199
consumers are habitual moderate consumers. Any
proportions that could be given as obtaining be--
tween the several classes of consumers would be
merely conjectural and not at all reliable.
27. The consumers are not dangerous to society.
The wandering fakirs and bairagis are said to
smoke ganja to secure concentration of mind in
their devotional practices, and to serve as a tem-
- p o r a r y a n t i d o t e a g a i n s t h u n g e r . A t h l e t e s a r e
said to use bhang to serve as a stimulant while
they are engaged in wrestling and other
e x e r - c i s e s .
28. Smoking ganja is sold at three or four pies
a tola, and a tola or tola-and-half may suffice a
moderate consumer or even two. One seer of
bhang properly prepared will cost three or four
annas, and will be enough for two men to drink.
One seer of majum may cost as much as a rupee
and will do for 10 men.
29. The ganja procurable in the local markets
is, I understand, adulterated ordinarily to increase
its weight, and exceptionally to intensify its in-
- t o x i c a t i n g p o w e r . I t i s d i f f i c u l t t o o b t a i n t h e
pure drug. Among the deleterious substances
mixed with ganja may be mentioned opium,
stramonium seed (dhatura), aconite or monk's hood
and nux vomica, each of which is in itself a strong
poison, except when used in very small doses.
The seeds of dhatura are known to be used in in-
- t e n s i f y i n g t h e n a r c o t i c e f f e c t s o f b h a n g a n d i n
adding to the strength of country spirits and
toddy.
30. The consumption of ganja and bhang is
practised in company; oftener in the case of the
former than in that of the latter. Majum and
other strong intoxicants are generally consumed in
solitude or in the company of the habitual con--
sumers. Children do not use these drugs.
31. The habit is easily formed, and, when once
formed, is difficult to break off. As far as I know,
there is no particular tendency for the moderate
habit to develop into the excessive. If anything,
alcoholic liquors and hemp drugs are much on a
par in this respect.
32. I am not acquainted with any such social
or religious customs.
33. Ganja smokers are not generally looked
down upon as much as consumers of majum and
other strong preparations. The consumption of
tha latter drugs is associated with licentious
habits. The higher castes of the Hindu religion
condemn the use of all intoxicants. A habitual
ganja smoker or consumer is not generally re--
spected, but suffers social degradation. No harm
is, however, thought of a bairagi or fakir who
consumes the drug on the ground of religious
devotion. The custom of worshipping the hemp
plant does not obtain here.
34. It would, in my opinion, be a serious pri-
vation to the consumers to forego the use of the
drug which they have so long been accustomed to.
Any attempt to stop the use of hemp drugs by
prohibitory duty or by means of executive order
would only drive the people to illicit consumption
or to the use of still more deleterious drugs, as the
habit of indulgence in stimulants, when once
formed, will be persisted in in spite of all repres--
sive measures.
35. The absolute prohibition of the consumption
of ganja could not, in my opinion, be enforced.
To prohibit its consumption absolutely, its culti--
vation should in the first instance be put a
stop to, and this does not seem feasible. The
practice of growing the plant in back-yards and
in vegetable gardens has long been prevalent.
For any person addicted to the habit of ganja,
nothing would be easier than to grow a few
plants secretly within the enclosure or com-
pound of his own house, in nooks and corners,
or in the midst of other vegetables. To effec-
- t u a l l y p r e v e n t t h e c u l t i v a t i o n o f t h e p l a n t , n o t h i n g
short of a large preventive establishment working
by the most inquisitorial methods would be required.
Moreover, it seems to be very little use preventing
the cultivation of the hemp plant, for the reason
that India abounds with plants growing wild
everywhere from which drugs can be prepared far
more deleterious in their effects than even ganja.
If the cultivation of the hemp plant is put a stop
to, the ganja consumers, unable to suppress their
longing for a stimulating drug, will be forced to
resort to such plants. They can be gathered for the
mere trouble of going out to the jungles, and can
be used without the possibility of any interference
or check on the part of Government. Already the
effects of the seeds of one of such plants, namely,
the dhatura, are being felt, and it would be a Hercu--
lean task for Government to undertake to dis--
criminate between the several kinds of plants and
suppress their growth or to reserve the lands where
such plants are growing merely for the purpose
of removing or rectifying a social evil. Apart
from the question of revenue there are other
grounds why it is impossible to enforce the prohibi--
tion of the use of the drug in this country. The
drug is also produced in the Native States, and
the difficulty of preventing its importation would
be immense. Even though political danger may
not be apprehended by the adoption of repressive
measures, yet there will be widespread discontent
greatly disproportionate to the advantages con--
ferred on the people by the absolute prohibition
of the use of the drugs. The prohibition may,
moreover, open the way to the use of alcoholic
stimulants.
36. I have not come across any cases of such
substitution.
37 to 39. Not known.
40. I have not heard that any school of native
doctors prescribes the use of hemp drugs on
account of their medicinal qualities. I believe the
administration of the drug in the form of a tincture
or extract sharpens the appetite and induces sleep.
I believe that it is efficacious in cases of delirium
tremens where even morphia has failed, and it is
said of smoking ganja that it serves as a prophy--
latic against diseases contracted in malarious
climates. The Civil Surgeon, Guntoor, writes that
medicinally the drug is invaluable as an anodyne,
hypnotic and sedative.
41. Vide answer to 40.
42. The moderate use of ganja is both approved
and condemned by medical authorities of equal
weight. The Civil Surgeon, Guntoor, informs
me that it is said to cause insanity after long-
continued use. I have often read that running
"amok" is produced by a large dose of bhang;
but I only state this as a popular theory. I
understand that fakirs and bairagis use ganja
commonly to lessen sexual desire, and that after
continued use, it produces impotency. Some of
its beneficial effects are noted in replies to
questions 40 and 41.
43. Moderate consumers are quite inoffensive
to their neighbours.
44. The immediate effect of the moderate use
of the drug is refreshing. It mitigates physical
weakness and mental depression. Intoxication