114
44. Ganja smoking produces intoxication im
- m e d i a t e l y , b u t b h a n g e a t i n g a f t e r t h e l a p s e o f a n
hour or two. Ganja smoking is refreshing to
beginners, but not to habituals. Eating bhang
is never refreshing, but produces sluggishness.
They are always taken with the view of producing
intoxication, and a man, whom I should call a
moderate consumer, will yet take enough to in
-toxicate him. An excessive consumer will al
- t o g e t h e r l o s e h i s s e n s e s . G a n j a s m o k i n g t a k e s
away the desire for food, but bhang eating in
- c r e a s e s i t . T h e e f f e c t s t a k e o n a n a v e r a g e a b o u t
six hours to wear off, but the time varies greatly
with different people. As soon as the effects
have worn off, there is a desire for more.
45. (a) Yes, ganja smoking does, even though
moderate, but the bhang eater when he has re
- c o v e r e d f r o m h i s i n t o x i c a t i o n i s n o n e t h e w o r s e .
(c) Ganja smoking injures the digestion, but
not bhang eating.
(d) Ganja smoking generally causes asthma in
habitual smokers.
(e) Yes, ganja smoking does so, but bhang
eating only whilst the intoxication lasts.
(f) Ganja smoking tends to deaden the in
- t e l l e c t , a n d v e r y f r e q u e n t l y c a u s e s i n s a n i t y . I t
may even do so, though practised in moderation.
Bhang eating does not produce insanity.
46. The effects of habitual excessive ganja
smoking are the same as mentioned above, but
intensified.
47. No.
48. No.
49. Ganja is often smoked by young men as
an aphrodisiac, and they feel benefit from it for
about a week, but after that they are worse off
than if they had not taken it, and ultimately be
- c o m e i m p o t e n t . P r o s t i t u t e s s o m e t i m e s t a k e i t
for a similar reason.
50. Bhang is not taken for the above-mention
- e d r e a s o n .
51. (a) Yes.
(b) No special class of crime is peculiarly com
-mon with ganja smokers. Eaters of bhang are
on the average of better character than ganja
smokers.
53. No. No.
54. No.
55. ( a) Yes, very often.
( b ) 'B e - h o s h i ' m a y b e p r o d u c e d b y s m o k i n g
ganja, but not such complete stupefaction as by
excessive eating of bhang. Dhatura is commonly
mixed in bhang, not in ganja.
56. Dhatura is often mixed with bhang by poor
people for their own consumption, and not with
any criminal purpose. It increases the bad effects
of the drug.
57. People accustomed to eat bhang eat ganja
if they cannot get bhang. The effects of ganja
when eaten are similar to those of bhang, but
stronger.
58. Action should be taken to raise the price of
retail vend licenses, and thus cause the vendors to
demand a higher price from the consumers.
59. (See above.)
63. (See above answer to 58.) No objection to
wholesale vend system. The price of ganja could
however, if preferred, be raised by making it
more expensive to the wholesale vendor.
64. No.
65. Ganja is more expensive than an equal
weight of country spirit, but a man can intoxi
- c a t e h i m s e l f o n l e s s m o n e y ' s w o r t h o f g a n j a t h a n
of spirit. In a way therefore ganja is the cheaper
of the two. I do not believe, however, that any
re-adjustment of their comparative prices would
cause ganja consumers to take to liquor, or liquor
consumers to ganja. The classes which take the
two things are quite distinct, and would always
remain so.
68. My impression is that consumption on the
premises is not allowed in the Central Provinces.
At any rate it does not occur in the Chanda shop.
Consumption of these drugs on the premises of
licensed vendors is objectionable, as the consumers
are likely by this means to get into bad company
and habits.
69. None, so far as I know. I do not think it
necessary. Respectable people, however, would
not like a ganja shop near their houses.
70. No.
A certain amount of contraband ganja is used,
but not much. Where there is a want of police
supervision, it is introduced into this district from
the Nizam's dominions. The price of ganja there
is much lower than here, as cultivation there is
not restricted.
Oral evidence.
Question 16.—Wild hemp grows in small quan
- t i t y i n t h e j u n g l e s o f t h e C h a n d a d i s t r i c t , i n t h e
Mulk tahsil. It is this plant cut and dried which
is given to animals. The plant is slightly different
to that which is used by human beings.
Question 25.—The increase of ganja consump
- t i o n i s d u e t o m u l t i p l i c a t i o n o f s h o p s , a n d t h e l o w
price paid for them. The drug is sold very cheap
in the adjoining Nizam's dominions. There is
also illicit sale by the retail vendors in other vil
- l a g e s t h a n t h o s e w h e r e t h e i r s h o p s a r e s i t u a t e d .
Question 28.—A very moderate smoker spends
not less than one anna a day. Bairagis and such
people spend as much as 8 annas a day.
Question 29 .—Poor people mix dhatura with
their bhang when they cannot get bhang in suffi
- c i e n t q u a n t i t y . I t i s t h e l i q u i d c o m p o u n d I r e f e r
to. Dhatura excites heat, and headache.
Question 34 .—The proportion of consumers
given in my answer 34 is correct. Bhang is not
consumed here as it is in Marwad.
Question 35 .—My meaning is that the bhang
habit can be discontinued, but people cannot aban
- d o n g a n j a - s m o k i n g . P e o p l e w o u l d n o t t a k e t o
other intoxicants if hemp were prohibited. They
might take to opium-smoking (madak).
Question 41.—Ganja does not relieve fatigue in
any degree. Consumers of ganja are all weak,
bad workers. Bhang is not febrifuge. It is a
cooling drink.
Question 44.—Bhang-drinking is refreshing
to the occasional consumer, but not to the habi
- t u a l .
Question 45 .—I have seen a fakir (Musalman)
who had become insane from the use of the drugs.
That was 5 or 6 years ago, but I cannot remember
his name. He was simply a beggar. I have heard
of other cases.