119
38. Round ganja is not available in these prov
- i n c e s . T h e e f f e c t o f f l a t g a n j a i ss
t r o n g e r t h a n
that of chur in degree though similar in kind.
39. The smoking of any preparation of hemp
plant is in my opinion not less injurious form of
consumption than drinking or eating the same,
but on the contrary it is decidedly more injurious,
because smoking acts more directly upon brain
than eating or drinking.
40. The use of ganja is prescribed on account
of its medicinal qualitities in Yunani and Mishrani
Schools of Native physicians in the treatment of
certain diseases, such as dysentery, etc. It
should, however, be borne in mind that ganja in
itself is never prescribed as medicine. It only
forms an ingredient in very small quantities;
ganja is also used in the treatment of a cattle
disease called Fansi—a sort of lung disease.
41. There is a popular belief that the moderate
habitual use of ganja is beneficial in its effect as
food accessory or digestive. It also gives staying-
power under severe exertion or exposure and alle
- v i a t e s f a t i g u e . I t a l s o a c t s a s a f e b r i f u g e o r
preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy
tracts. The drug is not, however, used specially
for one's benefit in any classes. Those who smoke
do not smoke for health, but for intoxication.
When they get into the habit, its use becomes
necessary for the preservation of their health. It is
believed that bhang allays the effects of hot
weather. I do not think that the use of charas,
ganja or bhang, however moderate, is beneficial to
health.
43. Yes, they are inoffensive to the neighbours.
44. Ganja smoking is refreshing. It produces
intoxication; does not allay hunger, creates appe
- t i t e . T h e e f f e c t l a s t s a c o u p l e o f h o u r s . T h e r e
are no after-effects. Want of subsequent gratifi
- c a t i o n p r o d u c e s l o n g i n g a n d u n e a s i n e s s . B h a n g ,
on the other hand, is not refreshing. It produces
intoxication, creates appetite, does not allay
hunger. Its effects begin to be felt an hour after
it is drunk. Its effects last from 6 to 8 hours.
It causes after-effects of drowsiness and indisposi
- t i o n t o w o r k . T o h a b i t u a l c o n s u m e r s t h e w a n t
of subsequent gratification produces longing and
uneasiness.
45. Habitual moderate use of ganja impairs
constitution if the consumer is not richly fed. It
slightly injures the digestion. It also causes bron
- c h i t i s a n d , i n o l d e r a g e , a s t h m a . I t d o e s n o t
impair moral sense or induce laziness or habits of
immorality or debauchery. It does not seem to
deaden the intellect. The habitual moderate use
is not known to have produced insanity. The
above remarks apply to habitual moderate use of
bhang also, except that it does not cause bron
-chitis, asthma or insanity.
46. Physical effects of the moderate use of
ganja are still worse when it is taken in excessive
quantity. The excessive use of these drugs does
make one lazy and is likely to tend towards de
-bauchery. It does deaden the intellect and pro
- d u c e i n s a n i t y . T h e t y p e o f i n s a n i t y i s m a n i a ;
as a rule insanity is temporary. The symptom is
re-induced after the use of the drug is again com-
menced after liberation from restraint. The
typical symptoms of insanity from these drugs
are the following:—The persons so affected have
loss of will power. They abuse any one they
meet with, would at times stuff their stomachs
with excessive meals; would not mind doing
harm not only to their relations but to others.
They look very fearful, their eyes being prominent
and red.
47. The habitual moderate use of none of these
drugs appears to be hereditary, but such use of
any of these affects injuriously the constitution
of children. They are born weakly.
48. Excessive use injures the constitution of
children the more, but the habit is not hereditary.
49. Yes, it is so used by prostitutes, but in rare
cases. I hear of no cases in which use of hemp
produces any impotence.
50. Excessive use is not practised as an aphro
- d i s i a c , e i t h e r b y m a l e s o r p r o s t i t u t e s , n o r i s i t
known to have produced impotence.
51. A fair proportion of bad characters are
habitual moderate consumers of these drugs, but
the moderate use has no connection with crime,
either in general or special.
52. Even the excessive use, unless when it
produces insanity, does not tend towards crime.
53. Excessive indulgence does not seem to incite
to unpremeditated crime, violent or otherwise.
I know of no cases in which it has led to tempo
- r a r y h o m i c i d a l f r e n z y .
54. No, these drugs ore not so used by crimi
- n a l s w h o a r e n o t h a b i t u a l c o n s u m e r s . B y h a b i t u a l
consumers they are so used.
55. Yes, criminals do sometimes induce their
victims to partake of these drugs to stupefy them.
Complete stupefaction can be produced by these
drugs without admixture.
56. Substances, such as dhatura, arsenic, poison
root, nux vomica, are sometimes mixed with ganja
by habitual consumers for producing higher degree
of intoxication.
57. Ganja is eaten by some persons but not
charas. Articles such as dhatura, etc., are mixed
with it if so desired by the consumers to produce
stronger effect.
58. I know only the outlines of the present
system of excise administration in respect of hemp
drugs, and I consider it to be working fairly
well.
60. I think cultivation of ganja and the process
of its preparation are sufficiently controlled.
66. There should be different rates of taxation
for flat and broken ganja, because the latter pro
- d u c e s l o w e r d e g r e e o f i n t o x i c a t i o n .
68. There are shops licensed for the sale of
these drugs, but none for the preparations con
- s u m e d o n t h e p r e m i s e s . T h e s e s h o p s a r e r a t h e r
held in bad repute by people in general.
69. Wishes of the people are not consulted in
any way before a shop is opened in any locality.
Local public opinion should, I think, be consi
-dered in the matter.