19
Their justification for their conduct, as they say,
is that by excessive smoking they do not feel the
effect of cold and rain; and bairagis say that it
assists them in concentrating their thoughts in
one direction, and they can practise "yoga"
better under the influence of ganja.
The third class of occasional moderate con-
sumers is formed of members of all classes. They
indulge in smoking ganja. As a rule, such
members are addicted to other vices, and ganja
smoking is resorted to as an addition.
The classes who use bhang as a drink are
generally well-to-do people. It is indulged in as
a luxury ; poorer people drink it as removing
fatigue.
28. The average cost of ganja to an habitual
moderate consumer of ganja is half an anna, and
that to an excessive consumer is two annas daily,
or even more.
29. In smoking ganja, tobacco is generally
mixed. Dhatura is sometimes mixed. In the
preparation of bhang for drinking, the articles
ordinarily used are black pepper, sugar, water,
and cucumber-seed, but specially the following
articles are used : dahi (curd), milk, sopa (ani
-
seed), kankol (cubebs) , rose-flower, black cobweb,
copper, and dhatura seed. The admixture of
tobacco and dhatura with ganja is to give it a
better taste and make it more intoxicating. The
articles mentioned above are mixed with bhang
when it is prepared for drink. These admixtures
are to give good taste and to make it more
intoxicating. Bhang massala is generally sold
in the bazar ; it consists of the articles described
above as ordinarily used.
30. Habitual moderate consumers of ganja
smoke alone, but habitual excessive consumers
(fakirs and mendicants) and other occasional
smokers of ganja smoke it in company ; bhang
drinkers generally drink it in company. Males
generally use these drugs, but females and children
of the mendicant class who follow them sometimes
partake of the drug.
31. The habit of smoking ganja is not easily
formed, but the habit of drinking of bhang is
easily formed. Ganja-smoking cannot be
easily given up. It is these moderate consumers
who become in time excessive consumers by force
of circumstances.
32. Ganja smokers and drinkers of bhang and
the consumers of majum always offer it to the god
"Shiva" in the first instance. It is generally
believed that ganja and bhang were the favourite
articles with Shiva, and before one partakes it is
offered to the deity. On Shivaratri bhang is pre
-
pared for drinking, and it is first poured on the
idol (Shiva) and then partaken by the consumer,
who generally observes fast that day. In the
Holi festival, majum and bhang drinking is in
-
dulged in by the well-to-do persons; and
Marwaris and other well-to-do persons on
marriage feasts and in the hot season in garden
parties prepare bhang for drinking, and they
indulge in the use of majum. It is not considered
essential on Shivaratri, Holi, and on such festivals
to have bhang and majum, but it has become a
fashion, and the most orthodox portion consider it
as essential. The use of these drugs on such
occasions is moderate, and it is not injurious.
There is no fear that such occasional use would
lead to the formation of the habit.
33. The occasional moderate use of the drug,
either in smoking, drinking, or eating, is not
looked upon as vice, and it is not in disrepute. It
is the . excessive use that is in disrepute. An
excessive smoker and excessive drinker have the
contemptuous names of ganjadi and bhangud
given to them, and it is this class that is looked
down with hatred by all classes. Hemp plant is
not worshipped.
34. As I have said before, the labouring and
agriculturist class use the drug so as to give relief
to them after the hard work they are used to do.
To them and to the excessive smokers it would be
a great hardship to forego the use. The number
of such men is not very large. The total quantity
of ganja consumed last year was 1,194 maunds, or
in round numbers 1,200 maunds or 48,000 seers.
A person who has a pipe of ganja in the morning
and again in the evening consumes about ¼ of a
tola, and at this rate his average yearly consump
-
tion would be one seer. If it were supposed that
all were moderate daily consumers, the number for
the whole province would be 48,000, but due
allowance must be made for persons of the mendi
-
cant class who use this drug in large quantity.
The number of persons using this drug cannot be
more than 30,000, which to a population of
over ten millions would give 3 per thousand.
35. If the use of this drug were prohibited,
people would import it illicitly. I know of in
-
stances in Raipur, Jabalpur, Damoh, and other
districts bordering on Native States, where, owing
to high prices of this drug, they have recourse to
illicit imports in small quantities. Prohibition
would no doubt cause some discontent, but if it be
general, then in time I am inclined to think the
consumers would have recourse to other intoxi-
cating drugs. I do not entertain the slightest
fear that discontent caused by the prohibition
would amount to political danger.
36. There is no reason to think that alcohol is
now taking the place of this drug.
37. Charas is not used in this province, but
those who have used it say that it is more intoxi
-
cating than ganja, and that the intoxication lasts
longer.
40. I am not aware of ganja or bhang being
given in medicine, but ganja is given to cattle
along with "gur." This is given to them to take
away the effects of fatigue on long journeys.
41. The moderate use of ganja consumers who
use it in smoking use is to alleviate fatigue ; it is
also smoked to prevent disease in malarious and
unhealthy tracts.
Bhang drinkers drink it as they say it digests
food and it gives them good appetite.
Mendicants and others who are not excessive
smokers take it as they say for preventing diseases
from climatic influences, and some take it in order
to concentrate their minds and enable them to
practice "yoga" better. I do not consider
moderate use of this drug is in any way injurious
.
43. They are inoffensive.
44. I cannot say anything from experience,
but from what I have observed I would state
that persons drinking bhang feel somewhat in
-
toxicated; some feel inclined to sleep. The same
is the case with ganja smokers ; sometimes they
are inclined to be very talkative. The effect lasts
from two to three hours, according to the quan
-
tity taken; and after the intoxication is gone
they feel quite fresh. Bhang drinking creates
appetite.
47. No.
51. Bad characters are not as a rule habitual
moderate consumers of these drugs, but their