You can often find posts on social networks that the great writer smoked more than seven marijuana cigarettes a day, and while working on the novel “The Idiot” - up to 15. We verified the accuracy of this information.
For several years now, posts have been periodically popping up on the Internet about how scientists allegedly discovered cannabinoids in the exhumed bones and hair of Fyodor Dostoevsky. From this discovery, scientists allegedly concluded that the writer drew inspiration, among other things, from narcotic substances. Similar information can be found in various blogs, online magazines, on forums, in Telegram-channels, on pages in Facebook, "VKontakte"and other social networks.
According to a note circulating on the Internet, after the exhumation and examination of Dostoevsky’s remains, a substance was discovered in the writer’s bones and hair tetrahydrocannabinol. First of all, it is worth noting that theoretically such an examination is possible. This is confirmed by the finding of researchers from Italy, who in January 2024 conducted a toxicological analysis of the found human bones of the 1600s and discovered there are traces of tetrahydrocannabinol. In addition, archaeotoxicological tests hair samples collected from pre-Columbian Peruvian mummies have revealed the presence of cocaine or nicotine. In some others research cocaine, nicotine and cannabis have been found in the hair, bones and soft tissue of Egyptian mummies, but some researchers question the reliability of the results of these works.
However, “Verified” did not find any reliable information about the alleged exhumation of Dostoevsky’s remains. According to official sources, they still rest in the Tikhvin cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg, where the writer was buried in 1881.
The writer was indeed known for his passion for smoking tobacco, and this confirms great-grandson of Fyodor Mikhailovich in an interview with the information portal “Inspector”. However, neither the biographies, nor the memoirs of contemporaries, nor the studies related to the life of Dostoevsky mention the content of cannabis in his cigarettes. Moreover, the detail that cannabis was added to tobacco to attract customers has no historical evidence. In the 19th century in Russia tobacco was popular product, and it is unlikely that any of the manufacturers added marijuana to cigarettes for commercial gain.
The mention of the Smorodinov family and their shop at the Kuznechny Market, from which they allegedly brought cigarettes to Dostoevsky, is also a fiction. In the 19th century, the site where the Blacksmith Market is now located belonged Vladimir Church and was built up with warehouses until the 20th century. The first market on this site appeared only in 1927, 46 years after the death of Dostoevsky.
For the first time note about the exhumation of the writer’s remains appeared on September 25, 2015 on the Facebook of the artist and writer, author of numerous absurd satirical texts Igor Ponochevny. Ukrainian portal "Apostrophe" suggestedthat Ponochevny came up with this story in response to the decision of the Investigative Committee of Russia. His employees wanted to exhume the remains of Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna in order to reopen the investigation into the murder of the royal family. Although there is no connection between these events as such, one can only note that Ponochevny published his note two days after advertisements about the exhumation of the remains of the royal family. In any case, social network users have been sharing Ponochevny’s note for almost ten years, sometimes indicating his authorship and clarifying that the text is humorous, but more often anonymously and without any context.
Thus, all the facts indicate that Igor Ponochevny’s article is completely fictitious. It mixes elements of real history (for example, Dostoevsky and his love of smoking), fictional details (cannabis cigarettes, the Smorodinov family, exhumation), and incorrect historical context.
Cover photo: Facebook
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- Popular Mechanics. An Ancient Tomb Revealed a Potent Surprise: 17th Century Bones Contained THC
- Is it true that Dostoevsky is the author of the Christmas poem “God’s Gift”?
- Is it true that Dostoevsky is the author of the phrase “We all came out of Gogol’s “Overcoat””?
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