40
58. The excise administration in respect of
hemp drugs is working well, and I am not pre-
pared to suggest any improvement.
60 and 61. I think that there is sufficient
control, and have no suggestion to make for the
modification of the system.
62. I would not suggest any changes in this
respect.
63. No.
64. No.
65. (a) Yes.
(b) Yes.
66. Yes; for flat and round have twigs which
the chur has not. Each kind of ganja should be
taxed in proportion to the narcotic matter that
each is found to contain.
67. Yes, as remarked above.
68. There are licensed shops for the sale of these
drugs; but ordinarily they are not smoked or
drunk on the premises. The shops are not dis-
reputable. Generally mudi shopkeepers are the
licensed holders of these shops.
69. Ordinarily the wishes of the people are not
consulted or considered when a shop is opened in
any locality. On the application of vendors and
local inhabitants, licenses are granted after due
enquiry at the auction settlement, held with the
sanction of the Board. I do not think it is neces-
sary to consult or consider public opinion, as these
shops are not a nuisance.
70. (a) No.
(b) Yes; in respect of ganja and charas but
not of siddhi. The latter is used to some extent
illicitly, but the use is not general.
Oral evidence.
I have served for 22 years in Bengal and Behar.
The paper No. 247 submitted by the District
Board of the 24-Parganas was drawn up by a
Sub-Committee, under instructions received to the
effect that a Sub-Committee should be appointed
to report. The paper was not submitted to the
District Board.
Question 15.—My statement regarding the
preparation of siddhi from the wild plant applies
to the 24-Parganas, where it certainly grows.
The plant grows freely in all the alluvial districts.
I am informed that it does not grow in the
laterite districts. But I cannot vouch for that.
I cannot say at present when the crop comes up.
I understand that the plant should not be used
before paying duty. Therefore I call this pre-
paration illicit. I believe that for a person even
to prepare a small quantity and use it without
paying duty is illicit. We have specially licensed
shops for the sale of siddhi in the 24-Parganas.
Apart from the sum paid for the license-fees there
is a direct duty on siddhi. That is, the stuff is
sold from the godowns in Calcutta; and I under-
stand that the price includes duty.
Question 35.—The other deleterious drugs
would probably be opium. I cannot say that I
know of any other drug that would probably be
substituted for ganja. I cannot say that I think
opium is more deleterious than ganja. Of the
two I think ganja is the more deleterious. The
basis of this opinion is that I am under the im-
pression that taken to excess it occasionally causes
madness. This is little more than an impression.
But from what I have heard of cases of madness
and seen of reports as to the causes, I have form-
ed the impression that ganja was frequently an
exciting cause. Whether there may not have
been a tendency to lunacy before the ganja habit
was indulged in, I am not prepared to say.
It is said also that if indulged in to excess
ganja makes a man lazy and disinclined to
work. I cannot vouch for this from my own ex-
perience. On the other hand, taken in moder-
ation, it enables persons to perform out-door
work.
I think that crime is very rarely connected with
ganja. Occasionally violent crime may be due to
ganja. I have heard of such cases. But I do
not think that any one has come before me. My
experience certainly does not show the connection
of ganja with crime.
I think the prohibition of bhang would not be
feasible. It grows too widely over the province.
I do not see necessity for attempting such prohi-
bition. I am not aware that the abuse of the
drug is at all common so as to render such pro-
hibition advisable. As regards ganja, although
there are instances of abuse of smoking it, yet I
think it is extremely useful to the large body of
the working population. It is consumed by a
large number of men who have rough out-door
work to do. It enables them to do work which
they could not do without it. In this view I
think prohibition is not called for, and unless we
are prepared to enforce prohibition in Native
States and in Nepal, I do not think prohibition
would be practicable with us. I cannot say that
I consider further restriction called for. I do not
see what further restriction you would have, un-
less you were to raise the price considerably, which
would press hardly on the poorer classes. I think
that the limit of taxation has been reached. One
symptom of this is that consumption is decreas-
ing. The duty is high and the class of persons
who use the drug is poor.
16. Evidence of MR, C. R. MARINDIN, Magistrate and Collector of Shahabad.
1. Enquiries from the vendors and consumers
of the drugs and from persons having a taste for
scientific researches.
2. Yes. The hemp is the name of a genus of
plant in the Linnæan system; class Diœcia; order
Pentandria, male and female; Pharmacopœal
name, Cannabis.
(1) Bhang, bang, subzi, and sidhi.
Classical names.—Arabic Kanab, from
which the Latin Canna bis is derived.
Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa.
The hemp is the hashish of the Arabs.
Persian names known among the Musal-
mans: falaksair and waraqul khyal.
(2) Ganja, ganja.
(3) Charas, charas.
3. Monghyr and Bahraich (Oudh).
4. (Vide reply to question 2.) All refer to the
same plant.
5. Damp climate, moist soil, and rainfall.
7. No.