110
65. The drugs are more heavily taxed than
liquor, which is a good thing. I do not propose
any alterations. The difference in price between
drugs and liquor is hard on the castes that do not
drink. The effects of ganja go off much more
rapidly than those of liquor or opium.
66. The various kinds should be separately
taxed. Chur should be taxed half as heavily as
the other kinds, as it is much weaker. Old ganja
should also be lightly taxed.
67. The contracts should be let out directly to
the retail vendor. The wholesale vendor should
be eliminated.
68. No, and I am glad there are not.
69. The authorities should consult the public
more than they do at present.
70. There is a great deal of smuggling from
the neighbouring foreign States.
Oral evidence.
Question 7.—The production I refer to is in
States foreign to the Central Provinces, not in the
Chhattisgarh Feudatory States.
Question 29 .—Charas is not used in the Central
Provinces. It only comes in rarely. The dhatura
seeds are used only when greater intoxication is
required. The leaves are not used except when
the seeds are not obtainable. Arsenic and jowari
root are not mixed to my knowledge.
Question 33 .—I think the use of ganja or
charas to any extent, but not necessarily bhang.
Question 35 .—My opinion is that liquor is less
injurious than ganja; but I do not think that of
opium. There must have been some mistake or
misunderstanding. I think that opium smoking.
is much worse than ganja.
Question 41 .—The ganja does not really give
any advantage or strength against fatigue. It
only makes people think they are benefited by
exciting them.
Question 45.—I know of no case of insanity
from hemp drugs. Intoxication produces tempo
-rary alienation of mind, but it passes off. No in
- s a n i t y i s p r o d u c e d . T h e u s e o f g a n j a w e a k e n s
the blood and makes men weak and wanting in
character.
Question 59 .—I cannot say what scheme should
be adopted to reduce consumption. If I had time
to think it out, I should be able to suggest a plan.
I have drunk bhang myself, but have never taken
ganja or liquor. I have taken bhang only once
or twice.
Question 66.—Chur is sold in the bazar. It is
about half the strength of ganja.
59. Evidence of LALL NROOPRAJ SINGH, Chatriya, Zamindar of Barpali,
District Sambalpur.
1. As being the Zamindar of Barpali, I know
something very generally about ganja, as the State
has to procure it for the consumers.
2. I do not know of siddhi and charas: your
definition of ganja applies in my State.
3. Spontaneous growth unknown.
4. I do not know any other names than pati
ganja and kali ganja. They are, respectively,
the leaves and flower tops of one and the same
plant.
6. Scattered.
7. There is no cultivation of ganja in my State.
8. As there is no cultivation of ganja in my
State, no area increased or decreased.
10. The consumers were the producers, and
hence there could be no restriction of the classes
which produced.
11. Generally from preserved seeds from culti
- v a t e d p l a n t s ; s o m e t i m e s f r o m t h e s e e d s o f t h e
wild hemp.
12. There is no difference between the wild and
the cultivated ganja. I know nothing more about
it.
13. There is no restriction of district, for the
raising is common to all districts. No special
physical conditions needed for production.
14. Ganja alone was formerly prepared for
personal consumption by consumers themselves.
At houses of the consumers as much as needed for
themselves. I never had estimates of the quan
- t i t y .
16. Ganja may be prepared from the wild plants
wherever grown.
19. Ganja is smoked only. Medical uses are
not unknown. I do not know about charas and
bhang.
20. The lower class people alone smoke ganja.
The proportion may be 8 or 10 per cent. every-
where in the State.
21. The flat variety preferred everywhere
.
22. Charas is not used here.
23. Bhang is not used for smoking.
24. Bhang not used here.
25. The use of ganja is on the increase. The
licensed vending facilitates it.
26. I know nothing.
27. The ganja consumers are generally Bhooyas,
Gandas and Kols, etc. I could not specify any
habits in them that would lead to the use
28. (a) Half a tola
(b) Two tolas
29. I do not know of any admixtures.
30. The majority smoke in solitude. The males
alone smoke ganja. No children smoke ganja.
31. I know nothing of the formation of habit.
Difficult to break off. The moderation lapses
into excess easily.
32. No religious or social ceremonies enjoin the
essential use of ganja as far as I know.
33. The public regard the smoking of ganja
with unmixed contempt. The disrepute is due to
the loss of mental powers that the use brings on
in the case of the drugs of the hemp plant.
34. The abstinence from ganja would entail dis
-eases on the habitual consumers.
35. I do not think it possible to prohibit the
use of ganja in my State. The confirmed smokers
of ganja, I should think, will no doubt have
recourse either to illicit consumption or to other
drugs. If the prohibition is at all to be enforced,
the only way possible for it is to disallow licensed
½ pice.
2 pice.