115
6 2 .
E v i d e n c e o f
T H A K U R M A H A R A J S I N G H , R A I B A H A D U R , *M
a l g u z a r , S a u g o r .
1. I have seen much ganja smoking, and have
observed the result of its effects and abuses. I
have frequently made many enquiries on this sub
- j e c t , s o t h a t I c a n s p e a k w i t h s o m e a u t h o r i t y o n
the subject.
2. Yes; names under which the products are
known: Dhuba bhang, Bahraich Ganja ki-patti.
3. Do not know any cases of spontaneous growth
in the Central Provinces.
4. Not known.
5. Wild hemp is unknown.
6. Wild hemp is unknown.
7. Yes; ganja and bhang in the Khandwa dis
- t r i c t o f t h e C e n t r a l P r o v i n c e s . F i b r e i s n o t u s e d ,
nor is charas produced.
8. The area under cultivation has decreased be
-cause special licenses are now granted for cultiva
- t i o n o f t h e h e m p p l a n t i n o n e d i s t r i c t o n l y i n t h e
province.
9. Generally the seeds are sown broadcast.
10. They are of the same classes as other culti
- v a t o r s ,
i . e .
, t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l c l a s s e s o n l y c u l t i v a t e
the hemp.
11. No.
12. I have no knowledge of this.
13. Yes, to Nimar only.
1 4 . Y e s ; g a n j a a n d b h a n g . C h a r a s i s n o t
made in the Central Provinces.
15. (A) Ganja.—When the shoots at the top get
ripe they are cut, and then pressed by heavy stones
or some weights. Before the ganja is completely
dry, it is exposed to the air and then used.
(C) Bhang.—The hemp plant is stripped of its
leaves. The leaves are boiled for some time, and
then dried. The leaves are then ground with
pepper, coriander, almonds, and then mixed with
sugared water and drunk.
Ganja is prepared for smoking in this way.
The "kuli" or buds are rubbed well in the palms
of the hand till well cleaned, and then mixed
with "gudaku" and smoked.
16. No; where ganja is grown bhang is pre
- p a r e d .
Yes, where the plant grows in abundance.
17. Agricultural classes, like Kunbis and Kur
- m i s a n d L o d h i e s .
18. Ganja would deteriorate, say, after a year's
keeping; it would lose its effect to some extent;
"charas" increases its strength by keeping.
Damp causes deterioration chiefly. To pre
- v e n t d e t e r i o r a t i o n , t h e s e a r e p l a c e d i n a p o t w h i c h
is made air-tight.
19. No; ganja is used also for medicinal pur
- p o s e s . G a n j a i s a d d e d t o o t h e r i n g r e d i e n t s u s e d
for the cure of rheumatism. In nearly all districts
where ganja is produced or available, it is pur
- c h a s e d b y p e o p l e t o m i x u p w i t h o t h e r m e d i c i n e s .
20. Bairagis, sepoys, and. day-labourers smoke
ganja: 50 per cent. of bairagis and day-labourers
of the lower classes smoke ganja, All over the
Central Provinces people smoke ganja.
21. Flat kind is preferred. Only flat kind. is
used.
22. No charas is used here.
23. No.
24. All classes more or less drink bhang, except
Muhammadans: 55 per cent. of the people drink
bhang. Travellers from up-country eat bhang.
About 20 per cent. of them eat bhang.
25. The proportion of persons who use these
drugs has decreased since the last twenty-five
years. There was no restriction before, so these
drugs were largely used previous to twenty five
years ago.
26. Charas is not known here.
Ganja—
( a ) 5 p e r c e n t . o f c o n s u m e r ' s a r e h a b i t u a l
moderate consumers.
( b ) 5 p e r c e n t . a r e h a b i t u a l e x c e s s i v e
smokers.
( c ) 25 per cent. occasional moderate con
-sumers.
( d ) 15 per cent. occasional excessive con
-sumers.
Bhang—
(a) 10 per cent.
(b) 5 per cent.
(c) 20 per cent.
(d) 20 per cent.
27. The more respectable classes use bhang;
the labouring classes use ganja. These classes
live from hand to mouth. They smoke ganja, when
tired and to enable them to undergo fatigue. If
a man is smoking a pipe, he hands it round to any
person who may be sitting near him at the time,
each having a pull at the pipe till the stuff is
burnt to ashes.
28, (a) 4 pipes per day, i.e., ½t o l a .
(b) 2 annas—1 tola.
29. "Gadaku" is mixed with ganja; "bhang"
is mixed with pepper, almond, cucumber seed,
sugar, and spi ces. Dhat ura i s somet i mes used i n
"bhang." The object is to increase the intoxicat
- i n g s t r e n g t h o f t h e d r u g s .
The bhang massala is made of the ingredients
above described.
30. Bhang is openly consumed; ganja is more
or less always consumed in solitude. It is mainly
confined to the male sex. Adults are generally
addicted to these drugs. No; it is not usual for
children to consume these drugs.
31. (a ) Yes. (b) It is difficult to break off.
(c) yes.
32. (a) Special customs not known. Bhang is
generally taken in Holi and other festive occa
- s i o n s . I t i s n o t e s s e n t i a l t h a t a n y d r u g s h o u l d b e
taken on any occasion, special or otherwise. It is
generally temperate. It is not injurious or likely
to lead to habit.
33. (a) They are not considered articles neces
- s a r y f o r l i f e .
(b) No. To hatred and dislike to the partak
- i n g o f a n y d r u g s t h a t w i l l i n t o x i c a t e a n d m a k e a
man a beast.
( c) No.
34. No; it would be a benefit. People who
give up or have to give up consuming these drugs
improve in health, Can't give an idea of the pro
- b a b l e n u m b e r s o f e a c h c l a s s .
35. (a ) Yes.
( b) In isolated cases.
* I n v i t e d t o a t t e n d a t a s i t t i n g o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n f o r o r a l e x a m i n a t i o n , b u t f a i l e d t o a p p e a r .