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47. I do not think it is hereditary.
48. The children of excessive smokers are not
affected in any way. I have seen many such.
49. A preparation of ganja called "modak" is
used for this purpose. I do not know if prosti-
tutes so use it. "Modak" is not so injurious as
ordinary ganja. It is a mixture of some 50 or 60
medicines. It tends to produce impotence.
"Modak" is the only form of hemp I know of
used for this purpose.
50. It is not used to excess much. The exces-
sive use of it produces impotence. I have heard
this.
51 and 52. I do not know.
53. I do not know personally. I have heard
that people commit sometimes murder or suicide,
or try to do so, when under the influence of hemp,
but I do not know of any particular case.
54 and 55. I do not know.
56. See my answer to 29. I do not know
details. Too much dhatura will cause death.
57. People always smoke ganja.
58. I do not know much about the Excise Ad--
ministration.
59. No suggestions to offer.
63. I have no objections.
69. I have no objections to the present system
of licensing shops.
70. Ganja is smuggled because it is cheap in
Native States. I know of no particular facts to
which I wish to draw attention.
Oral evidence.
Question 25 .—The increase has taken place
among the lowest labouring classes. They have
not exchanged liquor for ganja. The increase is
due to the general growth of the habit. The
price of liquor has risen. The price of ganja has
risen also, but not sufficiently to check consump
tion. Ganja is portable and convenient for use.
The consumption of hemp has increased with the
increase of population, but not in the same propor--
tion.
Question 26. —The consumers of ganja are about
3 per cent. of the population, and of bhang 2 per
cent. The percentages given in my recorded
answer are not in accordance with my statement.
Question 24 .—The proportions of consumers of
ganja and bhang in my answers are not correctly
recorded. I stated that the consumers of ganja
were 3 per cent. and of bhang 2 per cent.
Question 30 .—It is true that some people do
abandon the drugs after 30 years of age. Con-
firmed consumers are however the majority, and
do not give up the habit.
Question 32
.—The Shastras contain general
prohibition against intoxication, but no special
injunction against these drugs. I have heard
that the Tantriks state that by the use of siddhi
the work of the god is well accomplished.
Question 35 .—People will not take to liquors
on account of its expense and the fear of losing
caste, and because the intoxication of liquor leads
to crime and violence, which is not the case with
hemp. People could reduce their consumption of
the drugs. They might take dhatura instead.
Question 59
.—It is not advisable to prohibit
the drugs. Consumption might well be reduced
by increasing the duty or locating the shops at
greater distances from one another.
66. Evidence of the REV. I. JACOB, Church of England Missionary, Chairman,
District Council, etc., Chanda.
1. (1) Personal observations and contact with
those who indulge in hemp drugs. (2) Local
enquiry. (3) Information gathered from those
who have a direct concern in the sale and super-
vision of ganja. (4) Reading books on the sub-
ject.
2. i.—Bhang as technically defined by Dr.
Prain is imported from other provinces of India
and is utilised only in a few districts of the Cen
- t r a l P r o v i n c e s . L o c a l l y , t h e a c c i d e n t a l l y b r o k e n
parts of ganja which should properly be called the
" dust of ganja" goes by the name of bhang, and
is so sold by retail vendors only at a cheaper rate.
The wholesale vendor of course is required to burn
all the refuse of ganja and to sell only the
" kalli."
ii.—Charas is not imported into any of the
districts of the Central Provinces. The generality
of the people know what it is and how it is
prepared. The rarity of its procurance accounts
for the vulgar belief that it is only used by the
wealthier classes, at any rate this is the belief
prevalent amongst the " hoi polloi" of Chanda.
iii.—Ganja—Only one kind of its variety is
imported into all the districts of the Central
Provinces and that is flat ganja.
Viewed with the above qualifications, the scien--
tific definitions of Dr. Prain may be accepted for
vol vi.
our province.
3. I am not aware of any district in which the
hemp plant, i.e., Cannabis sativa, or ganja, grows
spontaneously.
4. The hemp plant is known by different names ,
such as—
Cannabis sativa or ganja plant.
Crotalaria juncea or " san."
Hibiscus cannabinus or " ambadi." The
fibres of the latter two are used for cord-
age. These three are distinct plants.
5. "Wild hemp" is locally called "fareed
butti " or " ranganja," and it grows on the sides
of mountainous places. This " fareed butti,"
which I understand by wild hemp, is used by
native quacks in liniments for rheumatic pains.
6. The growth of " fareed butti " or wild hemp
is very scattered. Whether this is used for smok--
ing by the jungle tribes could not be ascertained.
7. Yes : there is for ( a) the production of ganja
Cannabis saliva ; but the ganja-yielding plant is
not cultivated in the Central Provinces either for
( b ) ( c) charas or bhang, nor for its fibre. (d) The
cultivation of Crotalaria juncea is practised for the
sake of its fibre for cordage, as also Hibiscus
cannabinus for the same purpose.
T