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One thing I do know: the words "Hashish" and "Assassin" have the same root.

Right. I have nothing to look it up right now so there might be some errors.

Anyway, the names originated from a guy call al-Hasan ibn-al-Sabbahed. He built up a terror network of assassins who would kill anyone, anywhere and were not afraid to sacrifice their own lives. He used them to blackmail many countries, that is their leaders.

He brain washed his recruits by giving them drugs to show 'em paradise.

The newbie recruit was told that by giving his live he would enter paradise. After that he was given a drug (maybe hashish, probably something stronger) transported into a beautiful garden with lot of good tasting food, alcohol and of course pretty girls.

When he started to get tired again, he was given another drug and transported back to his rooms.

Anyway, that's how the story goes.

There is a lot of stuff written about this guy and his organization. Supposedly he was also a member of the Illuminati.

Try to google it, it's a very fascinating subject.

Found something. It's a bit of topic, but since it is fascinating and someone asked for it, I'm going to spam this thread a bit.

After describing in glowing terms the magnificent garden surrounding the elegant pavilions and palaces built by the grand master at Alamut, Polo proceeds: "Now no man was allowed to enter the Garden save those whom he intended to be his ASHISHIN. There was a fortress at the entrance to the Garden, strong enough to resist all the world, and there was no other way to get in. He kept at his Court a number of the youths of the country, from twelve to twenty years of age, such as had a taste for soldiering... Then he would introduce them into his Garden, some four, or six, or ten at a time, having first made them drink a certain potion which cast them into a deep sleep, and then causing them to be lifted and carried in. So when they awoke they found themselves in the Garden.

"When therefore they awoke, and found themselves in a place so charming, they deemed that it was Paradise in very truth. And the ladies and damsels dallied with them to their hearts' content...

"So when the Old Man would have any prince slain, he would say to such a youth: 'Go thou and slay So and So; and when thou returnest my Angels shall bear thee into Paradise. And shouldst thou die, natheless even so will I send my Angels to carry thee back into Paradise.'"

(from The Book of Ser Marco Polo, the Venetian, translated by Henry Yule, London, 1875.)