410
Bhang is ordinarily taken with cardamom,
black pepper, sugar, and milk, kakri and khira
and pumpkin seeds.
29. Dhatura leaves are mixed with ganja to
increase the narcotic effects. Ganja is ordinarily
mixed with tobacco. Dhatura seed is exceptionally
mixed with ganja by habitual excessive con-
sumers to increase the narcotic effects.
30. Ganja is consumed 25 per cent. in solitude
and 75 per cent. in company of at least of two
persons. Bhang is consumed in solitude. It is
mostly confined to the male sex. People of
middle age consume ganja. Habitual consumers
also smoke ganja when old. Low class women,
bairagi among Hindus, also consume ganja.
Bhang is also taken by old women of Hindu
sect, bairagi. Children never use any of these
drugs.
31. The habit is easily formed.
It is diffi-
cult to break off the habit. The moderate habit
of using the ganja develops into the excessive.
The habit of consuming bhang is not easily
formed. It is easy to break off the habit. Its
moderate use does not develop into the excessive.
32. Ganja is consumed in Trinath mêla.
Number of people of Hindu sect meet and sing
religious songs. Ganja is then offered to the
god Trinath, and everyone present is bound to
smoke ganja on pain of the god's displeasure.
Ganja is consumed by sanyasis and fakirs to aid
the concentration of their minds. The use is
generally excessive, and the use of bhang is
temperate.
33. Ganja-smokers are generally regarded with
disrepute. The public opinion as regards ganja
smokers is that they associate with low people,
and have no control over their passions and are
excitable. Bengalis generally do not approve
the use of any form of narcotic. The character
of the people is mild, and the climate does not
require stimulants. Bhang consumers are not
regarded with disrepute. There is no custom of
worshipping the hemp plant; but ganja is often
given as offering to Mahadeo by the habitual
execessive consumers of the Hindu sects, such
as sanyasis.
34. Yes; it would be a serious privation to
forego the use of ganja. People can forego their
food rather than the use of these drugs. Three
per cent. of the people are ganja smokers; but it
would not be serious thing to forego the use of
bhang. Two per cent. use bhang here.
35. It would not be feasible to prohibit the
use of ganja or bhang. They would be con-
sumed illicitly. It will be difficult to enforce
the prohibition. The prohibition would occasion
serious discontent among the consumers; but it
would not amount to a political danger. The
prohibition will be followed by recourse to alco-
holic stimulants by ganja smokers.
36. No; it is quite contrary.
37. I do not know.
38. I have no knowledge of it.
39. No; all alike injurious. I can't say whe-
ther drinking or eating ganja is more injurious.
Bhang is seldom smoked.
40. Bhang is used for medicinal purposes by
kabiraj. It is also used in the treatment of cat-
tle disease. Ganja is also used for medicinal pur-
poses, to cure rheumatic and paralytic pains,
which I have personally experienced.
41. (a) Bhang is used as a digestive.
(b) Ganja is used under severe exertion and
to alleviate fatigue, and as a staying power under
severe exertion.
(c) Ganja is used as a preventive of disease
in malarious tracts.
Low class people use ganja. Middle and high
classes, especially up-country men, use bhang.
The moderate habitual use is referred to.
42. The moderate use of bhang is harmless,
because it fattens the body and increases the
strength, whereas this is not the case with ganja
rather it spoils blood and reduces men to skele-
tons.
43. Yes; they are.
44. The moderate use of bhang is refreshing
in its effects. That of ganja produces intoxi-
cation, but not for habitual consumers. Bhang
creates appetite, and the effect lasts for an hour
or so.
45. It does not impair the constitution, unless
milk is taken afterwards. It does injure the di-
gestion, but bhang does not. The use of ganja
or bhang does not impair the moral sense or
induce habits of immorality or debauchery.
The use of ganja causes bronchitis and asthma.
The excessive use of ganja induces laziness; it
deadens the intellect and makes men excitable,
and sometimes produces insanity, temporary and
permanent. The patients are easily irritable and
the insane confesses the use of ganja.
46. Ditto.
47 and 48. No; it is not hereditary. It does
not affect children.
49. Ganja is not used as an aphrodisiac. The
moderate use of ganja or siddhi does not produce
impotence.
50. Ditto. The use of excessive ganja produces
impotence.
51. About 50 per cent. of the bad characters
are habitual consumers of ganja. No connection
with crime.
52. The excessive use makes men irritable, and
induces them to commit offences against persons.
53. Excessive use of ganja makes men irritable,
and may lead to violent crime. No case has
come to my notice.
54. No, not here; but it is used in big towns,
where there are hardened criminals.
55. Not here. Complete stupefaction cannot be
induced without admixture with dhatura.
56. No admixtures are made here. Ganja is
prepared with rose water to make it mild. No
dhatura is used here.
57. It is sometimes eaten with bhang and
sometimes with sweetmeats. Its effects are very
intoxicating. These are used by habitual exces-
sive consumers.
58. It is capable of improving the excise
administration.
59. The consumption may be decreased if the
duty on ganja is raised and the license fee
lowered. This will increase the finance. No duty
is levied on bhang. Some sort of duty ought to
be levied on bhang.
60 and 61. None produced here.
62. I think the cultivation of the hemp plant
for bhang ought to be controlled.