There are several historical figures who are believed to have smoked marijuana or used cannabis in some form. Here are some examples:
- William Shakespeare – Some scholars believe that Shakespeare may have used marijuana, as some of his works contain references to “weed” and “hemp”.
- Queen Elizabeth I – We don’t know for sure that Queen Elizabeth I smoked weed, but we do know that she ordered landowners to grow it. Sure, the strong hemp fibers were needed, but did she have other reasons for cultivating the plant?
- Queen Victoria – As far as famous people smoking weed, you can’t get much better than Queen Victoria. It is said that the royal doctor at the time, Sir Russell Reynolds, prescribed Her Royal Highness cannabis to help ease menstrual cramps. Since cannabis is well-known for helping relieve pain and inflammation, it’s no surprise that the Queen enjoyed smoking weed.
- George Washington – Washington reportedly was interested in using hemp fibers to make ropes and sails, a common practice in the day; and it’s possible that he also smoked it.
- Joan of Arc – Legendary French revolutionary Joan of Arc was burned at the stake at the age of 19, but she allegedly didn’t let her limited time on this earth stop her from smoking cannabis. While no writings prove the young warrior smoked weed, she came from a village known for its “witch ointments.” The modern belief is that these ointments were made from cannabis to make use of the plant’s therapeutic effects.
- Louis Armstrong – The famous jazz musician was known to be a frequent user of marijuana.
- Bob Marley – The reggae legend was a devout Rastafarian, and the use of cannabis is an important part of Rastafarian culture.
- Carl Sagan – The renowned astrophysicist and science communicator was a user and advocate for marijuana, believing it helped him to be more creative and introspective.
- Hunter S. Thompson – The author of “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” was an avid marijuana user and often wrote about his experiences with the drug.
- Maya Angelou – The poet and author admitted in her autobiography that she had used marijuana in her younger years.
It’s worth noting that the use of marijuana has been criminalized for much of modern history, and so there may be other historical figures who used it but kept it a secret.
