The data in the South African Journal of Science stated that the tobacco pipes, dated 17th century, found in Stratford-upon-Avon, Central England, had indications of cannabis and nicotine. When the report was published in 2001, it stated that several of the pipes came from the garden of the famous playwright, William Shakespeare.
The residue that was found were analysed by Professor Francis Thackeray from the Evolutionary Studies Institute at University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tommy van der Merwe from South African Police narcotics laboratory and Nicholas van der Merwe from the University of Cape Town.
Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) was used in examining the traces. The result of the study, which included 24 pipe fragments, indicated cannabis on eight samples — four came from Shakespeare's garden — nicotine on one sample and Peruvian cocaine from coca leaves in the other two samples, The Independent reported.
Despite the findings, the report did not claim that the poet smoked marijuana. However, Thackeray is still speculating that cannabis could have been the playwright's source of inspiration, according to CNN.
The bard's sonnet suggested that he was familiar with the drugs' effects, The Telegraph learned. In sonnet 76, he wrote something about the "invention in a noted weed."
Several reported interpretations suggested that Shakespeare was willing to use weed for creative writing. In the same sonnet, he wrote that he would not prefer to be associated with "compounds strange."
An email sent by Thackeray to CNN stated that the term may have been regarded with cocaine.
Another speculation is that the Bard may have been aware of the detrimental effects of cocaine as a "strange compound," so he preferred cannabis instead, for its mind stimulating properties.
Bringing the arts and sciences together in the effort to understand the contemporaries of Shakespeare is remarkable.
The chemical and literary analyses could be beneficial. However, whether Shakespeare was high or not when he wrote his masterpieces like "Hamlet" and "Romeo and Juliet" remains a mystery.
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