233
with sugar and milk to serve both as a stimulant
and renovatory food for the body.
28. Ganja or bhang is sold at 4 pies per tola.
At this rate, an excessive consumer may use 4
annas worth of the drug, while a moderate con-
sumer may use about ½a n n a w o r t h o f t h i s . T h e
quantity of consumption generally depends on the
way in which a man spends his time, an idler con-
suming more and a business man less.
29. No ingredients are ordinarily or exception-
ally mixed with this except those mentioned above.
(Answer to No. 15.) The dhatura seed is used
only by persons who can eat poison and yet bear it,
but such men are very rare.
30. The secret consumers alone use it in solitude,
but it is best enjoyed in company. Bairagis
enjoy it most in this way. Women also use it
just like men, but the children do not seem to be
allowed its use, until they grow up into men.
31. The habit is easily formed, and it is difficult
to break off when once formed. The tendency
to excess depends only upon the opportunities one
has to use it frequently.
32. No social or religious customs connected
with the use of ganja or bhang are known to exist.
It is used by the bairagis and others who want to
give up society and lead the life of ascetics as a
thing that induces concentration of mind necessary
for meditation and devotion, and also as one that
makes a man indifferent to thirst and appetite.
33. Socially, it is not considered a good thing
to use it, and the consumers are condemned as
unfit for company on occasions of social gatherings.
Even in a religious point of view, it is praised
only by those who use it, and public opinion is not
so much against them who use it as an incentive
to religious devotion. There is no custom of wor-
shipping the plant.
34. It will be a serious privation to the con-
sumers to forego its use in the same manlier as
deprivation of opium to an opium eater, and of
liquor to a habitual drunkard.
35. The use of ganja tells only upon the con-
sumer like that of opium. It does not make the
consumer dangerous to society as arrack or toddy.
The prohibition of its use entails great hardship
on an innocent class of men. It does not seem
to be possible to successfully prohibit its use, as
illicit consumption is sure to go on.
36, 37, 38, 39. Experience is wanting on these
questions.
40. This is seldom prescribed by any native
doctors. But those who consume it give it as
their experience that it keeps off indigestion, cough
or some similar ailments, and that, if they give
up its use they will have a recurrence of these
complaints. One tells me that, in case of coughs
and severe consumption, ganja was tried and found
to give relief to some extent, and that it is also
used to stop purgings in very serious cases. The
Civil Apothecary, Bapatla, reports that, as medicine,
the pharmaceutical extract prepared from it is
useful in painful affections. It possesses antispasmo-
dic and anodyne powers and is useful in neuralgic
affections, whooping coughs, asthma, tetanus
and hydrophobia. It is also given to produce
sleep. Tincture of Indian hemp is also prepared
from the drug. Its use in the form of medicine
is not objectionable in the administration. But its
being allowed to be used as an intoxicating drug
has grave objections since it exercises its most
baneful effects on the nervous system.
4 1 . T h e c o n s u m e r s a s s e r t t h a t t h e u s e o f g a n j a
and bhang have the three effects referred to in this
question. Similarly those who are addicted to
tobacco smoking or opium eating affirm that there
qualities are inherent in their favourite articles.
The use referred to is only moderate habitual
use and not occasional use of the drug.
42. The use of this drug tells upon a man's
constitution and habits by reducing his appearance
and affecting his brain, and rendering him unfit
for social enjoyment.
43. They are inoffensive.
44. The immediate effect is refreshing. In-
toxication follows later on. Bairagis use it to
allay hunger ; other classes practise it for creating
appetite. The effect of ganja smoking is said to
be momentary, but the use of bhang and majum
more lasting, from 6 to 10 hours. The after-
effects are general weakness and a longing after
the thing again, which, if not satisfied, produces
uneasiness.
45. Vide answer to No. 44. It does not impair
the moral sense, but induces laziness. It does not
bring on habits of immorality or debauchery.
Experience wanting.
47. The habit of using the ganja is not known
to be hereditary, nor to have any effect on the
children of the consumers.
49. It is said to be used occasionally by prosti-
tutes as an aphrodisiac and. also to give staying-
power. It is not known to produce impotence.
51, 52, 53 and 54. Toddy and arrack are used
by criminals to fortify them in the commission of
grave offences ; but this hemp drug is never con-
nected with crime in this way.
5 5 . A s a b o v e .
5 6 . N o e x p e r i e n c e .
57. Ganja is not eaten or drunk in these parts.
The dealers say that Hindustani Brahmins of the
north are known to be in the habit of powdering
the kalle and pepper seed together, and eating the
powder with a small quantity of water, with a
view to avoid drivel.
58, 59, 60, 61, 62 and 63. The present ad-
ministration of this drug appears to be sufficient
for its purpose. The crop is grown by raiyats
without any check. The dealers who purchase the
privilege of sale buy the leaf from the cultivators
and sell it in licensed places. There are frequent
complaints of illicit sale. There seem to be no
orders prohibiting the growth of the plant in back-
yards for private consumption by the grower.
This drug is considered as harmless as tobacco. I
do not consider that it is necessary to provide for
any restraints in its cultivation any more than
that of tobacco, as it is not injurious to the public
and as Government interference in regard to its
growth will unnecessarily cause hardship to inno-
cent consumers. At present there is only one shop
for this taluq in an out of-the-way village at
Daggapad. Better provision may, however, be
made for its sale to public in more places and also
for its preparation and manufacture with reference
to best medical opinion on the subject.
64. No regulations are in force in regard to
the transport of these drugs.
68. There are no shops where consumption on
the premises is allowed.
69. The wishes of the people or neighbours are
not consulted before the opening of the shop in
any locality is sanctioned. It does not seem to
be necessary to consult others, in as much as the
shops are not places of resort for bad men.
70. There are no importations of this drug in
this district from other provinces.
2 K
VOL. VI.