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49 and 50. The excessive use of ganja if long
continued leads to impotence. It is not used as
an aphrodisiac in the same way that opium or
madak is.
53 and 54. No, a man intoxicated by ganja is
foolish and not violent.
55 and 56. Ganja is not so used unless mixed
with dhatura. Knows of a case in which a
bairagi gave ganja and dhatura mixed to some
boys to smoke in order to obtain their ornaments.
The boys died.
58 and 59. Thinks it would be advisable to raise
the price of ganja by increasing the taxation
This could not be done unless arrangements are
made to stop its production in Native States.
Thinks this might be done and a Government
monopoly declared, as has been done in the case
of salt. Suggests also that the limit of 5 tolas
might be reduced.
68. Thinks it better to allow smoking on the
premises than to compel people, as now, to smoke
it in their own houses. Thinks the latter rule
causes ganja smoking to increase.
70. Knows there is much smuggling from ad
- j o i n i n g N a t i v e S t a t e s . H a s n o s p e c i a l k n o w l e d g e .
48. Evidence of CHAUDHRY UMRAO SINGH, Honorary Magistrate, Jubbulpore.
Question 33.— There is a feeling of disapproba
- t i o n a g a i n s t a m a n o f w e a l t h o r s t a n d i n g w h o
smokes ganja. It is thought to be the right
thing for poor and naked labouring men.
Brahmins of course are forbidden to touch ganja,
but they also drink a preparation of bhang in the
hot weather.
Question 41.—I think the consumption of ganja
in small quantities is beneficial. I used to take
contracts on a large scale, and I know that the
coolies after a long day's work used to derive
benefit from their chillum of ganja at night.
Out of my coolies I estimate that 90 per cent.
smoked ganja. Sadhus also universally use ganja
instead of clothes and bedding in the cold weather.
Question 45.—I have never had personal ex
- p e r i e n c e o f a n y p e r s o n s u f f e r i n g s e v e r e l y e i t h e r i n
health or in pocket from smoking ganja.
Question 53.—I have never known a case of in
- s a n i t y o r v i o l e n c e a r i s i n g o u t o f g a n j a . E x c e s s i v e
doses of ganja end in stupor and not in violence.
Question 65.—I think the duty should remain
unaltered. The drug is the poor man's luxury.
49. Evidence of SETH BACHRAJ, Honorary Magistrate, Wardha.
1. I have seen several cases of ganja smoking
and bhang drinking in different places, and have
lived near to them.
2. These definitions may be accepted.
3. It grows spontaneously near Hardwar and
Badrinath and in Nepal.
4. It is known as the ganja plant.
6. It ordinarily grows densely.
7. Formerly hemp was grown in the Nagpur
and Wardha districts ; but the practice was
stopped about fifteen years ago. It was grown for
the production of ganja only. Hemp is also
grown for fibre. It is then called san. It is in
appearance the same as the ganja plant; but it
has no intoxicating properties, and could not be
made to produce ganja or bhang. Ganja is at
present grown in Nimar ; but I don't know about
its cultivation.
10.There is no special class of persons who
cultivate hemp for ganja. Any of the people
used to do so.
11.Hemp for production of ganja was always
raised here from seed of the cultivated plant.
12.There is no wild hemp in this district.
13.It is restricted to Nimar in these provinces.
14.I know nothing about this in the Central
Provinces.
In Marwar there are two plants separate from
each other, and grown from different seeds. From
one ganja and charas are made, and from the other
bhang is made. Bhang is made from the plant
from which ganja is produced also ; but it has less
intoxicating power, and is not so good. There is
a difference in the appearance of the two plants.
One is called ganja ki jhar, and the other bhang
ki jhar.
1 5 . T h e g a n j a p l a n t h a s m a l e a n d f e m a l e p l a n t s . T o m a k e g a n j a o r c h a r a s i t i s n e c e s s a r y
to carefully eliminate all the male plants, and to
keep only the female plants. The plants are then
cut, and are carried to a threshing floor. The
stems and flowers are then flattened with the foot,
and tied into small bundles. This ganja is known
as chapta ganja. To collect charas the people
dress in leather coats and go through the growing
ganja. The charas clings to the leather, and is
then scraped off with a knife.
Bhang is of two kinds—(a) That prepared from
the fallen leaves of the ganja plant. These are
collected and dried, and (b) the bhang plant is
different from the ganja in having no male
flowers; only female plants are produced. The
whole plant is dried and made into bhang.
Ganja and charas are both smoked. Majum
is made by cooking bhang in ghi, and then
mixing this ghi with sugar, curds, and almonds,
etc. It is thus formed into a sweetmeat and
eaten. Gulkand is also sometimes made into an
intoxicant by adding bhang to the ghi before
making the sweetmeat. This sweetmeat is very
largely made in Jaipur, Ajmere, and indore.
These two preparations are the only two which I
know that are eaten. Majum is made by the
halwais in Wardha.; but gulkand is not made
here. Another way of making majum is by
beating the roots of jawari in ghi until the
essence of the root is extracted, and then using
this to make a sweetmeat. This is even more
intoxicating than majum made with bhang.
The best bhangs are known as amarser and
ujjainki. Their intoxicating power is very good,
and they are generally used for drinking purposes
by all the people who can afford them. The
bhang is first tied up in a cloth and thoroughly