I am surprised to see that no one has yet mentioned Francis Bacon in this thread! ;) Compare Will's and his portrait..now that sure gets ya wondering eh? Check out Manly P. Hall's book - 'The Secret Teachings of All Ages- Masonic Hermetic Qabbalistic & Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy', there is a great section in there about it.(Would a rose by any other name.....)The history of Canabis Sativa, Indica, and Hemp is long and varied. Indeed throughout time it has been used as a medicine as Gervase points out about its mention in Culpepper's work. It would be no surprise to me to find out that Shakespeare partook. Live free~ (pardon all my poor spelling)