40. Native Doctors sometimes prescribe the use
of ganja on account of its medicinal qualities along
with other medicinal substances. Spleen and liver
diseases are generally treated with the use of ganja.
The abdomen sometimes becomes enlarged and
ganja is used. I do not know if any of the drugs
is used in the treatment of cattle disease.
41. The moderate use of ganja or bhang is
beneficial in its effects, (a ) as a food accessory or
digestive, (b) as giving staying-power under severe
exertion or exposure, or to alleviate fatigue, ( c) as
a preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy
tracts. Several native sepoys who are tossed
about from one place to another use ganja for
smoking to prevent fevers, etc. A small minority
of the people consume bhang or ganja for diges
- t i o n o f f o o d O n s e v e r a l o c c a s i o n s I h a v e p r e s c r i b e d
the use of ganja as a means of digesting food and
with other medicines preventing malarious fevers,
asthma, abdominal irregularities of some kind.
43. They are inoffensive and very polite and
h o m e l y w i t h t h e i r n e i g h b o u r s , e n j o y i n g g o o d c h i t c h a t , e t c .
44. The immediate effect of the moderate use of
ganja on habitual consumers is refreshing provided
the consumer also takes good meals. It does
produce intoxication which appears to be a very
pleasing one. It does not allay hunger. It
creates appetite. The effect lasts for nearly 30
minutes or so. To the moderate consumer the
want of subsequent gratification does not produce
much longing or uneasiness.
45. The habitual moderate use of ganja or bhang
does not produce any noxious effects, physical, mental
or moral. It does not much impair the consti
-tution, provided the moderate consumer also takes
moderately good meals, or if the habitual moderate
consumer does not indulge in sexual intercourse
much, or if he does not marry at all or does not give
himself up to debauchery, etc. This is the case
with sanyasis and fakirs. It does not cause
dysentery, bronchitis or asthma. On the other hand,
ganja smoking is beneficial to asthma. Native
doctors prescribe ganja with other medicines for
preventing asthma, neuralgia, coughs, etc. Moral
sense is not impaired, and debauchery is not in
-duced by the moderate use. It causes laziness
for a time, as is the case with other intoxications,
It does not deaden the intellect, nor does it p
ro-duce insanity. In short, the moderate use of
ganja is not harmful in any way to the consumer,
46. The excessive use of ganja brings on all or
some of the noxious effects pointed out in question
45. It may impair the constitution, cause dysen
- t e r y , e t c . , a n d a l s o d e a d e n t h e i n t e l l e c t o r p r o d u c e
insanity.
47. The habitual moderate use of ganja or bhang does not appear to be a hereditary habit,
nor does it affect the children of the moderate con
-sumer in the majority of the cases. In very rare
cases it may affect the children. (Here it depends
on the degree of pleasure the consumer takes and
his disposition as to its acceptance.)
48. The habitual excessive use of ganja may
affect the children of the excessive consumer in
several cases, Questions No. 47 and No. 48 are
answered from my natural experience of medicine,
which teaches me that at the time of a man's
sexual intercourse the high pitch of disposition
which he then possesses on account of any intoxi
- c a t i o n , o r p l e a s u r a b l e l u x u r y w h i c h h e i n d u l g e s i n ,
may probably affect the issue. But that it is a
hereditary habit is not my strong opinion.
This acceptance or non-acceptance of the pleasur
-able sensation introduced into a man by the con
-sumption of any of the said drugs depends entirely
on temper and disposition of the consumers, which
disposition is bestowed by God or nature with
great power of acceptance in some, and that of re
-sistance in others.
49. The moderate use of any of the drugs, espe
-cially ganja, is sometimes practised as an aph
r o - d i s i a c . I t d o e s i n c r e a s e t h e p o t e n t p o w e r o f a m a n
if used in admixture with other medicines which
doctors may prescribe. But ganja by itself is not
a substance which would remove impotency or
increase the potency of a man. I do not know if
it is ever used by prostitutes.
50. Excessive use of hemp without the admix
- t u r e o f o t h e r m e d i c i n e s m a y i n c o u r s e o f t i m e t e n d
to produce impotence.
51. No large proportion of bad characters are
moderate consumers of ganja or bhang. On the
contrary, the moderate consumers are always poor
and quiet people. It has no connection with crime
in general or with crime of any special character.
I have not known of any such connection between
moderate use and crime during my twelve years'
experience as an Honorary Magistrate, Cuddapah.
52. The excessive consumers of ganja, who may
be calculated at only 20 per cent. and less of the
whole number of consumers, may very occasionally
commit some crime, But I had no opportunity to
know of such cases.
53. I have not known of cases in which exces
-sive indulgence in any of the drugs incited to un
- p r e m e d i t a t e d c r i m e .
58. There was no excise formerly in respect of
the hemp drug. The modern system works well.
But the duty on ganja is considered to be heavy.
67. Having regard to the ultimate incidence of
the tax on the consumer of ganja, I object to the
present taxation. I recommend a decrease in ta
x-ing.
122. Evidence* of SAIYID MAHMUD alias H AKEEM NHANNAY MIAN, Medical Prac
-
titioner, Cuddapah.
1. I have obtained a knowledge of the Indian
hemp plant from the following sources:—
(1) I have acquired a knowledge of the hemp plant from my late own paternal uncle Janab Mou
- l a v i M i a n S a i y a d S h a h M a h m u d S a h i ba
l i a s
Haz
- r a t h H a k i m S h a h S a h i b , M i a n S a h i b , w h o h a d a
thorough knowledge of the science of medicine and
whose eminent qualities are widely know to public.
(2) I have acquired a knowledge of the hemp
plant from my own experience.
(3) I have obtained a knowledge of the plant
from bhang consumers of the town of Cuddapah
and several other bhang consumers of different
classes.
(4) I have obtained a knowledge of the hemp
plant which is cultivated in the Kumavarpalli
Qasba of the Cuddapah taluka from the statements made by several hundred cultivators of the drug
and from personally inspecting the plant itself.
(5) I have obtained a knowledge of it in (1) Cud
- d a p a h , ( 2 ) H y d e r a b a d , ( 3 ) A g r a , ( 4 ) D e l h i , ( 5 )
Bans Bareilli, (6) Philibhit, (7) Badaon, (8) Mura
- d a b a d , ( 9 ) R a m p u r , ( 1 0 ) L u c k n o w , ( 1 1 ) A n k o l a ,
(12) Madras, (13) Tinnevelly, (14) Panagudi,
(15) Nandial and (16) Banganapalli, which have
been visited by me.
2. The answer to the question as to whether
ganja, bhang and charas are cultivated or do they
* Translation.