36
also alleviates fatigue. The working classes use
ganja and bhang to alleviate fatigue after their
days' labour, and the rich classes use these as
accessory to the digestion of their food and for
good appetite. My reference is to moderate habi-
tual use.
42. The moderate use of bhang is generally
considered harmless, if not beneficial, as apparently
no complaints have been heard, and it is also a
general belief.
43. Yes, they are inoffensive to their neigh-
bours.
44. The moderate use of bhang is refreshing,
produces intoxication, creates appetite, gives sound
sleep, but it does not allay hunger. Those who
take in the evening the effect lasts up to mid..
night. The after-effect is, I believe, dullness, and
the want of subsequent gratification produces
longing and uneasiness.
45. (a) and (b) The habitual moderate use of
bhang does not produce any noxious effect, nor
does it impair the constitution.
(c) and (d) No, it does not.
(e) The consumers become a little lazy.
(f)
No.
(g) Not come under my observation.
46. I have come to know by observation that
the habitual excessive use of ganja is very inju-
rious. I think of all the intoxicants ganja is said
to be the worst. I have known cases that by
excessive use of ganja the consumers who were
very healthy in their youth have become totally
blind. Many cases have come to my knowledge
of insanity, both temporary and permanent, pro-
duced by excessive use of ganja. In old age the
excessive smoker of ganja generally gets cough
and asthma, and many have come to their grave
at a premature and early age. I have seen ex-
cessive smokers of ganja to become cranky and
not affectionate to their wives and children, and
quite indifferent to their affairs. In short, the
excessive habitual smoker of ganja becomes quite
useless to himself and to society.
47. No; I am acquainted with persons who are
habitual moderate consumers of bhang and ganja,
but their children never use these drugs.
48. It has been often observed that the sons of
habitual excessive drinkers of bhang and smokers
of ganja have been found using these drugs, but
there are some exceptions to this ; also generally
in some family where excessive use of these drugs
appears to be hereditary.
53. Very seldom. I know of one case of an
excessive ganja smoker where there was homicidal
frenzy.
54. No ; on the other hand, I have known cases
where the use of these drugs (bhang an d ganja)
will stupefy them and make them unfit for any
action.
55. Yes, the criminals do this to their victims.
Yes, without admixture, by bhang drinking alone
complete stupefaction can take place.
56. The dhatura for personal consumption with
bhang is used in a moderate quantity to increase
intoxication. But it is used in large quantity
with bhang on others with criminal intentions and
to commit crimes.
57. I have known in Central Provinces and also
in this State of Kalahandi that ganja is drunk as
bhang with bhang massalas. The effect is more
injurious than the bhang leaves; but as no bhang
leaves are obtained, they drink ganja. Ganja is
sometimes roasted in ghee and eaten in this State.
58. The present excise arrangement is working
well.
60. No ganja is produced in this State, and it
should not be allowed.
61. No, charas is not produced.
62. Not produced in this State.
63. No objection to offer.
64. None.
65. The tax on ganja is less in these provinces
than in the North-Western Provinces. In my
opinion, it is much less here and should be raised.
No bhang or charas is sold here, so it cannot be
compared ; as compared with the tax on opium,
the tax on ganja is far less.
66. I would propose different rates on different
kinds of ganja, as they being of different qualities,
some inferior and some superior, should be taxed
according to these qualities.
67. No, I have none.
68. There are no such houses or shops in this
State where these drugs or their preparations are
consumed on the premises. I think where the
consumption is allowed on the premises it should
be stopped, because it is tempting and leads many
people to it.
69 The wishes of the people are not generally
consulted, as there is no public opinion on the
subject. I think it will be better to consider the
local public opinion, if any is offered.
70. I know in my official capacity that ganja
was imported from the adjacent Native States of
Punna, Rewa, Nagode and Bhopal, etc., to Central
Provinces, there being no proper control in these
States and the taxation being very light or not at
all.
In this State of Kalahandi ganja is imported
from the neighbouring State of Jeypore. No tax
is levied in that State on ganja, and it is sold in
the bazaar there like tobacco, without any check,
very cheap. The people grow ganja there without
any control, and I am told that no tax is levied
there.
There was no proper control at the time of the
late Raja regarding the cultivation of hemp plant
(ganja) in this State. It was grown by the
people wherever they liked, especially in the hilly
tracts, I am told. No bhang or charas was manu-
factured. Since the State came under direct
management of the British Government on account
of the minority of the Raja the cultivation of the
ganja is totally stopped, and it is now penal to
cultivate the same. The system followed in the
Khalsa is strictly observed here. The ganja for
sale is obtained from the Government godown at
Raipur, and it is kept under lock and key in the
treasury room under charge of the tahsildar, who
issues the same to the contractor, and a proper
account is kept of it. No bhang and charas is
sold here.
The clean ganja is given to the contractor, and
the sticks and bhang are burnt.