If there’s one thing all ringers know for sure, it’s that hobbits in LOTR like pipe-weed. Did you purchase feminized seeds for sale and wonder if your plants will be the same ones these mystical beings smoke? You’re not alone.
Fans have long hypothesized why pipe-weed is the Middle-earth form of cannabis. Discover their theories and what the author had to say about its true composition.
What Is the Hobbit Pipe-Weed?
Hobbit pipe-weed originated from a Middle earth plant. Respected gardener Tobold Hornblower introduced it.
He was from the Southfarthing village of Longbottom and started a pipe-weed business that became extremely popular among all habitants of the Shire state.
Some believed he learned about it in Bree as the “herb that grew on the South slopes.” Two pipe-weed strains, Old Toby and Longbottom Leaf, were named after him. Hornblower may have passed away in the 27th century, but his legacy lives on.
The hobbits of Shire loved the pipe-weed that Hornblower brought. In Dúnedain, locals called it Sweet Galenas, while in Gondor, they called it Westman’s-weed.
They believed the Númenóreans brought the plant to Middle-earth in the Second Age, where it was known as a “wild plant.”
So, is it only used by hobbits? No. Wizard Gandalf had a weed-pipe he learned to use from the Halflings. At its essence, pipe-weed is dried-up herbs that they put in a clay or wooden object and smoke to feel merrier.
Easter Eggs Pointing to Pipe-Weed Being Actual Weed
The Lord of the Rings series is one of the most-read books globally. Fans have long hypothesized what was in the hobbits’ pipes.
Many believe The Lord Of The Rings pipe-weed is, in fact, marijuana or the Middle-earth version of it. What makes viewers think that? The books and movies leave many hints that make it seem that way.
One of the main reasons is how the hobbits live their lives. For example:
- They’re known for their consistent peaceful standpoints (kind of like hippies).
- They have beautiful gardens and green thumbs (like many cannabis growers.
- They have many exquisite meals, including an afternoon tea and a second breakfast (sounds like the munchies).
In Jackson’s film adaptation, Saruman says to Gandalf, “Your love of the halflings’ leaf has clearly slowed your mind.”
While it’s true that Saruman is particularly critical of Gandalf, it’s hard to ignore what he said. Slowing down the mind is a stereotypical effect of marijuana. This quote made fans think that pipe-weed is cannabis.
In unfinished tales, Gandalf describes pipe-weed in a way that people typically talk about marijuana. He says, “…if you used this herb yourself. You might find that smoke blown out clears your mind of shadows within. Anyway, it gives patience, to listen to errors without anger.”
The mental clarity is similar to people’s descriptions of certain strains of cannabis. He also refers to the abolishment of the shadows, which may have some spiritual connotation. Many religions, like Rastafarians, believe that marijuana removes negativity.
In the movie The Return of the King, two characters behave in a way that makes them look suspiciously high. There’s a scene where Merry and Pippin are smoking some pipe-weed.
They’re eating and giggling as they puff, and their eyes turn to distended, crescent shapes. Red, puffy eyes and excessive laughter are common effects of cannabis.
Aside from how the hobbits act when they smoke it, there’s another critical reason fans think it’s marijuana: the name. Why name it pipe-weed if it isn’t weed?
The Golden Question: Is the Pipe-Weed in the LOTR Actually Cannabis?
Now to answer the question on everyone’s mind; are the characters in LOTR using pipe-weed that’s actually cannabis?
According to Tolkien, it’s not marijuana. The talented author enjoys tobacco, so he likely modeled pipe-weed after his habits.
He elaborates in the appendices of his books: “They imbibed or inhaled, through pipes of clay or wood, the smoke of the burning leaves of a herb, which they called pipe-weed or leaf, a variety probably of Nicotiana.”
Nicotiana refers to any plant related to tobacco. People usually dry the leaves, chew them, or use them as snuff or smoke. It has intoxicating effects but nothing like those experienced by the LOTR characters.
The mystery makes it one of those fantasy books everyone loves. It leaves a lot of room for interpretation. That’s why many readers still believe pipe-weed is Middle-earth marijuana.
Conclusion
Some fans believe that the hobbits fill the Tolkien pipes with cannabis. The effects, like giggling and crescent eyes, are similar to those of marijuana. The lifestyle of the halflings also makes them appear like cliché stoners with their multiple meal times and peaceful demeanors.
However, the author Tolkien has stated that pipe-weed isn’t cannabis. It’s a variety of Nicotiana, which he says is tobacco, but because of the cannabis-like effects, many still believe it’s marijuana. What do you think?
