31
plant is needed. For ganja the female plants are
used. It is probable that the inferior quality of
the illicit ganja made here is due to ignorance of
the proper mode of weeding out the male plant
—a task which, according to the account in Dr.
Watt's dictionary, is entrusted to skilled men in
Bengal.
10. No special caste of cultivators.
12. See answer to No. 9.
13. The cultivation is not nominally restricted.
In some districts, however, orders seem to have been
issued at various times prohibiting it.
14. See answer to No. 9.
15. Ganja is prepared from the flowering heads
of the female plant. These are cut and pressed
after exposure to the night dews. Bhang is
prepared from the dried leaves of the plant either
male or female.
16. Bhang is generally bought as required, but
can be prepared from hemp plant wherever grown.
Ganja cannot be so prepared.
18. Said to deteriorate if kept for more than
one year. No special means are taken to prevent
this.
19. For smoking only.
20. The chief users of ganja are the castes
prohibited from touching liquor, viz., Brahmins
and Rajputs (Thakurs, Chattris, Bhninhars, etc.).
After them come the lower classes, labourers, etc.
Ekka drivers are much addicted to the habit; also
fakirs. Charas is not used to any great extent
here. It has a greater intoxicating effect, but is
said to be too "warm," (i.e., thirst producing).
21. In eastern districts of North-Western Prov-
inces the round ganja is said to be preferred; in
western, the flat.
22. The charas used here comes from Amritsar
in the Punjab. Nothing is known of the process
of manufacture.
23. Never so used.
24. Nearly all Hindus drink a decoction of
bhang. It is said to have a cooling effect in the
hot weather.
25. Generally on the increase owing to the
increased price of liquor. This can be supported
by statistics. See Excise Administration Report
for the district of Etawah, North-Western Prov-
inces, for the years 1890-91 and 1891-92.
27. See answer to No. 20.
28. (a) Ganja 4 to 5 pipefuls; total weight one
masha=15 grains.
(b) 10 to 12 pipefuls; 2 to 3 mashas=30 to 45
grains.
29. (a) With ganja powdered tobacco (surti) is
used; with bhang, sugar, milk, or vegetables.
Dhatura is sometimes used by habitual consumers
mixed with bhang. Bhang massala is made of
rose leaves, cucumber, almonds, black pepper,
sugar, etc.
30. Ganja-smoking is confined to males.
31. The habit of ganja-smoking is difficult to
acquire and not easily stopped. The habit of
ganja-smoking tends to increase.
32. It is said that bhang was introduced by
Mahadev Shiva. It is therefore often drunk on
the Shivratri festival day (15 days before the
Holi in Phagun).
33. The use of hemp drugs is not in disrepute.
34. The Brahmins and Rajputs who cannot resort
to other stimulants would feel the loss of the drugs
a serious privation.
35. The prohibition could not be enforced, at
any rate in the case of bhang. Ganja could be
stopped if a special establishment was maintained.
Great discontent would certainly result, for the
use of these drugs is more wide-spread than that
of all other stimulants or narcotics put together.
The prohibition would probably result in the use
of dhatura.
36. See answer to No, 25.
37. Charas is more concentrated, therefore in-
toxicating. In the vernacular it is said to be
"warmer," i.e., produces greater thirst.
39. The smoking is the most injurious form.
The decoction is very mildly intoxicating.
40. Bhang is prescribed for piles, dysentery and
indigestion. Sometimes given to cattle.
41. Bhang—
(a) increases appetite ;
(b) gives relief from fatigue.
Used by sanyasis and other devotees to produce
religious frenzy, also (it is said) to produce impo-
tence.
43. Yes.
44. Intoxicating. Ganja allays hunger.
45 and 46. The excessive use of ganja produces
insanity. Ganja (not bhang) impairs the diges-
tion. The insanity always disappears with the
withdrawal of the drug. Bhang is said to pro-
duce none of these effects.
49. On the contrary.
58. It is capable of improvement.
59. A heavier tax should be put on ganja and
charas by levying import duties. Nothing can
be done with bhang, as it is obtainable wild.
60. The cultivation of the hemp plant should
be prohibited. This would put a stop to the illicit
manufacture of ganja.
62. Is not feasible, and further not necessary,
as bhang is comparatively harmless.
63. Considerable capital is required to carry on
the trade in ganja. The present system of giving
a contract for a whole district is the best. The
number of shops which the contractor is allowed
to open should be carefully controlled.
64. As the law at present stands with regard
to the cultivation of the hemp plant, it is impos-
sible to regulate the transport of these drugs.
65. The taxation is at present too light in view
of the comparative intoxicating effect to be ob-
tained from an equal expenditure on liquor or
drugs.
68. There is in this province no restriction as
to the consumption of these drugs in any place.
69. The contractor will not open a shop if the
"local public opinion" does not want it.