It’s safe to say cannabis is a widely-used substance. With millions of recreational users worldwide, and with the increase in legalisation of medical marijuana across the globe, those numbers keep climbing as more people turn to the sticky green plant to help relieve countless ailments.
The use of cannabis for recreational and medical purposes is nothing new, though; the plant’s history dates back thousands of years with a fascinating backstory we’ve covered in detail on these very pages. So, given the history of cannabis, there must be some.....how should we put it...high-profile users?
Naturally, when we think about the who’s-who of famous cannabis users, we think of the elite celebrities who’ve gone on record to discuss their love of the puff – Snoop Dogg, Drake, Jay-Z, Miley Cyrus, Seth Rogen, Dave Chapelle and so on. Maybe you dig a little further back and think of Cheech and Chong, Richard Pryor, Jimi Hendrix or any number of legendary entertainers. But what if we told you there was another list, a list containing some pretty heavy-hitters who are lesser-known for their alliance with cannabis, but who packed some clout as well as some bowls?
Here’s a quick look at some famous figures in history who either used cannabis or are believed to have use cannabis, that you won’t find on many lists.
Shen Nong (c.2737 B.C)
Okay so this is a long time ago. Shen Nong was a somewhat mythical Chinese Emperor who is sometimes called ‘The Father of Chinese Medicine”. His teachings were passed down through word of mouth until eventually being collated in the Pen Ts’ao Ching, one of the earliest pharmacopeias. Shen Nong referred to cannabis as a medicinal plant, so we may have him to thank for opening the door to medicinal use. Given that he was around almost 3,000 years before Jesus Christ, records are hard to verify, but famed cannabis author and researcher Ethan Russo wrote about this in his 2007 study, ‘A History Of Cannabis And Its Use In Saga, Science And Sobriquet. Whether or not Shen Nong smoked weed with Willie Nelson remains the subject of speculation.
Queen Victoria
Arguably the most notorious monarch ever to reign over the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Queen Victoria is often portrayed as a somewhat stuffy character with a reputation for a strict authoritative rule. The truth may be somewhat different, however, as records paint Her Majesty as a warmhearted and lively character, a keen diarist who had a gift for drawing and painting.
It’s nothing new for creative types to have an affinity for cannabis use, but if you’re picturing the great monarch rolling spliffs in doodling on an easel in Buckingham Palace, let’s stop you there. Queen Victoria was reportedly prescribed cannabis by Royal Physician, Dr Russell Reynolds, as a means to alleviate menstrual cramps. Score one more win for medical cannabis. And before you ask, Her Majesty had no affiliation to Royal Queen Seeds....
William Shakespeare
Continuing with the theme of cannabis unlocking creativity, the man known as the greatest playwright of all time has ties to the herb. William Shakespeare needs little introduction, with a body of work written in the late 16th and early 17th centuries and still read, studied, and performed to this day. But did Shakespeare actually smoke pot? Obviously, no photos of Shakesepare exist, let alone any of him holding a bong. But South African anthropologist, Francis Thackeray, and his team conducted tests on around twenty-four pipes found in or around the bard’s garden at his former home in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Of the pipes tested, eight tested positive for traces of 17th century marijuana, with four of these coming directly from Shakespeare’s yard.
Of course, this does nothing to prove Shakespeare partook in cannabis – unless there was a typo somewhere and his 1599 pastoral comedy was actually supposed to be called ‘As You Light It'.
Alexandre Dumas
Another legendary writer, responsible for no less a masterpiece than The Three Musketeers – was not only a stoner of sorts, but a card-carrying club member. Rather than being a joint afficianado, Dumas preferred to partake in edibles, and was a frequent attendee of L’Club Des Hachichins, established in Paris in 1843. Here, members would gather and consume a substance called Dawamesc, made from cannabis paste, honey, fat, and pistachios. If only they had the Seedsman blog back then, they could surely have created something infinitely more palatable. Other noted members of L’Club Des Hachichins include Victor Hugo, author of The Hunchback Of Notre Dame.
There’s a pattern forming here suggesting that writers enjoy cannabis. The author of this blog pleads the fifth.
Abraham Lincoln
Dapper Kentuckian and 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, smoked your favourite plant – and is speculated to have admitted as much. True to form, the man nicknamed Honest Abe is said to have written a letter in which he stated, “Two of my favorite things are sitting on my front porch smoking a pipe of sweet hemp and playing my Hohner harmonica.”
As if looking at Lincoln wasn’t enough to tell you he was a stoner.
And if true, Lincoln wasn’t the only US President to imbibe. Bill Clinton famously claimed he’d “lit it, but didn’t inhale” (which begs the question, “why bother?”) and 44th President, Barack Obama, admitted to smoking marijuana back in his school days, as included in his autobiography, “Dreams Of My Father”. Makes you wonder if they should consider changing the name of The White House to The Green House....
Carl Sagan
The late astronomer, philosopher and writer, Carl Sagan, is a beloved figure who played a pivotal role in helping ordinary people to understand the mysteries of the cosmos in the late 20th century. He was also a lifelong cannabis user and closeted advocate for the legalisation of weed. One of the greatest and most respected scholars of his time, Sagan started out as an assistant professor at Harvard, before moving on to unlock the secrets of other some other planets in our solar system.
In 1969, Sagan published an essay under the pseudonym Mr X, in which he documented his own experiences with cannabis in a bid to dissolve the misconceptions around the plant, which was still heavily stigmatised in society around that time. Sagan would advocate for the medical use of cannabis for terminally ill patients, and enjoyed regular cannabis use throughout his life.
It’s nothing new, then, to ponder the mysteries of the universe after a heavily-packed joint - Carl Sagan arguably solved a few of them.
And these are only the ones we know of. It may forever remain a mystery what other Kings, Queens, noblemen and luminaries enjoyed the benefits of our favourite plant. But one thing remains clear – from the highest houses of the land to the back yard of lauded playwrights, or even your back porch – cannabis is for everyone.
