407
hilarated after the dose. Charas smoking allays
hunger, while bhang sharpens the appetite. The
effect lasts so long as the heating and exhilarating
power of the drug remains. When the intoxica-
tion abates, reaction sets in. The consumer be-
comes dull and languid. According to physicians,
the immediate effect of bhang and its preparation
is heating and exhilarating, and its after-effect is
cooling, arid and depressing. So all the compo-
nent elements of the drug produce their effects.
45. The moderate use of charas certainly in-
jures both constitution and brain. The reason
being that it sucks the blood, and the result is
that the natural heat of the body diminishes.
The constitution is thus undermined. Weakness
of digestion, loss of appetite, langour and laziness
also follow. The moderate use does not impair
the moral sense, nor does it cause dysentery,
asthma or bronchitis.
46. According to books on medicine, excessive
charas smoking produces insanity of a temporary
character. The patient can recover his soundness
of mind by foregoing the habit and undergoing
medical treatment. The symptoms may be rein-
duced by resuming the habit. No such particular
instance can be given.
47. Neither the moderate nor the excessive use
of any of the intoxicants is hereditary, nor does
it affect, in any way, the children of the consum-
ers.
49. The moderate use of bhang and charas is
practised as an aphrodisiac by prostitutes and
immoral women. Its use for this purpose is more
injurious than its use as an ordinary narcotic.
The excessive use of bhang certainly produces
impotency.
50. The hemp plant generally grows in cold
and temperate countries. According to the Greek
system of medicine, the immediate effect of bhang
drinking is heating and exhilarating, latent effect*
being arid and depressing. So when it is taken,
it first produces a kind of warmth in the body,
and this warmth stimulates the animal passions.
But aferwards, its latent property produces arid
and cool effect and lessens the vital power of the
body. Prostitutes and immoral women use the
drug as an aphrodisiac. The use of these drugs
produces coolness and aridity in the system of the
male consumers, dries up the semen and thus pro-
duces impotency. It is generally seen that the
excessive consumer cannot perform the duties of
the husband, nor can he do any act of bravery.
Such persons generally while away their time in
solitude or in company of their fellow-consumers.
51. Bad characters, such as gamblers, etc., are
generally addicted to the use of bhang or chara6.
The number of such persons is, however, not very
large.
63. As far as my experience goes, the excessive
use of any of these drugs is not practised with a
view that the dose may incite the consumer to
commit an unpremeditated crime, violent or other-
wise, nor does the consumption of any of the
drugs produce such an inclination.
54. As far as my knowledge goes, none of these
drugs is used by criminals to help them in com-
mitting crime.
55. Indeed some gamblers, pick-pockets and
treacherous persons, in order to further their de-
signs, do induce their victims to share the dose of
charas or bhang, and thus stupefy them. Com-
plete stupefaction is, however, not produced with-
out the admixture of dhatura. Whenever, there-
fore, criminals intend to rob any person, they mix
dhatura with bhang or charas and induce their
victim to partake of the dose.
56. Bhang becomes more intoxicating if mixed
with sugar or parched in a copper vessel [lit. along
with copper pieces). The admixture of dhatura
makes bhang more arid, whether taken in moder-
ation or in excess, or kept for personal use or
administration to others. In every case the ad-
mixture of dhatura imparts an heating and arid
effect to bhang. Bhang alone produces aridity
and flatulence in the system and giddiness in the
head of the consumer. The excessive consumers,
therefore, mix dhatura with bhang, so that, if
taken in winter, it may not prove injurious.
57. In this province, ganja and charas are
neither eaten nor drunk.
58. The present excise system works well. It
is, however, not mentioned in the excise rules,
whether a person whose land produces wild hemp
has a right to sell it to a contractor on a certain
payment. The prevailing custom in the Punjab
is that a lessee can reap wild hemp through his
own servants without making any payment and
sell it. Some rules should be framed on this
subject.
59. The only reform that deserves consideration
is that suggested in answer to question No. 58.
60. Ganja is not produced in this province.
61. Charas is not produced in this province.
62. The hemp plant is not cultivated in the
Punjab. In my opinion, the wild hemp too
should be controlled, The control can be exer-
cised in this way that a village Patwari may be
provided with a register, so that he may at the
time of his girdwari enter in his register all areas
producing wild hemp.
63. I have no objection to the present system
of a wholesale or retail vend of bhang, charas and
ganja.
64. There is no objection.
65. The present taxation on ganja, charas and
bhang in the shape of license-lees is reasonable.
Indeed it is proper to impose some import duty
on charas,
67. There is no objection. It is judicious to
impose some import duty on charas,
68. In every district of the Punjab, there are
shops licensed for the sale of bhang and charas.
The drugs are, however, not consumed on the.
premises. In my opinion, it is necessary to have
such shops,
69. The wishes of the people are not consulted
in connection with the opening of such shops.
In the Punjab leases for the retail vend of the
drugs are sold by auction for each tahsil sepa-
rately. The lessees at the beginning of the year
obtain the permission of the Collector to choose
a locality for opening shops. In my opinion, the
wishes of the local public should be considered
before a shop is opened.
70. There is nothing to which attention may
be drawn.