According to a new study from the South African Journal of Science, William Shakespeare could have been stoned when he wrote his now celebrated plays. 

As per Uproxx, scientists at the University of the Witwatersrand reached such conclusion after analyzing 24 clay fragments of the bearded bard and his neighbors' century tobacco pipes found near Shakespeare's garden in Stratford-upon-Avon.

With the use of gas chromatography mass spectrometry on the fragments, the researchers attempted to learn if marijuana, coca and tobacco leaves were already a hit during Shakespeare's era. As it turns out, they were, and the playwright even tried some. Eight of these 17th century pipes had cannabis and nicotine residues. However, none of Shakespeare's pipes tested with cocaine.

Independent adds that one sample was found with nicotine while two other samples had traces of Peruvian cocaine from coca leaves. As per the published study, author Francis Thackeray came to the conclusion that Shakespeare liked weed as "a stimulant which had mind-stimulating properties." To further demonstrate this, the researchers cited "Sonnet 76" as an example that suggested Shakespeare lit up some before he wrote it.

Why is my verse so barren of new pride?

So far from variation or quick change?

Why with the time do I not glance aside

To new-found methods and to compounds strange?

Why write I still all one, ever the same,

And keep invention in a noted weed,

That every word doth almost tell my name,

Showing their birth and where they did proceed?

O, know, sweet love, I always write of you,

And you and love are still my argument;

So all my best is dressing old words new,

Spending again what is already spent:

For as the sun is daily new and old,

So is my love still telling what is told.

As mentioned in the study, the phrase "invention in a noted weed" hints that Shakespeare was willing to use weed, which it described as "cannabis as a kind of tobacco" solely for creative writing, which the dramaturge referred to as "invention" in the sonnet.

Although the researchers also argued that "Sonnet 76" is a composition of "complex wordplay" with drug and compound places mixed with Shakespeare's innate writing style, they also suggested that "compounds strange," which is understood as a reference to "strange drugs," such as cocaine, is something the playwright did not want to get into. This is because the bard knew of its "deleterious effects," as per the study.