50
60. The cultivation of ganja is restricted to
tehsil Khandwa, of the Nimar district, where
it grows abundantly. The method of its adminis-
tration will be known from the Khandwa report,
as I am not well acquainted with it.
61. Charas is not produced in these provinces.
I am therefore incapable to write anything on it.
62. Bhang in these provinces is not made from
the hemp plant. It is imported from Rajputana.
I therefore cannot say how it is supervised there.
63. There is no objection to the present system
of the wholesale vend, but there is objection to the
retail vend :—
(a) They should be allowed to keep lawfully 2
tolas instead of 10, so that it may deter
persons from bringing it from other
States.
(b) Charas instead of 5 tolas should be re-
duced to 2 tolas.
(c) Bhang and other things made from it may
be allowed 5 tolas instead of 20 tolas.
The grant is too much as is given under the
Act XXII of 1881. This encourages persons to
bring the drugs from foreign States. A traveller
should keep with him only so much as may suffice
him for two days, because there are retail vendors'
shops everywhere. Two tolas of ganja is quite
sufficient to a moderate consumer for four days,
and it is sufficient for an excessive consumer for two
days. Two tolas of charas is sufficient for eight
days for a moderate consumer, while it will suffice
for two days to an excessive consumer. Five tolas
of bhang is quite sufficient for a moderate con-
sumer for eight days, and for four days for an ex-
cessive consumer. Present laws do not compel a
man to take a license to keep more than the fixed
amount of drugs, therefore the forbidden products
can very easily be brought from other States.
They cannot be recognized also. When they will
be allowed to keep less than they do at present,
the Government will surely be benefited from
it.
64. I have no objections to the existing regu-
lations governing the export and import of these
drugs, but I have to say that ganja which is ex-
ported to the North-Western Provinces and Oudh,
should be correctly weighed and sealed. Other-
wise a man can play mischief. Here it is kept in
bamboo baskets with tât around it, and is exported
in this way. This can create opportunity to com-
mit mischief.
65. The fee that is fixed on the bhang and ganja
in these provinces is reasonable, although it is
small when compared with the fee of wine. They
will import largely ganja and bhang when high
rates of taxation are fixed, unless the amount of
lawful possession of the drug is diminished— vide
answer No. 63. Higher taxes are advisable in
the North-Western Provinces and Oudh.
66. The round ganja is neither produced nor
imported in these provinces. The flat and broken
ganja are the same thing, they therefore do not
require separate taxes.
67. The fee that is fixed on the vendors of ganja
and bhang is reasonable. It will be imported un-
lawfully if they have to pay more dearly. Charas
is not used in these provinces. The fee of bhang
and ganja is reasonable.
68. Hemp is cultivated in tehsil Khandwa of
the Nimar district. There is a licensed shop of
ganja at Khandwa. The same shop is appoint-
ed for the safety of the cultivators' products.
The full information regarding this will be known
from Khandwa.
69. The people in general are not required to
express their opinion when the shop is first opened.
Shops are opened in large towns. It is necessary
to obtain everybody's opinion on it.
70. There is harm if the drug is imported from
Native States, but careful supervision is necessary.
The duty is really paid in respect to the ganja
and other hemp drugs used. No other drug is
found here which is not taxed.
24. Evidence of BRIJMOHUN PATNAIK, Mahanti, Treasurer, Sambalpur.
1. I have seen people consuming the drugs and
I have also enquired about it. There will be
about 200 consumers of ganja and siddhi in
Sambalpur.
2. Siddhi or bhang and ganja are used here.
Charas is not used here. I don't know about the
use of charas.
Yes.
14. Not prepared here. Only imported ganja
and bhang are used.
18. Bhang or ganja if kept in a closed box for
a year will lose part of its intoxicating effect. If
it gets wet it will get quite spoiled. It will not
keep more than 4 or 5 months if not excluded
from air. It will lose all its effect in course of
time. It will keep at least one year with care.
It is the effect of the air which makes it deteri-
orate. Exclusion from the air is the main. thing
to preserve it. These remarks apply to both
bhang and ganja.
19. Ganja is also used for the native medicine
called " módak " and for a medicine for dysentery
and for cattle medicines.
20. Religious mendicants and low classes gen-
erally are specially addicted to ganja smoking.
Bhang is generally used by the higher classes,
but to a very moderate extent. There are no special
localities. About six men in every thousand
would use ganja and four men bhang. I think
on further consideration that 10 per cent. of the
population is more nearly the real proportion of
users of the drugs. That would make about 1,400
altogether in Sambalpur.
21. Round ganja is preferred for smoking.
23. It might be used if ganja cannot be got.
Brahmins and Kurrans mostly use bhang.
24. About four men in the thousand. Out of
four consumers, I think one would drink it, three
would eat it. There are no special localities.
25. The use is on the increase of both bhang
and ganja. I think because bad characters and
others like the sensation.
26. For ganja, out of ten consumers—
(a) six ;
(b) one ;
(c) two ;
(d) one.
About the same proportions hold for bhang.
27. No particular class of users is more given
to excess than others.