not sure this exact situation has ever made it into an episode. But it should be noted that this scene did not take place inside of the school or even on school grounds. Was Joseph Frederick denied his right to free speech?

Many people think so. His message was a peaceful one. At least he wasn’t proposing bong hits for Hitler or Charles Manson or Bono. Bong hits for Jesus. It was as if he was suggesting something similar to when you take a swig from a bottle of liquor and then pour a bit onto the ground for your good buddy who isn’t around anymore. His message is having a profound effect.

This controversy has strangely united two unlikely groups of people. Proponents of drug law reform are on Frederick’s side, as well as the religious right’s crowd. More specifically, the Christian Legal Society and the American Center for Law and Justice, founded by Pat Robertson.

So the followers of Christ and the Rockers of Ganja have found something that brings them together for a common cause.

I smell a sitcom. If we’re lucky, they’ll all move into a house together and film their adventures. See what happens when Bob mixes his red clothes with Matthew’s whites!

But this is not to suggest that smoking marijuana and believing in Jesus as the Messiah are two completely separate things. Anyone who has seen the film “Jesus Camp” knows that those parents had to have been high when they signed up their kids for that. It is just interesting that the groups that are exclusively Christian and the groups that are exclusively for drug law reform have found themselves supporting the same man for their respective causes.

So I ask the question: is this the first case of cannabis-Christ unity? How far back does this relationship go? Perhaps the Bible can shed some light on this.

Genesis says that God created herbs and grass on the third day of creation, “and God saw that it was good.” It doesn’t seem as though any specific plant life was considered bad. Also, it is interesting to note that eating an apple was what got Adam and Eve kicked out of Eden, not puffing the magic dragon.

The book of Ezekiel speaks of a very special plant: “I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.” Could this special plant be all the proof Christafarians need to smoke?

Frederick said, according to the Kansas City Star, that he “wasn’t trying to say anything religious, anything about drugs,” but he has inadvertently inspired people to join together. Whether or not Jesus was a smoker or a midnight toker, proponents of religious activism, free speech rights and legalization of cannabis have found an interesting common ground: defending the right to practice their freedoms.

Think about it. If you’re a kindergarten teacher at a public school, it is frowned upon to talk about Jesus Christ with your students, just as it would be frowned upon to smoke weed with them. Chemistry class is hardly considered a time to discuss the New Testament, and it would be equally strange to light one up with a Bunsen burner. Try preaching the gospel to a cop on duty. Then try selling him pot.

The point is Joseph Frederick has given two discriminated groups something to believe in: hope. Hope for a better tomorrow. Hope for equality. Hope that eventually the War on Christianity and the War on Drugs will be over.

But most importantly, he has taught us that no matter what the political atmosphere might be like in this country, it will always be funny to put the words ‘Jesus’ and ‘bong’ in the same sentence.

E-mail Josh at [email protected] with the best sentence containing the words “Jesus” and “bong.”