490
members of society of their short spells of enjoy-
ment amid the labours, cares and anxieties of life.
The use of the drugs is so great a necessity to
them that it would be practically impossible to
prohibit the use. A late member of the Board of
Revenue, Mr. Money, rightly observed.—" The
fact that 600 men in a village prefer to drink
water is no reason for debarring the remaining
200 from obtaining some other drink if they wish
it. It would be questionable how far it would be
right to set up such tyranny of majority." If
consumption of hemp be prohibited, there would
be illicit consumption to a large extent and the
very prohibition would perhaps stimulate per-
sons who would have otherwise kept aloof
to take to the use of the drugs.
Hemp is
used by a large number of men who shun alcohol
on religious and social grounds, and who
perhaps would never use it as a substitute for
hemp.
36. Far from alcohol being used as a substitute
for hemp, people readily use hemp as a substitute
for alcohol. It is cheaper and is believed to be
not so injurious to health and ruinous to the in-
dividuals. However, it must be admitted that it
is difficult to say whether a man who has contract-
ed a habit of taking strong stimulants every day,
when forced to give up his usual allowance of
bhang or ganja, will not run to the use of alcoho-
lic drinks even at the sacrifice of his religious con-
victions.
39. Smoking ganja and charas is generally
believed to be more injurious than eating and
drinking bhang. Smoking has a stronger effect
and is more liable to lead to excess than eating
bhang.
40. Both bhang and ganja are prescribed, on
account of their medicinal qualities. They form
ingredients of several well-known and standard
medicines in Hindu Pharmacy. Bhang is also
used in the treatment of cattle disease.
41. Both bhang and ganja possess valuable
properties. Both of them are appetisers. Bhang
is beneficial in cases of chronic diarrhœa; both
afford refreshment under severe exertion, exposure
and fatigue; and all the three drugs are used as
valuable aphrodisiacs. The classes of men who
usually use ganja and bhang for getting staying-
power are mentioned in answer 20. For medici-
nal purposes bhang and ganja are used by men
of all classes of the community.
42. The moderate use of ganja and bhang is
not only harmless but positively beneficial to the
classes of men mentioned in answer 20.
43. Excepting that consumers of bhang and
ganja are said to be more irritable and are liable
to be more easily offended than others, they are
generally speaking inoffensive to their neigh-
bours.
44. The immediate effect of the moderate use
of bhang and ganja is that it produces refresh-
ment and exhilaration. To habitual consumers
it does not produce intoxication. It does not allay
hunger, on the other hand it creates appetite.
The effect does not last longer than two or three
hours and there are no after-effects.
45. The habitual moderate use of ganja and
bhang does not impair the constitution, or injure
the digestion, or the chest or the moral sense or
the intellect. Ganja has been known to produce
insanity, but it is only when taken for some time
in excess or by boys or young men not sufficiently
strong to withstand its effects.
47. There are no grounds for believing that
there is a hereditary longing for the use of any of
these drugs.
49. Both bhang and ganja are used as aphro-
disiacs. It is so used by men only, although
prostitutes have been known to smoke ganja.
The use of ganja and bhang as aphrodisiacs is
not more injurious than their use as exhilarants.
51. It would be unjust to connect the use of
these drugs with crime as cause and effect. It is on
the contrary a general belief that those who smoke
ganja or use bhang are open-hearted men who
enjoy the happiness of others and delight to see
others happy.
56. The only substance which is usually mixed
with ganja is tobacco for the purpose of improv-
ing the flavour.
62. The cultivation of the hemp plant should
not be controlled. It would hardly be feasible.
69. The wishes of the people are not consulted
before a shop is opened in any locality. But that
is unnecessary. The licensee is the best man to
judge whether there is a demand for a shop in a
certain locality.
232. Evidence of UMAGATI RAT, Brahmin, Pleader, and Secretary to the
Jalpaiguri Branch, Indian
Association.
1. The source of my information is partly based
on my experience and partly on the information
I have received from time to time from the persons
concerned.
2. The definitions of bhang, charas and ganja,
as given by Dr. Prain, tend to show that they are
obtained from the same plant, which is not the
case. In this view of the case, I think the
definitions are not clear, and cannot therefore be
accepted. The products are locally known as
bhang or siddhi, charas, and ganja.
3. Hemp plant, known as bhang, grows spon-
taneously in almost all the districts of the prov-
ince, and is abundant in Rangpur.
4. The hemp plant is known as bhang or siddhi
and ganja. They do not refer to the same plant.
6. The nature of growth is different in differ-
ent districts. I have seen its growth ordinarily
dense in the Rangpur district.
7. (a) Yes.
Naogaon in the Rajshahi, Baluchara in the
Bogra, and Mahadebpur in the Dinajpur districts.
The cultivation in Naogaon is extensive.
13. Yes. As far as I know the cultivation is
restricted to the places in the districts mentioned
in answer to question 7.
14. (a) Yes.
(b) Yes.
(c) Yes.
The same answer as answer to question 7 with
respect to ganja.