8
observation of persons whom I have bad reason
to believe to be ganja smokers, I am under the
impression that its effect is to produce mental
torpor or drowsiness for an hour or a couple of
hours after consumption, but the effect quickly
passes off and no evil results seem to follow.
Moderate smokers are, to the best of my knowledge,
inoffensive persons, and in no way quarrelsome.
I have never met a case of a man whom an excess
of ganja had excited to passion or crime; but I
have known superintendents of lunatic asylums
describe the abuse of ganja as a cause of insanity ;
and as their records of causes of insanity are based
upon enquiries made of the patients' relatives, it
may be that ganja is popularly believed to pro-
duce madness, if taken in excess. This is not
surprising, for if tobacco is indulged in unduly, it
affects the nerves and nerve centres. My belief
is that ganja consumed in moderation is not more
unwholesome than very strong tobacco. I cannot
enter into details as to the action of ganja on the
digestion, on the bodily organs, and on the constitu-
tion generally, as my duties as Excise Commis-
sioner did not directly lead me to a study of the
pathology of the drug ; and any statements on the
subject which are not based on accurate observa-
tions, scientifically made and recorded, would be
worse than useless.
(3) I have never traced any direct connection
between ganja and crime. Criminals usually be
-long to the poorer classes ; and as it is among
these that ganja smokers are chiefly found, persons
known to the Police as " bad characters " used
often to be found at ganja shops before smoking
on the premises was put a stop to. One of the
objections urged to this measure was that the
Police know where to look for bad characters at
a certain hour, and so could ascertain if they were
safe in the village or wandering abroad with cri-
minal purpose. As ganja is, seemingly, stupe--
fying to a certain extent, no criminal would
consume it as a preparation for crime. He might
use it to deaden conscience or fear, after the crime
was committed. I have not known a case of
ganja being used as a drug to stupefy the victims
of crime. Dhatura is well known to be the poison
used for that purpose, and can be more readily
administered. I do not think that complete stupe--
faction could be produced by ganja alone in a
sufficiently short space of time for criminal pur--
poses.
(4) Holding, as I do, that the consumption of
ganja is limited and is, on the whole, innocuous;
I see no necessity for prohibiting its cultivation
or sales. I do not think it would bear much
increase in taxation, as if it becomes too costly,
the labourers will take to tari, or mohwa-spirit or
some other stimulant. What is wanted is greater
identity between the systems in force in different
provinces and between these provinces and Berar,
so as to decrease opportunities for smuggling, and
to ensure our raising the highest possible revenue
from the taxed drug. It is unnecessary for me to
detail and compare the systems in force for taxing
the drug in ( a) the Central Provinces, (b) the
Bombay presidency, ( c) Berar, as an account of
this is given in the printed memorandum on excise
arrangements in respect to hemp drugs in the
Central Provinces which is before the Commission ;
but it is well known that the free cultivation and
low price of ganja in the Bombay Presidency is a
source of danger to the revenue from taxed ganja
in the Central Provinces and in Berar. Again,
it is somewhat anomalous that our Khandwa
godown should, without any official recognition of
the fact beyond what is to be found in inciden-
-tal correspondence, be the source of supply for
the North-Western Provinces Government con--
tractors. Till I obtained the Chief Commis-
sioner's permission to levy a " Registration fee "
on all ganja purchased at our godown, this insti-
-tution existed (at our sole cost) more in the inter--
ests of the North-Western Provinces Government
than in our own. Traders must procure the drug
much more cheaply at Khandwa than elsewhere,
or they would not incur the cost of transport by
rail for so many miles. If the subject were gone
into, a revised system of export or warehouse dues
might be arranged. Part of the money now
expended on carriage might come into the hands
of Government under a system of provincial cul--
tivation and provincial storehouses.
5. Evidence of MR. H. H. PRIEST, Secretary to the Chief Commissioner, Central
Provinces, Revenue Department.
After a lengthened experience of all parts of these
provinces in the course of which I had, both as
Excise Commissioner and in other executive capa--
cities, the amplest opportunities of ascertaining
popular opinion, I have never heard a single com-
plaint against the Government arrangements for
the sale of ganja, nor have I ever heard any
reference to the prevalence or growth of the ganja
habit as being due in any way to Government
action.
From my experience in feudatory States, I should
indeed be strongly inclined to the opinion that
Government action has had a marked effect in
checking the use of ganja.
6. Evidence of MR. A. C. DUFF, Deputy Commissioner, Jubbulpore.
I have acted twice as Provincial Commis--
sioner of Excise for 3 and 4½- months, and I was
Deputy Commissioner of Nimar, the only district
in which ganja is grown in the Central Provinces,
for a year from April 1892 to April 1893.
2. I think not. As far as I know, ganja is only
prepared in one way in these provinces. I know
no special name for it. But I should judge it to
be what is termed here flat ganja. I have never
seen the drug being manufactured.
3. I know of none. I have no personal ex-
perience of this district, but I am told by the
Settlement Officer, whose knowledge of this dis--
trict is extensive and peculiar, that the hemp
plant does not grow spontaneously here.
7. For ganja, yes.
Charas is entirely an imported product, and as
far as my experience goes, bhang also.
The hemp plant is cultivated far ganja in the
Khandwa tahsil of the Nimar district only.