268
laghium ” is made of jaggery, ganja and various
medicines compounded together. This is adminis-
tered to invalids and is considered tonic. Ganja is
administered to elephants as a tonic mixed with
other medicinal substances. . It is also given to
cattle : eggs, ganja, and castor oil being mixed to-
- g e t h e r . T h i s m i x t u r e i s s u p p o s e d t o m a k e c a t t l e
robust. Muhammadans sometimes use ganja as
an ingredient in curries.
20. All classes smoke ganja, but not many in-
-dividuals in a class. Sholagurs are much ad-
- d i c t e d t o i t , a n d m o r e t h a n h a l f t h e t r i b e s m o k e
it. Bairagis are much given to the habit. Shi-
- a n s s m o k e g a n j a t o t h e e x t e n t o f a b o u t 1 0 p e r c e n t .
of the population. Rajputs are great ganja
smokers. Muhammadans use it to a small extent,
though it is forbidden by the Koran.
23. Yes ; by Muhammadans principally.
25. I consider that the use of these drugs is on
the increase. I have noticed that more persons
have contracted the habit, even Rajput school-
boys.
28. For a moderate smoker about 3 pies’ worth,
s a y 1 / 8 o f a n o z . F o r a n e x c e s s i v e s m o k e r a b o u t
10 oz., or 2 annas worth. These are old rates
before the hemp drugs were taxed.
30. The smoking of ganja is openly practised
and in company. It is confined to men. I have
never known women or children smoke it. Raj
put boys of 10 or 12 years of age smoke ganja
without their parents’ knowledge.
31. Yes. It is very difficult to break off.
There is a strong tendency towards excess when
the habit has once been contracted.
33. The habit of ganja smoking is viewed by
all natives (except the consumers) with
d i s a p p r o - b a t i o n . I t f r e q u e n t l y c a u s e s t h e e n t i r e r u i n o f
men, physical and moral, and bhang and ganja
smokers are held in disrepute.
34. It would be a serious privation to excessive
smokers and consumers of hemp drugs to forego
their consumption. It would even cause death in
some cases. I have known men behave like
maniacs when deprived suddenly of ganja.
3 5 . N o , t i m e d r u g w o u l d b e o b t a i n e d i l l i c i t l y
and will hemp drugs consumed in default of
the very superior cultivated article. Serious dis--
content would ensue, but it would not amount to
a political danger. Many ganja smokers and
e a t e r s , i f a b s o l u t e l y d e p r i v e d o f t h e d r u g , w o u l d
probably take to opium smoking or eating as a
substitute. and this would be a great gain, as
opium smoking is harmless.
36. I do not think that alcohol is used as a
substitute for hemp drugs or would ever be so
used.
40. Yes ; ganja is extensively used medicinally
by all native vythians and also in veterinary
practice.
41. The moderate use of bhang may be beneficial
mddicinaily for asthma and other diseases. The
smoke of Wang is probably a germicide and
disinfectant, and this may act as a preventive of
disease.
40. I do not think the moderate use of hemp
drugs can be harmless to a healthy man. The
symptoms exhibited after smoking ganja are such
as to prove decisively that it cannot be harmless.
The smoke is invariably swallowed and causes
irritation of the stomach and violent coughing ;
the eves generally become bloodshot and a general
stupidity ensues.
43. Yes, as a rule.
44. See 42. Intoxication is produced. It does
allay hunger, but does not create appetite. The
effects last from 20 minutes to several hours.
This depends entirely on the period that the
consumer has been practising the habit. The
effects are very bad in those who first contract the
habit. They either laugh continually and insanely,
or shed tears or become absolutely stupefied by the
drug. Subsequent inability to gratify their desire
causes great uneasiness and irritability.
45. Undoubtedly. Even a moderate use of the
drug causes moral and physical deterioration, but
not disease. It is the immoderate use of the drug,
however, that is so ruinous.
47. No.
49. Never. Ganja-smoking produces
impo-tence.
51. I do not think that ganja-smoking incites to
crime.
53. Not that I am aware of.
5 4 . N o .
55. No doubt complete stupefaction is often
induced by those not accustomed to the use of the
drug.
56. Dhatura is frequently mixed with ganja in
the preparation of the mixture known as subja to
increase its narcotic effects.
58. The excise system now in force is working
fairly well, but considering the generally pernicious
effects of hemp drugs, the tax might well be
raised.
60. A tax on the cultivation of the plant
should be enforced in addition to a tax on the sale
of drugs, and the cultivation of the plant without
a license made penal.
65. Considering the pernicious effects of ganja
and other hemp drugs, I think that the tax should
be made so high on both time (a) cultivation and
(b) sale as to make the use of the drug prohibitive.
The result of such action will be probably to drive
the consumers of these drugs to the use of opium,
which is practically harmless. Even school-boys
are now learning to smoke ganja (especially Rajput’s
children), and strong measures are necessary to
repress the practice.
66. No; I would tax all hemp products equally,
as they are alike pernicious.
6 8 . N o .
69. Not that I am aware of.