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45. (a) The moderate use of the drug is not
followed by any of the noxious effects so long as
sufficient food is supplied.
(c) No.
(d) No.
(e) It produces laziness.
(f) No information is available.
46. No information is available.
47. There is no evidence to show that the
habitual use of these drugs is hereditary ; neither
does it affect the children of the moderate
consumers.
48. No information is available.
49. (a) No.
(b) No.
(c) Yes.
50. No information is available
51. This question is answered in the negative.
There is a consensus of opinion that only in excep--
tional cases do bad characters take to the use,
moderate or excessive, of hemp drugs. This shews
that the use of the drug has no direct connection
with crime. Ganja, like alcochol, while producing
intoxication, induces in the earlier stages elation
of spirits, which leads to brawling and petty
assaults ; but when taken in small quantities, it is
stated, acts as a useful stimulant, both mental and
bodily.
52. This question is partly answered by reply to
question No. 51. Excessive use of hemp drugs
leads to extreme depression of mental and bodily
powers. Consumers of ganja have no tendency to
any particular form of crime, except perhaps
offences against decency ; but since its excessive
use impairs the power of those who consume it of
distinguishing right from wrong, it leads to the
commission of crime.
53. This question is answered in the negative by
the officers consulted, except the District Superin-
tendent of Police and the Joint Magistrate, who
state that excessive indulgence in any of these drugs
may cause temporary homicidal frenzy. Mr. Lowe,
1st Class Inspector of Police, Tirupatur Taluk,
gives three instances of murder which he attributes
to this cause.
I have no experience on the point.
I have heard, of course, of cases where persons
under the influence of the drug have committed
offences, but it has seemed to me that the offence
was not the effect of this drug, but rather that
this drug was used to give courage to commit the
offence.
54. This is answered in the negative by the
officers consulted, who state that criminals avoid
ganja in order that it might not subject them to
giddiness, and render them unfit for their con-
templated designs.
It is generally said that criminals, in order that
they may be complete masters over their victims,
administer preparations of hemp drugs to them,
but instances exemplary of this assertion have not
come to notice in this district. Complete stupe--
faction can be induced by these drugs, but to render
it more certain and effective, the head-quarters
Deputy Collector reports that admixture of sugar
is necessary.
56. Ganja is always mixed up with tobacco
before it is used for smoking. In this case, tobacco
removes much of the bitterness in ganja. The
admixture of sugar, milk, almonds, etc., in the
preparation of bhang removes much of its ill-effects
and renders the drug highly palatable. In this
district, dhatura is not used in the preparation of
the drug, either for smoking or for eating and
drinking.
57. No information is available.
58. Under the present system of administration
the right of vending these drugs for consumption
is put to auction and sold to the highest bidder.
59. The present system is working fairly, and
no change is called for for the present.
60. The cultivation of the ganja-bearing plant
and the process of its preparation are not at present
controlled ; but they being carried on to a very
small extent, the state of things may be left as it
is.
61. Charas is not produced.
63. There is only one kind of license at present
which allows both wholesale and retail vend.
61. No.
65. (a) There is no charas in this district.
There need not be any difference between the
rates of the other two.
(b) Hemp drug is not in full working order
here as the alcoholic drinks, and so no
c o m p a r i - s i o n c a n b e m a d e .
66. This question will not affect these parts, as
only one kind of ganja (flat) is here consumed.
67. No.
68. In the shops here the drugs are not con-
sumed on the premises.
69. The objections of the public are first consi-
dered before a shop is opened in any locality.
70. The drug is not taxed, but only the right of
vend.
Oral statement by MR. LOWE, Inspector
of Police, appended to Mr. Stokes'
evidence.
One of the three cases alluded to by Mr.
Stokes, as having been mentioned by me, appears
in the Tripatur Taluka police register as No. 115
of 1889. This case was tried in the sessions
court. All three cases were tried in the sessions
courts. They were all cases of murder, section
302, Indian Penal Code. In case No. 115 the
accused was sentenced to death on the 16th Octo-
ber 1889. The accused's name was Madhan and lie
u
belonged to Puliencottah. The second case ap-
pears in the same police register as 45 of 1891.
The man's name was Chimapillay and his village
Guddur. His age was 75, and he was transported
for life on 9th March 1892. He killed his
wife and wounded a little boy. The third case
appears in the same police register as 35 of 1882.
His name was Mutta Chatti and his residence
Tripatur. His age was 50. He was sentenced
to death. I do not know on what date. In all
three cases the trying court was the sessions court
of Salem.
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