139
no after effects. Want of subsequent gratifica-
tion produces uneasiness (and illness in some cases)
in the case of gauja, and nothing in the case of
bhang.
45. The effect of the habitual moderate use of
ganja is that it weakens the body and the mind,
and not necessarily the moral sense. After a long
use it weakens the digesting power. It can cause
bronchitis and asthma, but bhang is not so inju-
rious. Both these drugs bring a laziness after a
lengt i of time. Gauja may cause insanity of a
temporary kind.
46. I can only guess that the effects will be
proportionately aggravated. The excessive use of
ganja (habitually) brings on insanity of a perma-
nent kind.
47. No.
48. I have no information on this point.
49. Yes, and so used by prostitutes also. The
use for this purpose is more injurious, as it pro
- d u c e s i m p o t e n c e . I a m r e f e r r i n g t o g a n j a o n l y .
50. The same answer as above. The effects are
aggravated.
51 and 52. I do not know. There is no con
-nection, so far as I know, or have been informed.
53 and 54, No.
55. Yes, by admixture with dhatura—both
ganja and bhang. No complete stupefaction can
be induced without admixture with dhatura.
56. Ganja and bhang are changed in their
effects when mixed with dhatura, whether used in
moderation or in excess. Dhatura, I am informed,
is always mixed with the drugs to cause stupefac
- t i o n i n o t h e r s , a n d n o t w h e n t h e d r u g s a r e u s e d
for one's personal consumption.
57. Ganja is sometimes prepared into a sweet-
meat called majum, and is eaten, but never drunk.
Nor is charas ever eaten or drunk, so far as I am
aware.
58. The Excise Administration in respect of
the hemp drugs is, I think, working very satis
- f a c t o r i l y , b u t I w i s h t o s u g g e s t a n a l t e r a t i o n i n
the Excise Act.
59. The Excise Act prescribes the minimum
quantity of ganja and bhang which one can legally
possess as follows:—Ganja, 5 tolas ; bhang
quarter of a seer.
This is enough for a moderate consumer to last
for five days in the case of ganja and a fortnight
in the case of bhang. This provision affords great
facilities for smuggling the drugs from the foreign
territories which lie conterminous with many of the
districts of the Central Provinces. This is a reason
why the normal consumption of the drugs is not
known in the province. I think the minimum
should be reduced to only two day's consumption,
so that the smugglers will not think it worth
while to bring them from foreign territories.
60. I think there is sufficient control in this
respect.
61. Charas is not cultivated in this province.
62. Bhang is not produced from the ganja,
which is cultivated in the Nimar district, and I
cannot answer this question.
63. There is no objection to the system of
wholesale vend, but the retail vend can be reduced
in view of my answer to question No. 58.
64. No.
65. I think in our province these drugs are
sufficiently highly taxed, and are reasonably placed
beyond easy access.
66. I think the rates of taxation should vary
directly with the intoxicating power of each of
these kinds of ganja.
67. I do not think there is much objection.
The consumers must pay for the luxury or the
necessity according as they look upon these drugs.
68. There are no such shops in our province.
69. No. I do not think it is necessary, for the
consumers are few, and very few persons care
whether the shops are opened or not in any loca
- l i t y .
70. I think there is much room for improve-
ment in this direction. if the taxation and. con-
trol be not uniform in the British and Foreign
India, the smuggling should be closely watched.
But as this is not possible, I think the minimum
quantity which each person can legally possess
should be reduced to two days' consumption only.
72. Evidence of RAO SAHIB RANGRAO HARRY KHISTY, Pleader, Bhandara.
1. I have been for the past 23 years practising
as a pleader in the district, and my information
is derived by personal contact with the people in
my practice, or from enquiries made by me from
the people.
2. The definitions may be accepted for Central
Provinces. Charas is never imported in this
district. Flat ganja and char or broken ganja is
imported for sale. Ganja imported from Khandwa
is called "deshi ganja," and ganja imported from
lndore, Marwar or Hardwar is called "perdaishi
ganja."
3. As ganja is not produced in this district, I
cannot give any information under this Chapter.
14. As ganja, charas or bhang is not manufac
- t u r e d i n t h i s d i s t r i c t , n o i n f o r m a t i o n c a n b e g i v e n
regarding its manufacture or preparation.
19. [Chapter V—Note. As only fiat ganja
and chur or broken ganja is imported in the dis-
trict, my answers will be confined to its consump-
tion and use only.]
Flat ganja is used only for smoking; broken
vol. vi,
ganja or chur is used, besides smoking, for
eating and drinking. For eating it is made into
a pill mixed with jaggri and swallowed or eaten.
For drinking, as a substitute for bhang, it is fried
a little in a pan, washed and pounded with a little
water, and made into a separate ball. A separate
compound is made of the following ingredients:
— ( 1 ) D r i e d r o s e s , ( 2 ) p o p p y s e e d , ( 3 ) b l a c k
pepper, (4) almonds, (5) cinnamon, (6) veldoda,
(7) kasni or chicora, (8) seeds of kakdi.
These are then mixed with the ganja and
poured from one pot into another, for being
mixed properly, and then strained through a thin
cloth, and this is drunk by adding a little sugar
and milk. This preparation is called "thandai"
or cooling drink.
The above preparation is also made into sweet-
meat when it is called majum.
I learn that the Kushtees or weaver class
people, during marriage festivals, mix ganja
with their meat in curry. The Gossains, Bairagis,
and purdaisis generally eat and drink ganja with