283
34. The prohibition of the use of bhang, I
think, will be troublesome to those who are given
to its use, and more so in the case of fakirs than
ordinary persons.
It is usual that one undergoes a little trouble
in leaving off any habit at first ; but afterwards
no difficulty occurs, and it is often seen that when
consumers of drugs, after committing crimes, are
sent to the jail, where they can't have these
things, they have to control themselves, and in
the end they suffer no inconvenience, Had they
had the idea of increasing trouble life would
have been burdensome to them, but it is not the
case. Therefore there is no actual trouble, but
only an idea of trouble. After a few days they
come round,
35. It is possible to prohibit the use of ganja
and charas ; but the use of bhang not being so
dangerous may be allowed. On being prohibited
by law, charas and ganja cannot be consumed
illicitly. The prohibition would not produce dis-
content amounting to political danger if it be
carried out in the following manner :—The number
of shops for their vend in cities should be re-
duced, and altogether abolished in villages. Only
a few should be kept in cities and parganas at
one or two places only. The maximum quantity
for actual vend should also be reduced and heavy
duties be imposed on intoxicating drugs. Thus
a comparatively little quantity will be available
with higher charges, and in this way habits would
be moderated (tempered).
This decrease of
quantity and the increase of charges may easily
be bearable, and discontent will soon disappear
with this decrease of quantity. The next steps
should be that the sale be altogether abolished in
parganas too, and be allowed at head-quarters
only with further restrictions on the maximum
quantity and with further increase of charges.
In this way the use can easily be stopped, without
giving rise to public discontent, for the habit of
those accustomed to use them daily will be easily
rendered temperate and then corrected ; and this
system will prevent others who are newly addicted
to this bad habit. Thus the number will daily
grow less and less, and when the abovementioned
remedies have been in practice for a sufficient time,
the number of those who make use of these things
will be sufficiently reduced. It is then desirable
that its use be prohibited altogether by a special
enactment. I think the use of many juices or
pills made out of tobacco is possible if the use of
bhang be prohibited.
36. Alcohol is not used in place of ganja, bhang
and charas.
37. The intoxication produced by charas is
stronger than that by ganja.
38. In this province four kinds of ganja are in
use, namely, flat (Baluchar). It produces-strong
and immediate intoxication. (2) Pathara. It is
next to flat and is not so strong. (3) Murra. It
occupies third place. (4) Churra. It is the
weakest kind.
40. Bhang is prescribed by the native physi-
cians as medicine for earache, diarrhœa and swell-
ings on the body. It is also prescribed for cattle
diseases, but charas and ganja are never seen to
have been used as medicines.
41. Even the moderate use of bhang is not
found advantageous, for that too causes injury
and laziness. Bhang is nourishing, digestive,
remover of fatigue, but produces impotency.
Charas and ganja are injurious to health.
42. The use of ganja and charas is not ad-
vantageous but injurious. The smokers of ganja
are found to be suffering from asthma and cough
and balgum. They are much more increased, and
the cough becomes such a hard one that one
becomes almost breathless by it at times, and the
body grows lazy and weak and loses its original
colour, and eyes are spoiled as well.
43. Moderate consumers of charas cause so
much trouble to their neighbours that their
children become inclined to the use of these things
by every-day contact. This contraction of bad
habit gives them much trouble. Besides, many
other men equally fond of intoxication gather
around them and talk indecently and nonsensically.
The smoke smells unbearably bad, and is also con-
sidered to be injurious to the health, and thus
much trouble is caused to the neighbours.
44. The intoxicating effect of bhang is not
produced at once but begins after an hour and
lasts for six hours. After that comes laziness,
idleness, and nervous prostration. The effect of
charas and ganja is felt just after smoking, and
lasts for three hours. The state of being intoxi-
cated is a state or senselessness, and it may be
regarded as removing or preventing fatigue. It
produces no hunger, but cough is produced for
some time after smoking. The head also turns,
and intoxication causes irritation and resentment
of temper.
45. From the habitual and moderate use of
ganja and charas all the mental, physical and
moral powers of a man suffer injury. The body
becomes then weak and of a pale complexion, and
defect is caused in the vision. Often the eye
begins to water. Hunger is much reduced on
account of its warming effect, and some defect is
also caused in digestion, and cough and asthma
often increased by them. Morals of a man also
suffer, and the man is made lazy and idle. The
head goes wrong, and some of the excessive con-
sumers of such things become nearly mad, though
they had sound wisdom before. This difference
in their senses is caused only from the time they
begin smoking ganja and charas, and finally lose
the sense of right and wrong.
47. The habit of using ganja, charas, and
bhang is not hereditary, but indeed the evil in-
fluence of elders falls on the children of the family,
and ultimately they acquire a taste for it, and by
and by become habitual consumers like other
members of the family.
49. The use of ganja, charas and bhang is not
practised as aphrodisiac. They cause physical
debility, and are very seldom used by prostitutes.
51. Bad mashes often make excessive and habi-
tual use of charas and ganja, because they get a
better chance of gathering together, and after
using these intoxicating things, they unite to
commit some crime or other.
53. By the excessive use of ganja, bhang and
charas, it is possible that one may commit any
serious crime.
54. Some badmashes commit crimes after
smoking charas and ganja, and falsely state that
it was not a free act of theirs, but was committed
in intoxication. It is also conducive to the excite-
ment of mind.
55. Badmashes, after making familiarity with
strangers, administer charas, sometimes pure, and
at other times adulterated, to facilitate their
desires ; and the excess of bhang can also make
men unconscious.
vol. v.
2E2