118
19. Ganja and charas are usually used for
smoking. Ganja also forms an important ingre
- d i e n t i n t h e p r e p a r a t i o n o f m a j u m a n d g u l k a n d ,
which are eaten. Ganja is also substituted for
bhang for drinking purposes. A preparation con
¬ s i s t i n g o f g a n j a , s a l t , h a l d i , a n d w h e a t f l o u r i s
made and given to bullocks for stimulating their
appetite. This is prevalent in the Nimar district.
20. Ganja and charas smoking is not confined
to any particular class or community. It is more
freely used by the lower order of society, agricul
¬tural classes excepted. The class of bairagis (re
¬ l i g i o u s m e n d i c a n t s ) a r e n o t o r i o u s a s g a n j a s m o k e r s .
Artists, whose trade is of a sedentary nature and
requires application, are more or less addicted to
ganja smoking, so are also persons whose duties
subject them to the inclemencies of weather and
require them to move about in bad and unhealthy
places. It should, however, be borne in mind that
members of higher orders of society are not
usually addicted to ganja smoking although they
are placed in circumstances indicated above.
21. Flat ganja is preferred for smoking.
23. I do not know of people ever using bhang
for smoking.
24. I know of no persons eating bhang. Per
- s o n s u s e d t o d r i n k b h a n g s o m e t i m e s e a t i t , w h e n
they do not care to take the trouble of preparing
it in liquid form.
25. The use of ganja appears to be on the de
- c r e a s e o w i n g t o t a x a t i o n t o w h i c h i t i s s u b j e c t e d
and the growing poverty of the people.
Ganja.
Per cent.
Bhang.
Per cent.
Habitual moderate consumers
75
80
Habitual excessive consumers
15
10
Occasional moderate consumers
5
5
Occasional excessive consumers
5
5
27. These are taken from all classes of people.
The habits of life or circumstances, which lead to
the practice cannot be particularised. I know of
persons of active as well sedentary habits given to
the use of ganja. So also ganja smokers can be
found among people under any set of circum-
stances.
28. Cost per diem per head-
Ganja. Mang.
Habitual excessive consumers
4 annas 2 annas.
Habitual moderate consumers
1 anna 1 anna.
29. The ingredient ordinarily mixed with ganja
is tobacco. The ingredients exceptionally mixed
are:— (1) Gudakhoo for suppressing its bad smell;
(2) poison root, (3) arsenic, (4) nux vomica, (6)
dhatura, for raising the degree of intoxication.
No particular class can be named by which the
above are so mixed.
(1) Pepper, (2) aniseed, (3) almonds, (4) dry
rose buds, (5) cardamoms, for giving it a taste
and flavour and for accelerating its cooling effects.
The ingredients exceptionally mixed are
: — ( 1 ) c h i c o r y , ( 2 ) k a m a l k a k d i ( l o t u s s e e d ) , ( 3 )
cucumber seeds, (4) poppy seeds, for above rea
¬ s o n s i n h o t w e a t h e r ; ( 5 ) p o i s o n r o o t , ( 6 ) d h a t u r a ,
(7) arsenic, (8) roots of jowari, (9) roots of
kanher, to give it exceptionally high intoxication
power.
30. The consumption of both ganja and bhang
is practised in limited company to a greater extent.
It is confined to the male sex excepting a few of
the prostitutes, but it is not confined to any time
of life. It is not usual for children to consume
any of these drugs. Some ill-behaved lads, moving
in bad company, begin to use it about the time
they are 15 or 16 years old.
31. The habit of consuming ganja or bhang is
easily formed. It is difficult to break off, but
not so difficult as the habit of consuming opium
is. There is a tendency in case of both ganja and
bhang for moderate habit to develop into the ex
- c e s s i v e o n e .
32. There is no custom, either social or reli-
gious, with regard to the consumption of any of
these drugs; on picnic days if the party consists
of young men of levity, bhang is sometimes pre
- p a r e d w i t h o r d i n a r y b h a n g - m a s s a l a t o b e d r u n k
an hour or two before the meals; on similar
occasions ganja smoking takes the place of bhang
if the party consists of members of lower orders
of society. During Holi festivals bhang is more
largely used among all classes of people, the
object being to cheer up their spirits and add to
the enjoyment of the festival. It is always tem
- p e r a t e . I t i s n o t a t a l l l i k e l y t o l e a d t o t h e
formation of habit or to be otherwise injurious.
33. The consumption of each of these drugs is
regarded as low. The use of ganja as well as
bhang is generally held in disrepute. The senti
- m e n t m a y b e a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e c o n t r o l o n e l o s e s
more or less over his own actions and speech, and
also to the eccentricity of disposition it tends to
create. Use of ganja is considered more vicious, in
fact the use of any intoxicant is regarded as dis
- r e p u t a b l e a m o n g t h e H i n d u c o m m u n i t y . T h e r e
is no custom of worshipping the hemp plant on
any occasion by any sect of people.
34. To forego the consumption of any of these
drugs would be a serious privation to such persons
as have been long in the habit of using it. The
gosains and bairagis may be cited as examples.
They are half-clad. They endure the heat of
summer and cold of winter under the influence of
ganja and bhang, and for them to forego the use
of these drugs would mean a very serious priva
- t i o n . T o o t h e r s i t w i l l c a u s e g r e a t u n e a s i n e s s .
It may even affect their health for some time.
35. It may be feasible to prohibit the use of
any of these drugs but it will certainly not be
feasible to prohibit the use of all of them. If
the use of all the drugs were prohibited entirely,
the people will be more inclined to take recourse
to the consumption of illicit drugs. Yes, the
prohibition will occasion discontent to some extent
among moderate consumers, and will lead to
serious discontent among habitual excessive con
¬ s u m e r s . I d o n o t t h i n k t h e d i s c o n t e n t w i l l
amount to political danger. It may, however,
cause petty riots. The prohibition will be fol
¬ l o w e d b y r e c o u r s e t o a l c o h o l i c s t i m u l a n t s i n c a s e
of those whose religion permits the use of such
stimulants and who can afford to pay for them,
or to other drugs such as opium, poison root,
arsenic, dhatura, nux vomica, roots of jowar and
kanher plants, in case of others.
36. I do not think that alcohol is now being to
any extent substituted for any of these drugs.
On the other hand, I know of a few cases of
persons giving up alcohol in favour of ganja. The
tendency of these drugs taking the place of spiri
- t u o u s l i q u o r s m a y b e a t t r i b u t e d t o c o m p a r a t i v e
poverty among the people addicted to the use of
the intoxicating drugs, spirituous liquors costing
more than the hemp drugs.
37. The effects of charas smoking are different
from those resulting from ganja smoking in this
particular that the intoxication produced by the
former is doubly strong. It causes a certain
amount of momentary fainting sensation in the
smoker and produces a sort of shock in chest
as soon as it is smoked.