Photos have emerged of Justin Bieber holding pot.

TMZ has posted what look to be cell phone pictures of the 18-year-old holding a marijuana cigarette.  TMZ says the photos were snapped at a party inside a Newport Beach hotel January 2nd.

January 1st, a paparazzo was killed trying to photograh Bieber's Ferrari in LA.  The pop star wasn't in the car when it was pulled over by police for speeding.  An officer ordered photographer Chris Guerra to back off because the situation was unsafe. That's when Guerra was hit by a passing SUV.

Guerra claimed he'd seen Bieber puffing pot from a pipe while behind the wheel of his Ferrari earlier that day.

Bieber posted a cryptic tweet late Friday night after the party photos surfaced saying "everyday growing and learning. trying to be better. u get knocked down, u get up."