382
qualities for one year, but in the second year they
lose their effect to a large extent, while in the
third year they would be utterly useless. No
means can prevent deterioration.
19. Charas is used only for smoking, but ganja
for both purposes, smoking and eating as stated
against question 15.
20. The use of ganja is not restricted to a parti-
cular class of people. The waddis or well-diggers
use it perhaps more freely than any other class.
Men of comparatively low moral status indulge
in its use. Charas is not known here.
21. Only country ganja or charas is used in
this district. Flat or round ganja is not known
here.
22. No charas here.
23. Bhang is a liquid and cannot be smoked.
24. Bhang drinkers are very few in this dis-
trict.
25. As far as my experience goes, the use of
ganja seems to be on its decrease. Before the
introduction of the ganja monopoly people were
allowed to sell and possess the drug freely, and
it was a sort of encouragement for them to in-
dulge in ganja-smoking. But now, as depart-
mental restrictions increased, the use of the drug
decreased. Moreover, the drug is not procurable
in every village as in former days, inasmuch as
shops are allowed only in selected villages of
much importance. It is said that most of the
occasional consumers of the rural villages have
given up the practice of ganja smoking, as diffi-
culty was experienced in procuring the drug from
distant villages where shops exist. After the
introduction of the monopoly the drug is sold at
a considerably higher rate than in former days.
Hence the decrease.
26. Most of the consumers are habitual smokers
of ganja.
27. See answer to question No. 20.
28. For ganja
—
Rs. A. P.
(a) For moderate consumers 0 0 2
(b) Excessive consumers
. 0 0 4 per diem on
the average.
For bhang—This cannot be easily ascertained
here, as none is used, but it is generally believed
that more money is needed for this preparation
because more ingredients, such as spices, are to be
added in order to make it fit for consumption.
29. It is not known that dhatura is ever used
along with any of these preparations made from
the hemp plant. The following ingredients are
ordinarily mixed up with the hemp drugs, as
stated below :—(1) With ganja tobacco is neces-
sarily mixed up in equal share before it is smoked.
This admixture is intended to make the drug
more wholesome than its being taken separately.
(2) With bhang water, sugar and spices are mixed
up so as to cause the drink tasteful. Milk or
water is used according to the choice of the con-
sumer. (3) With charas—not known. "Bhang
massala" consists of the following ingredients
pounded up together :—(1) Cloves, (2) carda-
moms, (3) coriander seed, (4) poppy seeds, (5)
cocoanut juice, (6) garlic, (7) ginger.
All these articles are pounded up, mixing with
them an equal quantity of the flowering tops of
the hemp plant. This muddy matter is called
" bhang massala." It is mixed up with mutton
and cooked up as common curries are boiled and
roasted with ghee. This is termed " bhang gosht
" o r " b h a n g d a l l i . "
30. The consumption of the three drugs is
practised both in solitude and in company.
Oftener the latter consumption is restricted to
full grown males and more especially to worn-out
and invalid persons. Neither children nor females
use them habitually.
31. The habit of consuming ganja is generally
formed in bad company.
32 and 33. Ganja smokers are generally regard-
ed as of a morally bad character.
34. No.
35. As far as this district is concerned, it is
not much difficult to prohibit the practice of
ganja smoking. There may be some cases of
illicit consumption of the ganja for a few years
to come; but its practice may be gradually up-
rooted by imposing penalties on the offenders.
Almost all the ganja smokers are people of consi-
derably poor circumstances, and, moreover, their
number is so small that there would be no reason
to apprehend a political danger. Of course the
prohibition may naturally occasion some discon-
tent among the consumers, but that discontent
would not in the least degree affect the political
affairs. Further the prohibition would not, I
think, be followed by recourse to alcoholic stimul-
ants or other drugs.
36. No.
37. I don't know.
38. Only broken or chur ganja is known here.
39. Not known.
40. It is said that ganja has some medicinal
qualities. In hydrophobia, neuralgia, and some
other nervous affections the use of ganja is said to
have been attended by good results. Whether it
is used in cattle diseases I do not know.
41. It is claimed that the smoking of ganja
aids digestion and also alleviates hunger. In
malarious and unhealthy places it is supposed to
prevent disease. Most of the consumers are seen
among invalid sepoys who practised ganja smok-
ing when they were engaged on foreign expedi-
tions.
42. I cannot consider even the moderate use
of this drug harmless. Pernicious effects may not
show themselves immediately, but they will
eventually.
43. As a rule they are not offensive.
44. See note against No. 42.
45 and 46. As regards the effects of the use
of these drugs, I may say that their use generally
induces laziness on the part of the consumers.
People who indulge in ganja smoking never like
to work hard and appear to be physically weak in
constitution. These drugs are not used as an
aphrodisiac, but on the other hand it is said that
the use of the drug tends to produce impotence.
It is why men who dislike worldly affairs have
been generally practising ganja smoking. Most
of the ganja smokers are thus to be seen among
bairagis, sanyasis, and fakirs, who have nothing
to do with the worldly duties. A fakir with
whom I had conversation the other day confirms
the above fact. Moreover, the ganja smokers are
generally dull and appear to be physically weak.
It does not appear that the moderate or the ex-
cessive indulgence in any of these drugs incites
to commit crime or violence, nor are they used by
criminals to fortify themselves to commit a pre-
meditated act of violence.
47. I believe it does.