92
incentive to work hard. In the case of weak
persons it results in making them insane.
Moderate ganja smoking does not produce in-
sanity. Excessive smoking produces insanity,
but, as a rule, it necessarily produces this effect
after some time in the case of persons who smoke
it with bachnag, arsenic, kuchla, and dhatura.
It produces temporary insanity upon persons
who are moderate smokers, but who have a weak
constitution and a weak intellect. Weak persons
making an excessive use of such admixtures be
- c o m e p e r m a n e n t l y i n s a n e . T h e i n s a n i t y c a u s e d
by pure ganja, even if it takes place, is not of
a serious nature; it only deranges the mind for
short intervals.
47. It does not appear to be a hereditary habit,
and does not in any way affect the children of
the moderate consumer.
49. It is never used as a provocative to venery,
not even by prostitutes. It does not produce
impotence.
50. Not even so when taken in excessive
quantities.
51. I have not been able to trace the connec
- t i o n o f c r i m e s o l e l y t o t h e c o n s u m p t i o n o f t h i s
drug. But as bad characters generally belong
to the lower classes, and as these classes of
persons are very generally addicted to this vice,
it generally appears that most of the bad
characters are given to smoking ganja. As an
Honorary Magistrate I find that the criminals
who come before me are generally given to this
sort of vice.
52. Of course the persons using this drug in
excessive quantities are persons who are given
to thefts and other offences.
53. I know of no case where the excessive in
- d u l g e n c e o f t h i s d r u g h a s l e d a n y p e r s o n t o
commit murder.
54. I have reasons to believe that criminals use
these drugs to fortify themselves to commit pre
- m e d i t a t e d a c t s o f v i o l e n c e . G a n j a s m o k e r s w i l l
never say this is the case, but I have reasons to
believe that this is done.
55. In some instances criminals do so, but then
they mix it with some such wild intoxicant as
bachnag, arsenic, and dhatura; without such
admixture this drug by itself is quite unable to
induce complete stupefaction.
56. Ganja mixed with dhatura, bachnag, arsenic,
and kuchla produces a very bad effect. It
produces very bad intoxication, and criminals
generally use it to fortify themselves to commit
deeds of violence. To those who are used to it,
it gives effect of fortification, but it quite
stupefies those who are its first victims.
57. Ganja is eaten by some few persons along
with an admixture of turmeric and molasses. It
is drunk as bhang. The intoxication is not as
bad as in the case of smoking.
59. It is said the wholesale vendor purchase
ganja at a capricious price from the cultivator
and as the cultivator is necessarily under orders of
Government bound to sell it to one man, there is
no choice left to him to demand the price he
chooses. It will be better if the Government
settles the price at which the cultivator ought to
sell it to the wholesale vendor, taking into con
- s i d e r a t i o n t h e c o s t a n d t r o u b l e t h e c u l t i v a t o r t a k e
to grow it.
60. The cultivation of ganja, in my opinion, is
s u f f i c i e n t l y c o n t r o l l e d . I t h i n k a s b h a n g i s n o t
so injurious in its effects, some restrictions on
bhang, properly so called, might safely be done
away with.
62. The cultivation of ganja for the production
of bhang does not need so much restriction, as far
as the effects are concerned, but it is impossible to
restrict it for some special purposes and to allow
it free scope for others
.
68. No.
69. The opinions of the people are not consulted.
I think public opinion ought to be consulted
before opening such shops.
Oral evidence.
Question 25.—Ganja is still the cheapest intoxi
- c a n t i n t h i s p r o v i n c e ; b u t I t h i n k t h a t t o r a i s e t h e
price would be objectionable as the lowest classes
are those who use it. It is the only intoxicant
except liquor the poor and labouring classes use.
They require it.
Question 29.—It is the fakirs, not the labourers,
who usually use the drug to excess. My inform
- a t i o n l e a d s m e t o b e l i e v e t h a t f a k i r s , m e n d i c a n t s ,
and such persons use dhatura with ganja pretty
often. My information regarding bachnag, arsenic,
and kuchla is hearsay; but I know mendicants
who say that they use dhatura, who have told me
s o .
Question 32.—My answer here deals only with
ganja; but even in regard to bhang, it is generally
used, but not enjoined as a necessity. It would
not be considered as an interference with religion
to prohibit either ganja or bhang. The latter has
become associated with religion in feasts, but it is
not obligatory. I know of no obligation. I am
not acquainted with the Markinda Puran. It is
not much read in this province.
Question 33.—Strictly moral persons do not use
bhang. The names ganjeri and bhangeri applied
to consumers are rather terms of implied reproach.
As bhang is more used by the higher classes than
ganja, there is some difference in public opinion.
Question 35.—It would be possible to prohibit
ganja altogether; but there would be much illicit
growth and many prosecutions. The process of
producing ganja is known to ordinary cultivators.
Complete prohibition would be very difficult.
Question 39.—There are people who chew ganja
like tobacco. That is not so injurious as smoking.
Question 45.—Opium does more harm than
ganja, because it is smoked, and in that form does
much harm. The eating of opium is confined to
people who are of better means and are able to
afford good food, and so mitigate the evil effects.
In those who are physically or mentally weak the
smoking of ganja produces an effect on the brain
which is like insanity, and lasts only for a few
hours. It passes off and returns with the renewed
use of the drug. I knew of a case of a man of
weak mind who became insane about four months
after giving up the drug, and his insanity was
ascribed to ganja. I do not know whether he
may have used the drug secretly. He recovered
and had relapses. The temporary insanity to
which I referred is not the same as intoxication.
It has differed in the delusions regarding relations
and surroundings, and in duration sometimes last
-ing for a month or two. I have known cases of in
-sanity among mendicants, but not from pure ganja,
only from admixtures with dhatura. The com
-parative prevalence of insanity among the higher
classes which I have observed in the census report
seems to indicate that ganja is not a general cause
of insanity. Redness of eyes is a sign I have