176f
27. Habitual moderate consumers are the re
ligous fanatics and mendicants and men of the
poorer classes who cannot afford to indulge in
the more costly drink of toddy or arrack. The
religious fanatics, such as bairagis, sanyasis, etc.,
resort to the drug (1) for the concentration of
their thoughts necessary in the practice of yoga
effected by stupefying the senses, (2) as a means
of rendering their constitutions proof against
diseases. In these will be found a few of the
class (b) also. Class (c) are persons who resort
to the preparations from the drug as medicine.
28. (a) 2 tola of ganja, costing 2 pies.
tola of majum, costing 1 pie.
1/6 tola of purnâdhi, costing about 2 pies.
(b) 2 to 3 tolas of ganja, 8 to 12 pies.
Bhang, not known. Charas, not used.
29. (a) and (b) With ganja in smoking, only
tobacco is used for keeping the fire and also for
preserving the throat from getting parched up.
(a) With bhang, poppy seeds, pepper, ginger,
sugar or jaggery, aniseed, cow milk or cocoanut
milk to. give flavour, improve the taste, and to
render it medicinal.
(b) Bhang is mixed with dhatura in toddy and
arrack to produce excitement and sexual passions
and to produce a longing on the part of the
consumer to partake of more liquor. Cantharides
is also said to he mixed with bhang in toddy
and arrack to produce sexual excitement.
No bhang massala sold here. Ingredients not
known.
:30. Ganja smoking is practised in company,
generally in matams, etc., where the fanatics or
the mendicants assemble while halting during
their pilgrimage. Bhang, when consumed by
habitual consumers, is done in their households
in solitude generally, except on occasions of fes-
tivities ; such as the last day of Dhasara, the
Rajputs make a treat of it to their friends and
relatives. Charas not used. Chiefl y confined to
the male sex and to adults. The confections of
ganja are, however, administered as medicine to
females and to children.
31. Yes. The habit is easily formed when a
person descends to associating with the people
using it, both on account of the cheapness of the
drug as well as the prevalent custom among the
consumers to offer it to those present as good
manners and courtesy. The habit once formed it
will be difficult to break off, and will develop into
excess, as in the case of every other intoxicant,
if indulged in by imprudent persons.
Ganja and the preparation from it known
as majum are used as offerings to the family
deities known as Katteri, Muniswaran, etc., who
are all known as evil deities made use of in black
magic. The offering , is then distributed to those
present, some of whom if used to it already, or
if inclined to use it, make use of it. Bhang is
served on the last day of the Dhasara by Rajputs,
etc., to their friends and relatives. But these
occasions are only periodical. The use on such
occasions is considered essential, and is temperate
generally, and not likely to lead to the formation
of a habit. In some instances ganja and majum,
tola each, are placed in a tray passed round a
sick man's head three times and then thrown
away in the street. This is done in cases of sick-
ness due to the " casting of evil eye."
33. With great disfavour, except when used as
medicine. The public hold the consumers in
disrepute generally, although the religious fanatics
are excused the use of them. This is due
partly to the evil effects of the drug and to the
low and vulgar people using it. The hemp plant
is not worshipped in this part of the country.
34. Yes, to those who are habitual consumers
of the drug, and, it is said, may end fatally. But
the number of such persons will be very small.
35. No, it will not be feasible, and the cost
of such prohibition will be enormous if the result
is to be successful to an appreciable degree. Il-
licit consumption must be the inevitable result-
Complete prohibition cannot be enforced. It
may occasion discontent, but it can never amount
to a political danger, the users being themselves
generally lazy cowards and held in disrepute
by the public. The prohibition would he fol-
lowed by recourse to alcoholic stimulants in cases
where the consumers can afford to indulge in them,.
and to other drugs in the case of the poor.
36.. No.
37. Charas not used here,
38. Only fiat ganja is used here.
39. Smoking is said to be more injurious
its effects than eating or drinking. It is only
the smokers that get emaciated and look like
living skeletons. Smoking is besides said to.
affect the lungs direct. The drug when eaten
or drunk is always mixed up with reputed sooth-
ing or cooling substances, such as ghee, cow milk,
cocoanut milk and poppy-seeds, etc., which, to a.
great extent, counteract its injurious effects.
40. Yes, ganja is prescribed as a nervine tonic,
as a stimulant for sexual enjoyment, as an as-
tringent, as a means of securing digestion or
creating good appetite, and, in short, it is held
as a means of rendering the constitution proof.
against all diseases and for securing longevity.
It is also used for making powder of zinc by
burning it with thin pieces of zinc. In the case
of bowel complaints of cattle, it is administered
in plantain. Saltpetre burnt in green ganja.
leaves is given to horses. when out of wind.
41. (a) Yes.
(4) No, except the drink of bhang, which is
made use of as alleviating fatigue.
(c) As a febrifuge in ease of fevers arising from,
cold.
(d Ganja
used as anodyne, sedative, anti-spasmodic. It is
also used as a narcotic, diuretic and
parturifacient. It is a powerful aphrodisiac.
The District Medical Officer says in answer
to (a) to (c) that the drug is of no use.
Moderate habitual consumers use it chiefly as
a digestive.
42. Not very harmful, if moderately used.
43. Yes.
44. Refreshing. Produces intoxication, follow-
ed by sleep and coma. It does not allay hunger ;
on the contrary, it, is said to create appetite. The
effect of intoxication lasts for about a couple of
hours. The after-effects are exhaustion and semi-
prestration. The want of subsequent gratifica-
tion produces uneasiness.
45. (a) Ganja smoking (habitual) is said to
produce lung disease and to emaciate the body.
(b) It weakens the pulmonary action.
(a) The stomach is not affected, but the appe-
tite may be increased.
(d) A few suffer from these diseases.