67
ture and the ingredients mixed with bhang have
been dealt with in answer to question No. 15.
30. The consumption of each of these three
drugs is generally practised in company and often
in solitude. They are generally used by male sex
and very little by female sex. The practice is not
confined to any time of life. It rests merely on
habits and circumstances. It is not usual for
children to consume any of these drugs. The con-
sumers do generally administer bhang to children,
especially during the hot season ; but they do not
allow their children to smoke ganja or charas.
31. Yes ; the habit of consuming any of these
drugs is easily founded. It is difficult to break
off, but not so difficult as to break off the habit of
consuming opium. It is nevertheless very diffi-
cult to break off for the habitual excessive con-
sumers. In the ease of ganja and charas, there is
a tendency for the moderate habit to develop into
the excessive ; but such tendency is very rare in
the case of bhang.
32. The religious custom is only this, that on
Sheoratri day, when the Hindus worship the god
Shiva, they make offers of ganja, charas and
bhang, and consume these drugs like sacred relics
(Parsad). The use of drugs in connection with
such custom is not regarded as essential, but is
considered a good omen to consume it as relics.
It is generally temperate. It is not likely to
lead to the formation of the habit. It does, no
doubt, often happen that the persons not addicted
to any intoxication become senseless if they con-
sume any of these drugs,
In Holi festival people often become senseless
owing to the consumption of these drugs. and are
involved, for several hours, in great trouble. I
have noticed it while in camp, in the temple of
Ghusar Nath Mahadeo, situated in the Partab-
garh District, on the bank of the river Sai, close
to the road leading to Sonipur police station, in
the temple of Balesure Nath Mahadeo in Ballia
district, and in several other temples.
33. The consumption of each of these drugs is
generally regarded as evil. The consumers are so
hated in the eyes of people that they are called
"ganjeri" or "bhangeri." But those who con-
sume these drugs in little quantities are not
generally regarded as men of bad character. The
public opinion in regard to the practice is about
sadhus and bairagis.
The use of the narcotic is in disrepute, because
people under the influence of these drugs act
against the advice of soundness of mind and
morality ; also because the consumers become
spendthrift, bad characters, offenders and unfor-
sighted. They lose their property and are often
overburdened with debts.
There is no custom of worshipping the hemp
plant.
34. To forego the consumption of the drug
their use would be a serious privation to the
sadhus and bairagis of the present day, and also
to any class of people who are habitual excessive
consumers, iuasmuch as their habits to consume
has now taken its deep root in them. Moreover,
sadhus and others of the kind consider it to be a
part of their religious observance.
35. It would be feasible to prohibit the use of
charas. The enforcement of prohibition is very
easily possible. There would be no likelihood of
illicit consumption of the drug. The easy method
to prohibit its consumption would be to prohibit
its importation in this country. The use of ganja
can be prohibited without any likelihood of illicit
vol. v.
consumption. The easy way to enforce its prohibi-
tion would be to prohibit its cultivation in the
district where it is cultivated, and to prohibit its
importation from foreign States. In support of this
view, it would suffice to say that in many parts of
the country the cultivation of ganja is prohibited,
and the prohibition has been enforced without any
difficulty. It is not probable that this prohibition
would occasion serious discontent among the
consumers, or that such discontent would amount
to a political danger.
(a) The prohibition would not be followed by
recourse to alcoholic stimulants.
(b) It would probably be followed by recourse
to use of bhang.
If duty be fixed on bhang, it will decrease its
consumption, and its consumption can then be
gradually prohibited.
37. The effects of charas-smoking differ from
those of round ganja, and resemble with those of
fiat ganja with a little violence in intoxication.
(See also the answer to question No. 25).
38. The answer to question No. 21 does equally
apply here.
39. Ganja and charas are used for smoking
only. If they be eaten or drunk, the substance
will be discharged with vomiting owing to the
effect of their excessive heat. The remaining
effect of the drug in the body would be highly
injurious, so much so that it would be fatal to life.
It can be consumed if only a few leaves of ganja,
some six or seven years' old, be mixed with a large
quantity of bhang—say three tolas of ganja mixed
with one seer bhang. If a purchaser comes to
know this admixture, he would not purchase this
bhang.
40. Although several benefits and injuries of
ganja and bhang are described in the books deal-
ing with the Greek system of medicine which are
observed by the hakims of the province of Oudh
and other hakims of Hindustan, yet the use of
any of these drugs is not prescribed by them.
Only the oil pressed from ganja seed is prescribed
and used in the treatment of diseases relating to
muscles. Bhang is nevertheless used in the treat-
ment of cattle disease. The seed of bhang is used
also in the treatment of human disease.
41. (a) The moderate use of bhang alone can
be beneficial in its effects as a food accessory.
(b) Charas, ganja or bhang is used for the
purpose ; but the real fact is that, under the in-
fluence of intoxication, one cannot perceive the
real state of his body.
(c) and (d) No.
People using the drug for the purpose described
in clause (a) do generally belong to the classes of
Brahmins. Their proportion is 10 per cent. cut
of the figure estimated in answering the question
No. 26 (a).
People falling under clause (b) are persons of
labouring classes—Musehras, Lonias, Chamars, and
blacksmiths. Their proportion is 5 per cent. of
the figure given in answer to question No. 26.
The uses referred to above relate to moderate
habitual consumers.
42. Even the moderate use of these drugs is
generally considered injurious, as it affects the
intellectual power and brain. The use of ganja
and charas, if continued for a long time, is speci-
ally highly injurious, and results into impotence,
weakness of eyes and eyesight. It impairs the
strength of the body.
N 2