William Shakespeare, Dopesmoker

 

Over the weekend The Independent posted an intriguing article regarding chemical analysis conducted on a series of clay pipes found in William Shakespeare's garden. South African scientists claim to have found traces of cannabis on a number of pipes; however, pipes containing residue of cocaine were NOT among those from Shakespeare's garden. Francis Thackeray reminds us that in 17th century England, "tobacco" was a term used to identify a number of smokeable products from the New World:

There were several kinds of tobacco in the 17th century, including the North American Nicotiana (from which we get nicotine), and cocaine (Erythroxylum), which is obtained from Peruvian coca leaves.

It has been claimed that Sir Francis Drake may have brought coca leaves to England after his visit to Peru, just as Sir Walter Raleigh had brought “tobacco leaves” (Nicotiana) from Virginia in North America.

Thackeray goes on to identify what was found in the bowls and stems of Shakespeare's garden pipes:

There was unquestionable evidence for the smoking of coca leaves in early 17th century England, based on chemical evidence from two pipes in the Stratford-upon-Avon area.

Neither of the pipes with cocaine came from Shakepeare’s garden. But four of the pipes with cannabis did.

Results of this study (including 24 pipe fragments) indicated cannabis in eight samples, nicotine in at least one sample, and in two samples definite evidence for Peruvian cocaine from coca leaves.

Shakespeare may have been aware of the deleterious effects of cocaine as a strange compound. Possibly, he preferred cannabis as a weed with mind-stimulating properties.

Thackeray suggests there is textual evidence to back up the notion that the Bard was a'tokin': "In Sonnet 76, Shakespeare writes about 'invention in a noted weed'. This can be interpreted to mean that Shakespeare was willing to use 'weed' (cannabis as a kind of tobacco) for creative writing ('invention')." Hmm, maybe. But when it comes to achieving the summits of those far out psychedelic experiences, the pen is always mightier than the pipe!

Read on at The Independent.