194
51. (a) No.
(b) Perhaps large proportion of gamblers may
be consumers.
53. May ; it is not unlikely that the indulgence
may occasionally induce violent and other crime.
An instance is quoted locally wherein a person
who indulged in the drug beat a person, resulting
in death, on slight provocation.
54. The general opinion is in the negative.
55. (a) Yes. (b) Yes, for a time.
56. Admixture of tobacco with ganja and
sweetmeats with halwa modify intoxicating power.
57. Charas is not used in this district. Ganja
in moderate use is said to be stimulating, In ex--
cessive doses it is narcotic.
58. Capable of improvement.
59. The present system in this district is to
put up to auction sale the right to vend the drug.
Under this system there are three shops for sale
of the drug in the district. It seems to me that
the right to sell in places such as the head quarters
of each taluk and division of Deputy Tahsildars
may be put up to auction. I think that while
the sale will bring in revenue, it will not operate
as a hardship to the consumers.
60. The cultivation is not controlled. Whether
this system requires to be modified will depend
whether the use of ganja is bad to health, and, if
it is not, on the consideration whether revenue
should not be derived from the narcotic (as from
other narcotics).
61. No charas is produced here.
62. Same answer as 60.
63. No objection, except that a source of revenue
is not availed of by selling the right of vend in
many more sub-divided localities than at present.
64. The article being a local product, no re-
marks to offer.
65. At present the rate of vending the drug is
sold by auction and there is no other tax. I have
no remarks to offer as to (b), nor as to any altera--
tion in the amount of taxation of any of the
articles in relation to each other.
66. Not necessary.
67. No remarks.
68.
At present it is consumed without reference
to any locality. No restriction in regard to this
seems at present necessary.
69.
The wishes of the people are not consulted,
and I do not think it is necessary to do so unless
the opening of shop restricts the supply or raises
the price.
70. No remarks.
20. Evidence of MR. C. J. WEIR,* Acting Collector, District Magistrate, and Agent
to Govr., Ganjam.
1. The definitions may be accepted, but charas
is not used in this district.
2.
Bhang is known locally as patti and ganja
a s k a l l i . T h e l i q u i d d e c o c t i o n f r o m p a t t i i s k n o w n
as bhang.
3 t o 6 . I u n d e r s t a n d t h a t t h e w i l d h e m p p l a n t i s
not found in this district. The District Forest
Officer has, however, been specially asked for a
report on the subject.
7. It is cultivated throughout the district for
all purposes, except the production of charas. Its
production for fibre is very limited. A special
report as to the area under cultivation is being
compiled.
8. I am unable as yet to say; but there is a
general impression that there has been an increase
in the consumption of drugs prepared from the
plant, and a consequent increase in the area culti-
vated therewith.
9. The system is fully described in several of
the replies I am forwarding with this. I have
nothing to add.
10. The ordinary cultivators raise it.
11.
and 12. I do not know.
13. It is not restricted. On elevated situations.
Moderate rainfall and red soils well manured are
deemed the most favourable conditions. I am
unable to say that it would not grow anywhere.
14. (a) and (c) are. No statistics can be given,
as they are largely prepared in private houses.
15. I have no personal experience. Full details
are, however, given in some of the replies sent
herewith.
16. (a) Yes.
(b) I believe so.
(c) Not known.
17. The preparation is not restricted to any
particular class.
18. Ganja keeps for one year or more and
bhang a much shorter time. Mildew and damp
are said to be the causes of deterioration. Sun-
drying is adopted.
19. Ganja is mixed up with many other kinds
of spices and eaten.
12. Ganja is smoked almost universally by
bairagis and religious mendicants in all localities.
Amongst other classes the practice prevails ; but
I have had the most varying estimates given of
the percentage of the population who smoke. It
is probably not very large, i.e., not over 5 per
cent.
13. Flat ganja.
23. Very rarely, and only on account of its
cheapness.
24.
Vide answer to question No. 20. As far
as I can learn, drinking of bhang is most
generally practised, and the custom is more
general than that of smoking ganja. It is not
confined to any class or locality, but more preva-
lent in the malarious parts of the district.
25. It is the general impression in the district
that it is on the increase. Many attribute this
to the enhanced price of intoxicating liquors
owing to the increased stringency of our abkari
laws. I think, if the fact be true, the explana-
tion is reasonable.
26. I cannot say.
27. Religious medicants. It is generally said
other consumers belong mainly to the lower classes,
but some of all classes unquestionably indulge.
Drugs are taken as prophylactics to malaria, and
in a feverish district like this the belief may
bring many to indulge in the habit
. * S u m m o n e d t o a t t e n d a t a m e e t i n g o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n f o r o r a l e x a m i n a t i o n , b u t w a s u n a b l e t o a p p e a r .