William Shakespeare Smoked Weed While Writing Plays? Pot Residue Found in Pipes

William Shakespeare is renowned the world over for a large number of masterpieces. And while we can undoubtedly lend our thanks and praise to his wonderful writing abilities, it looks like now we may know where he garnered much of his inspiration: smoking weed. Yes, it's being reported that there have been traces of pot found in Shakespeare's 400-year-old tobacco pipes, which have been dug up from the playwright's garden.

The Telegraph reports that marijuana residue was discovered in the 17th century pipes. Those findings were then "analyzed by Pretoria using a sophisticated technique called gas chromatography mass spectrometry," according to the publication. From that, scientists were able to discover that Shakespeare was a stoner had cannabis in the pipes.

Twenty-four fragments were founded in the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. In those fragments, cannabis was discovered on eight of the samples.

The publication notes that in the stories of a number of famed Shakespeare works, sonnets and plays, suggestions of drug use have been made. For example, Sonnet 76 discusses the "invention of a noted weed."

Judging from this news, it seems certain that Shakespeare would have LOVED this Epic Rap Battle:

So, folks, which of the scribe's plays do you believe was written under the influence? Let us know below!