24
in order to make themselves sure of producing
the stupefying effect in them without exciting
suspicion. If ganja or bhang be alone mixed, a
larger quantity is required to produce the same
effect produced by the mixture than that used
with dhatura, and it will retain its strong smell,
which will raise suspicion about the drug.
58. Ganja cultivated in the Nimar district
is supplied to wholesale vendors of all districts.
The effect of this arrangement is that the inci--
dence of taxation is not equal, which I think
should be maintained consistently with a principle
that in order to control properly the consump--
tion of all intoxicating drugs, they should be
sold at such maximum procurable price as would
ensure minimum chances of their being obtained
illicitly, and that consumers in several districts,
who prefer drugs grown in certain places, try to
obtain them from such places instead of from
Government godowns. Under the present ar-
rangement hemp is allowed to grow uncheck
-ed in the Feudatory States adjoining these pro-
vinces, so persons can obtain the drug from them
easily if they have got liking for it. In the
Khalsa district of the Central Provinces it will
appear from the magisterial statistics that several
persons were punished for having grown ganja
plants in their yards. I think these men grow
it more on account of their liking for the drug
cultivated at a certain place than with the sole
object of eluding the tax. So long as the con-
sumers don't get the drug according to their
liking and the drug is not equally taxed
t h r o u g h - o u t t h e c o u n t r y , t h e a b o v e m e n t i o n e d o b j e c t ,
viz., the proper control of consumption of the
drug, cannot be entirely fulfilled.
59. Unlicensed cultivation should be stopped
throughout the country. The incidence of taxa-
tion should be equalised. Some central places
for the cultivation of the plant should be selected
in consultation with consumers in different dis-
tricts. The Government should take control in
its own hands of cultivation and supply of these
drugs in all Feudatory States, for reasons given
against question 58.
64. My objections to the existing regulations
governing the export and import of ganja and
bhang (drugs) are in regard to the districts
bordering on Native States, where the cultivation
of the plant has been allowed unchecked. There
the consumption is as nearly uncontrolled as it
is in the latter, because the consumers can pro-
cure as much drug as they want without requir-
ing to pay any tax. Under the regulation a
man is allowed to possess 5 tola ganja, and 20
tola (¼ seer) bhang without a license, so a person
found importing these drugs up to this quantity
cannot be prevented.
65. I think it is reasonable.
66. I think all kinds of ganja should be equally
taxed.
67. At present the incidence of tax is unequal
which I am for equalising.
68. There are no shops licensed for the sale
of ganja and bhang here, where they are allowed
to be consumed on the premises. I think such
shops should not be allowed because they will
then become abode or meeting places of consumers
who are generally disreputable persons or bad
characters. They will afford greater facility for
the vice to spread.
69. The wishes of the people are considered
before a shop is opened in a locality. The object
of the measure is more for the sake of the sale
of and the convenience of consumers than a con-
sideration of its effect on the society. this is
because the people don't object to have a ganja
shop near them as much as they object to have a
liquor shop.
70. Banjaras and other labouring classes im-
port ganja into the Sonepur State as well as into
the Khalsa (Sambalpur) from the Boad State.
Oral evidence.
Question 2.—Rengal is sal or sargi.
Question 9.—I have not seen Nimar cultivation.
In Boad the custom is to transplant or plant out
the plants. So also in Athmalik. It used also
to be done in Sonepur until the cultivation was
stopped.
Question 24 .—Most people of the higher classes
in Sonepur take bhang, and most have at least
tasted it.
Question 35 .—In Sonepur the higher classes
have not begun to take liquor, because it is pro-
hibited by their religion. The liquor there also is
of inferior quality and cheap.
Question 40 .—The " módaks" referred to are
made up by hakims. The five named by me are
given to promote sexual desire. They are pre-
pared from ganja flower and leaves together.
Question 41 .—I have not tasted ganja myself;
but I know the people think it prevents cholera.
They say they use it ; but I do not know myself.
I have not remarked exceptional consumption in
such times.
Question 45 .—The case given under answer No.
53 was the only instance of insanity from ganja
smoking, as referred to in answer No. 45, the
details of which I can give. In that case, the man
was found not to be insane, and was convicted
and sentenced to imprisonment for life.
Question 53.—In this case the man was first
acquitted on the ground of insanity by Diwan
Banmali Misr. The Commissioner of the Divi-
sion quashed the proceedings. The Raja and I
tried the case and convicted the man and sentenced
him to imprisonment for life. He had become
violent from the use of ganja a fortnight before,
and his uncle put him under restraint and refused
him ganja. Suddenly he planned to get his uncle
asleep, and then killed him. There was no enquiry
as to any madness in the family. His uncles
were not mad. I think his frenzy was due to
previous ganja smoking. By homicidal frenzy, I
understand a desire to kill a man, no matter who
it might be. The man's name is Khairuth.Napatti,
convicted October or November 1892.
Question 55 .—I know of a Nagpur case in
which a sweetmeat called " majum " was given ;
but I do not know what its ingredients were.
Question 58.—The inequalities to which I refer
are produced by the special arrangements made for
the feudatories and zamindaris. My impression is
that the Sonepur Chief puts on Rs. 2-8 as against
Rs. 2 in the Sambulpur Khalsa ; but both these
rates for wholesale vend are less than the Rs. 3 of
Raipur. This is due to smuggling from across
Central Provinces border. This should be stopped,
Question 59 .—The first sentence applies to the
country beyond the Central Provinces border.
Furthermore, I think that the cultivation should
not be confined to the Khandwa area, because
people like ganja from different localities. The
areas would be small. The people in Sambulpur
do not like the Kbandwa ganja, and this leads to
smuggling.