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33. The public opinion on. the habit of ganja–-
smoking appears to be that it is degrading, and
this seems to be the reason why a ganja smoker
always has a reluctance to be known as addicted
to the habit, and is very unwilling to confess it.
Among Muhammadans, the Koran prohibits
strictly the use of any intoxicating drug whatever.
But among the low Hindus, there seems to be no
such religious prohibition. The use of the nar-
cotic in question is generally in disrepute, because
it makes the user callous to his surroundings, in-
–different to the welfare of his kith and kin, and
even to his personal well-being.
Certain sects of the people in Northern India
are said to make, on certain occasions, bhang the
object of worship. But no such thing exists
here.
34. I am told it would be a serious privation
to forego the drug accustomed to, as it would pro-
– d u c e c e r t a i n l y s o m e e v i l c o n s e q u e n c e s , s u c h a s
diarrhœa, flatulence, complete loss of appetite, utter
disinclination to do any work, and even madness.
36. No ; as far as I am able to make out. My
informers emphatically tell me that the effects of
alcohol and of hemp are almost antagonistic, and
that one addicted to the latter will hardly ever
think of taking to alcohol, even if he be quite
deprived of the drug, the antipathy to alcohol
produced by the habit being so great.
37. There is no charas-smoking here at all.
38. Only the flat ganja is used.
39. Ganja-smoking is believed to be more injuri–-
ous than bhang-eating, unless, indeed, the latter
is carried to great excess, coupled with inadequate
living. The reason attributed is that the former,
habitually used, dissipates the appetite and dries
up the constitution, and is also apt to produce a
chronic cough. It also slowly but surely destroys
the virile power and weakens eye-sight. On the
other hand, the ingredients mixed wit h the ganja
to make bhang counteract the ill-effects of the
drug, and thus render the latter preparation less
injurious. It also sharpens appetite, and therefore
does good to the consumer, as long as he is able
to obtain sufficient food in satisfaction to the
increased demand.
40. None of the drugs used by itself medicin–-
ally ; but native physicians are said to prepare a
k i n d o f ' h a l v a , ' o f wh i c h g a n j a f o r ms o n e o f ma n y
ingredients, and use it medicinally, one action
attributed to it being that of aphrodisiac.
Ganja is used for cattle disease, mixed with
other things.
41. Even moderate habitual ganja-smoking is
(a) said to undermine digestive powers, although
it seems to somewhat promote them at the com–-
mencement, and also suppresses desire for food, so
that an habitual, after smoking, is not particular
about food, though the moment before he might
have felt very hungry ; (b) hardly; (c) is reputed
to have the power of preventing disease in malari–-
ous and other unhealthy tracts; so that habituals
can travel from place to place of different climatic
and other conditions with impunity from such
trivial complaints as are incidental to such a
fugitive life. Habitual use of hemp in any
shape is also said to render the consumer
almost proof against snake-bites. Occasional
moderate use of hemp in any form would also seem
to act as aphrodisiac. Bhaug, besides having all
the above properties in a more marked degree, is
also said to possess the beneficial effects pointed
out in (b) , be the drug used habitually moderately
or occasionally moderately. Moreover, bhang
does not so easily destroy digestive powers
or the appetite. This is perhaps due to the
dilution it undergoes in the preparation. The hill
people are said to use ganja for purposes indicated
in (c).
43. As a rule inoffensive; but it occasionally
happens that a novice is too much excited by ganja
smoke, and then may prove obnoxious to neigh-
– b o u r s .
44, (a) The immediate effect of ganja-smoking or
bhang-eating is to produce an exhilarating and
satisfactory feeling, and to produce forgetfulness
for the time being of mental trouble. (b) Said to
be refreshing. (c) Yes; very slight in ganja, but
more in bhang, (d) Yes; ganja does, but bhang
increases hunger and the desire to eat, which must
be satisfied without stint, else evil result follows,
markedly emaciation and nervousness. (e) Not
ganja, but bhang does. (f) That of ganja lasts
four or five hours, but that of bhang double the
time, or even more. (g) None, it would appear.
(h) Yes; very decidedly.
45. Consumers say no noxious effects are pro-
– d u c e d u n d e r a n y o f t h e t h r e e h e a d s s o l o n g a s
sufficient food is supplied, but that physical and
mental deterioration is brought about if supply of
food is inadequate; but no moral ill-effect.
Others contradict and say that even the moderate
use of any of the drugs produces eventually
emaciation, complete loss of virile power, a con-
– t i n u o u s m o r o s e n e s s a n d a p a t h y t o s u r r o u n d i n g s ,
chronic cough, mental deterioration, sometimes
even amounting to insanity and annihilation of
love for kith and kin, and also considerable dimi-
nution of nervous energy, etc, But it is pointed
out saliently that the habit never leads to intem-
–perance, but on the other hand produces a kind of
antipathy to liquor. Said hardly to impair the
moral sense, or induce habits of immorality.
47. No evidence at all of the ganja habit being
hereditary, nor does it seem to affect the children
of moderate consumers.
49. (a) No ; although the effect on a beginner
is said to excite sexual desire. On the other hand,
the habitual use is said to decidedly quench the de–-
sire, and is for this purpose used by fakirs,
(b) No.
(c) Not known.
(d) Decidedly yes; although a very few deny
this.
51. (a) No.
(b) Hardly any connection.
53. In some few cases excessive indulgence is
said to induce so much excitement as to lead to
acts of violence on the slightest provocation, such
as severe assault, regardless of consequences. But
ordinarily the effect of such indulgence seems to
be to completely incapacitate the individual, either
by intoxicating or by inducing an extreme apathe–-
tic condition, so that no attempt whatever is
made even to resent an aggression.
No such case is known to me.
54. Not at all usually.
55. (a) Very seldom indeed.
(b) It would appear so.
56, As observed before, ganja is always smoked
with an admixture of tobacco, which would seem
to bring the effect of the drug out to full advan-
– t a g e , n o d a l s o t o m i t i g a t e i t s i l l - e f f e c t s , n o t a b l y
the nasty bitter taste of the drug and the tendency
to produce dryness of chest. The ingredients
entering into bhang would seem to remove the ill-
erects of the drug to a large extent, at the same