40
anniversary of the marriage of Shiva), and the
four Mondays in the month of Shravan, when
Hindus keep fast in honour of Shiva. It is also
a social custom among the Hindus to drink bhang
or eat majun (a sweetmeat containing bhang) on
the occasion of the Holi festival. The use of the
drug in connection with these customs is, however,
not regarded as essential. It is generally temperate
and is not likely to lead to the formation of the
habit nor is otherwise injurious. There is no
custom, social or religious, in regard to the con-
sumption of ganja and charas.
33. The consumption of each of these drugs is
generally regarded with disfavour by the respect-
able portion of the community, but it is really
the use of ganja and charas that is held in most
disrepute. This is due partly to the more injur-
ious effects of these drugs and partly to the fact
that their use is chiefly confined to the low classes
of people. I am not aware that the hemp plant
is anywhere worshipped.
34. It would, in my opinion, be a serious pri-
vation to the religious mendicants, boatmen and
labouring classes to forego the consumption of
the three drugs, as these people use them because
they are supposed to give staying-power under
severe exertion or exposure, and to alleviate
fatigue, and also regarded as a preventive of dis-
ease in malarious and unhealthy parts. I should
say that at least 50 per cent. of the above classes
of people consume these drugs.
35. 1 do not think that it would be feasible to
prohibit the use of any of these drugs. Even
under the most stringent measures, which would
be needed to enforce prohibition, the drugs are
likely to be consumed illicitly. To enforce pro-
hibition it would be necessary (1) to put a stop
to the importation of charas from Central Asia;
(2) to render penal the cultivation of hemp plant
in India, except for its fibre. The prohibition
would occasion serious discontent among the
consumers, which will assuredly amount to a
political danger. Even at present there is a
notion prevalent among the consumers that the
Hemp Drugs Commission is appointed in the
interests of wine merchants and brewers of
England, and that its object is to provide increas-
ed facilities for the sale of foreign liquor. In
my opinion the prohibition would be followed by
recourse to (a) alcoholic stimulants in the case
of lower castes and (b) by strychnia and arsenic in
the case of religious mendicants.
36. No.
37. Charas is a more deleterious drug than ganja.
38. The effects of flat, round, and chur ganja
vary in degree. Chur is the strongest kind,
round comes next in order, and flat is the weakest
variety.
40. Charas and bhang are prescribed by
hakims in cases of dysentery and diarrhoea.
Bhang is also used in cases of cattle disease.
41. The moderate use of bhang is regarded as
a food accessory or digestive, and that of charas
and ganja as giving staying-power under severe
exertion or exposure or to alleviate fatigue, and
as a febrifuge or preventive of disease in malarious
and unhealthy tracts. It is only the labouring
classes and religious mendicants that use the
drugs for the above purposes. Fifty per cent. of
such classes use them. In such cases the people
are moderate habitual consumers.
42. Under the circumstances mentioned in
question 41, the use of the drugs in moderate
quantities appears to be beneficial.
43. No.
44. The immediate effects of the moderate use
of each of these drugs on the habitual consumer
is said to be refreshing. Charas and ganja pro-
duce immediate intoxication, Bhang takes about
an hour or so to produce its intoxicating effects.
Ganja and charas allay hunger, but bhang creates
appetite. The effect lasts from an hour to three.
The after-effects are low spirits and uneasiness.
The want of subsequent gratification does produce
longing or uneasiness.
45. I am unable to give any definite answer
to these questions, which only a medical man can
fully deal with; but from what little 1 know, I
am inclined to think that the habitual moderate
use of these drugs does not produce any noxious
effects. It is the habitual excessive use of charas
and ganja that impairs constitution, injures
digestion, causes loss of appetite, impairs moral
sense, and induces laziness. The excessive use
of ganja and charas also causes dysentery,
bronchitis and asthma. It is also said to deaden
the intellect, and in some cases to produce
insanity.
47. No.
48. Where the parents are habitual excessive
consumers of any of these drugs, their children
are likely to contract a habit for their use.
49. I am not aware that the use of any of
these drugs is practised as an aphrodisiac. The
continual excessive use of bhang is believed to
produce impotency.
51. A large proportion of bad characters are
habitual moderate consumers of charas and ganja.
They use it to keep themselves in cheerful spirits,
oblivious of their evil habits ; but I am not pre-
pared to say that the use of any of these drugs
has any special connection with crime in general
or with crime of any special character.
52, A limited proportion of bad characters are
also habitual excessive consumers of charas or
ganja. The remarks made in question 51 are
applicable to this class of consumers as well.
53. I don't think so. I am not aware of any
such case.
54. I don't think so.
55. Criminals do sometimes, in order to further
their designs, induce their victims to partake of
charas or ganja with or without dhatura and so
stupefy them. Complete stupefaction is said to
be produced by charas without admixture if ad-
ministered in a large quantity to persons who are
strangers to its use.
57. I am not aware that ganja or charas are
ever eaten or drunk.
58. The excise administration in these pro-
vinces is working on the whole satisfactorily.
60. The cultivation of the hemp plant in these
provinces is free to all parties. The possession of
the drugs, ganja and bhang, is permitted to cul-
tivators. This, in my opinion, facilitates smug-
gling. I would suggest that none should be allow-
ed to cultivate the hemp plant without a license.
61. Charas is not produced in these provinces.
It is imported from Central Asia.
62. The only further controlling that seems
necessary in connection with the cultivation of the
hemp plant for the production of bhang is what I
have stated above in question 60, viz., that the
cultivation of the hemp plant should only be per-
mitted under a license.
63 and 64. I have no objection.
65. I have no alteration to suggest The tax-
ation is reasonable.