98
34. Of course, it would be a serious privation
to labourers, fakirs, and those who think it to be
religious custom, to forego the consumption of the
drug they use. The number of these consumers
is 50 per cent. To break off the habit of consum
- i n g a n y o f t h e s e d r u g s w i l l p r o v e i n j u r i o u s t o
health.
35. These drugs cannot be used for purposes
other than medicinal. The practice of
c o n s u m i n g t h e s e d r u g s s h o u l d n o t b e p r o h i b i t e d , b u t t h e
old and rotten drugs, or the stuff containing large
quantity of seeds and leaves, ought to be prohi
-bited or be destroyed, as the use of such drugs is
injurious to health.
36. It would be rather difficult to prohibit the
use of the drugs and would be a sort of discontent
specially to the fakirs and labourers, as it is consi
-dered by them to be their chief food. The pro
- h i b i t i o n w o u l d n o t b e f o l l o w e d b y r e c o u r s e t o
other drugs or alcoholic stimulants, as the prac
-tice of consuming madak, chandu, kuchla, dha
-tura, and liquor, in the opinion of the public,
is considered disreputable. The benefit derivable
from these drugs is not derived from opium. Be
-sides this, the other drugs and stimulants are
costly and injurious to the consumers, and the
prevailing of which would lead poor people to
commit theft, etc.
37. Charas creates too much heat.
38. The three drugs have different effects, as
stated above.
39. Ganja and bhang-smoking and drinking
are not injurious. The effect of each drug is the
same.
40. The native physicians have prescribed the
use of these drugs on account of their medicinal
qualities in ancient books.
41. It is used in other works too, the details
of which have been given above. It is not confin
-ed to any class of people. Sometimes it is gene
- r a l l y u s e d b y e v e r y c l a s s o f p e o p l e .
42. It does not cause any kind of injury.
44. Ganja and charas have their immediate
effect, and bhang produces its effect after half an
hour.
45. Excessive consumers of these drugs, with
the exception of fakirs, have noxious effect. There
are fakirs who smoke half a seer of ganja per day.
It induces laziness, and in old age causes asthma
and cough, etc. It does not impair the habit of
debauchery, nor produces insanity, but to the
impairing of senses weakens the intellects.
46. Sometimes habitual excessive consumers
get a kind of senselessness.
47. The habitual use of these drugs does not
appear to be hereditary, but depends only upon the
company which the consumer joins.
49. The use of hemp does not tend to produce
impotence.
50. Several persons use ½ a seer of bhang, ¼
seer of ganja and charas, yet they do not lose their
senses.
51. Though he indulges in it, yet he commits
no crime.
52. These drugs do not lead persons to commit
suicide.
54. These drugs are not used for criminal pur
-poses.
55. The criminals, in order to further their de
- s i g n s t o c o m m i t m u r d e r , d o n o t i n d u c e t h e i r v i c t i m s
t o p a r t a k e o f a n y o f t h e s e d r u g s , a s n o c o m p l e t e
s t u p e f a c t i o n c a n b e i n d u c e d w i t h o u t a n a d m i x t u r e
of some other roots.
56. The hemp used in moderation does not
c a u s e a n y i n j u r y , b u t t h e a d m i x t u r e o f d h a t u r a ,
kuchla, jawr root, etc., stupefy or even cause
death.
57. Ganja and charas are not eaten or drunk,
but their excessive use causes senselessness, vomit
-ing and heat in the brain.
58. No one regards the bhang a bad drug, as
e v e r y o n e h a s o c c a s i o n t o u s e i t . G a n j a - s m o k e r s
are considered somewhat low for two reasons: (1)
only the persons of inferior class and fakirs smoke
it; (2) the persons who do not use it regard it as
disreputable; for example, persons who do not
drink liquor condemn liquor.
62. Bhang is cultivated and also grows itself,
which is called wild bhang. Many persons reap
the bhang trees, dry them, and then pick up the
leaves; and many allow the standing trees to dry
up and pick up the fallen leaves.
64. The system prevalent in the province is not
objectionable, and should not be put a stop to.
If so stopped, the poor labourers and the fakirs
will suffer much.
65. The retail sale contract.
67. In my opinion the retail sale contract is
objectionable, as the contractors increase the
contract money very much without any regard to
their profit or loss. During their contract, when
they find themselves under loss, they sell admix
-tune of other things, such as water into liquor,
bhang leaves, rotten ganja into ganja, and earth
and sticks into bhang. Such admixture of ganja
is sold at Rs. 12 per seer. Short measurements
are also made by which the poor consumers suffer
much. It will be better if some tax is imposed
on every shop, rather than putting it to public
auction, and the quantity for sale be also fixed,
so that they may not sell more than allowed.
68. The license for wholesale ganja should be
put a stop to, as the wholesale contractors pur
-chase the cheapest and admixture of rotten ganja,
which also contains seeds and leaves in great
quantities, the use of which produces several
diseases.
The best system would be the purchase of ganja
by the Government and sale to wholesale contrac
-tors at the rate prevalent now. By this arrange
-ment it will not entail any trouble at all.
The former arrangement about the retail shops
was good. In my opinion the city is capable of
holding 20 or 25 shops. This will be liked by all
and the present complaints will be removed.
People will be able to obtain good stuff and would
not suffer in any way. People will agree to pay
Rs. 8 or 10 for each shop.
These intoxications should not be stopped or
encouraged. The old arrangement should be
continued. Fakirs should be exempted from pay-
ment of tax, as in case of exemption they will
pray for the prosperity of Government.