398
Ganja is physically harmful even in moderate
quantities if taken habitually. Sooner or later it
produces chest or brain complaints. If used in
excessive quantities, these complaints are produced
more rapidly. But cases may be found of moderate
consumers who escape any harmful physical
consequences with impunity. These consequences
are undoubtedly hastened and aggravated by want
of rich farinaceous and oily foods, and, on the
other hand, if not wholly prevented, considerably
delayed by the use of such foods. On the mental
faculties the effects of ganja, unlike those of
bhang, are rather exciting than soporific. Cases
of insanity are known to have arisen from even
the moderate use of the drug.
I am not aware of any case of the perversion of
the moral faculties from the habitual moderate or
excessive use of the drug.
47 and 48. In my opinion the habitual moderate
or excessive use of hemp drugs does not lead to
children being born with potential germs of the
habit in them unlike the children of dipsomaniacs.
As to any other effects of the parental habit, if the
parental constitution is impaired by it, then child-
ren are naturally weak and unhealthy, but similar
children are born of parents whose constitutions
are impaired from any other cause.
49 and 50. Bhang in moderate quantities, and
often mixed with other drugs, is used as an aphro-
disiac, also by prostitutes; but to my knowledge
it is not more injurious when used for this purpose
than when used for its narcotic properties. Cases
of loss of virile power, partial or temporary, fol-
lowing the excessive use of the drug as an aphro-
disiac may be found.
51 and 52. So far as my observations go, I do not
believe that any large proportion of bad characters
are habitual moderate or excessive consumers of
hemp drugs, nor does there appear to be any
special connection between crime and these drugs.
53. Excessive indulgence in these drugs may
lead to the committal of unpremeditated crime,
but then it would be properly due to temporary
insanity caused by such indulgence. I am not,
however, aware of any instance of it or of the use
of homicidal mania following the excessive indul-
gence of hemp drugs.
54. I am not aware of any of these drugs being
used by criminals for the purpose mentioned in
this question.
55. I believe some instances may be found in
the records of our police courts of the use of these
drugs by criminals for the purpose mentioned in
this question. Complete stupefaction may be
produced by excessive doses of the drugs in per-
sons not habituated to them, but various degrees
of helplessness, short of complete stupefaction,
may be enough for the purposes of the criminals.
I do not, however, believe that such cases are
very common.
56. In moderation, the effects of bhang are
modified for the better by the admixture of cooling
stuff like rose leaves, rose water, keora, aniseed,
almond, the seeds of different kinds of melon and
cucumber, etc., etc., etc. These substances have
the tendency to counteract the excess of laryngeal
dryness and constriction which bhang alone would
produce. As a rule, no such substances are mixed
with ganja; only a little dry tobacco leaves is all
that is mixed with it. Excessive consumers of
bhang do sometimes mix dhatura seeds with their
draught, because bhang alone after a time fails to
intoxicate them sufficiently.
57. I am not aware that ganja or charas is ever
eaten or drunk.
NOTE.—Not having sufficient information as to the existing
system of excise administration in regard to hemp drugs, I do
not consider myself competent to venture with any criticism or
suggestion, or answer the questions under this chapter.
Oral evidence.
Question 1.—My answers were written by a
schoolmaster. I gave him a general sketch of my
opinions and he wrote out the answers in his own
words.
Question 35.—Ganja is produced in this coun-
try from the wild plant, but it does not come into
use, because Government causes it to be destroyed.
There may be very occasional illicit consumption.
There is a little hemp grown in people's yards and
fields, and it will be very difficult to put a stop
to it. A person is not liable to punishment
for allowing the plant to grow in his ground if be
does not cultivate it, or if the intention of using
it as ganja cannot be established. If the exist-
ence of small plants in such places were made
penal, a good deal of oppression would result. If
Government issues an order that the hemp plant
is to be extirpated in occupied lands, it will be
carried out.
My statement that prohibition might be re-
garded as an interference with religon applies
only to the followers of the Shaiv and Shakti
sects.
Question 42.—It is the opinion of Hindu
physicians that fever and ague are beneficially
treated with bhang. I have seen cases in which
it was given, but I have never taken it myself.
Question 45.—In saying that there are no
bad moral effects from excessive use of hemp, I
mean that it does not lead to noisy behaviour,
abuse, and fighting as the use of alcohol does. I
have only seen a very few excessive consumers.
Insanity arises from the excessive and not from
the moderate use of the drug.
176. Evidence of BABU NUNDO LAL GOSSAIN, Brahmin, Zamindar, Serampore.
1. My informations are derived from enquiries
carefully made of the tenants of my estates, and
as to Hughli District both of the tenants and
licensed shopkeepers of hemp of all kinds.
2. The definitions given in question 2 may be
accepted as correct. They are known in and
about Serampore as siddhi or bhang, charas, and
ganja.
3. The hemp plant grows spontaneously in all
places in Lower Bengal. It is grown abundantly
in the districts of Rajshahi, Bhagalpur, and next
to it in Jessore.
5. It is said that damp soil is favourable to the
growth of hemp.
7. In the province of Bengal the hemp plant is
cultivated in the district of Rajshahi and in some
parts of Jessore. There is large cultivation of
hemp plant which produces ganja in the two
aforesaid districts. In Behar the species of hemp
which produce siddhi are cultivated largely.