213
unlikely that from moderate habit one would go
to excess.
32. Bhang is taken by the up-country people
on Dol Jatra or Holi days, and by others on
Dasami and Kali Puja days. They take bhang
on the Puja days generally and temporarily.
This may lead to a habit, but habitual drinker
of bhang is very rare in this part of the district.
33. Consumption of bhang on the Puja days
is considered religious. Hence it is called siddhi,
i.e., one's wishes are satisfied who takes bhang on
the Puja days. I am not aware that hemp is
worshipped anywhere.
34. There will be no serious privation except to
the ganja-smokers, as the number of consumers of
other drugs are very few in this part of the
district.
35. Prohibition from taking ganja will cause
a serious inconvenience to the consumers, but no
political disturbance can be expected. It is not
likely that the prohibition will be generally fol-
lowed by recourse to other drugs, as the effects
are different; but some people of the labouring
class, as indicated in answer 20, may take to
country wine as an alternative measure.
36. Ganja is now rarely taken by the middle
classes of the people, as it is considered more in-
jurious than alcohol, and, in fact, ganja-smoking
is looked upon by them with contempt and degrad-
ing to the society. Lower class people scarcely
substitute it for alcohol; in the first place, the
latter is more expensive; and, secondly, it is not
suited to their taste.
37. Charas is not known in this part of the
district.
38. Neither round ganja nor charas is sold
here.
39. Cannot say.
40. Bhang is used in cattle diseases.
41. It is said that the moderate use of ganja
and bhang does not injure health, but rather
exhilarates the tired and the depressed low class
people of labouring classes.
(a), (b) and (c) Yes: they are reported to be
so.
A habitual ganja-smoker may use the drug for
the above purposes, but not one who is not ac-
customed to it.
42. It is said that the moderate use of ganja
and bhang is harmless, as it keeps up one's spirit
and makes him more active and capable of under-
going much fatigue and troubles generally.
43. Yes; they are inoffensive.
44. Immediate effect of ganja is refreshing to a
consumer. It produces in him slight intoxi-
cation, increases hunger and creates appetite.
The effect lasts for about half an hour. Its
after-effect is relieving to him. Want of such
gratification to a habitual consumer causes un-
easiness, dyspepsia, want of appetite, lethargy,
weakness and inaction.
45. It is said that habitual use of ganja does
not produce much noxious effect if the consumer
gets sufficient quantity of milk for drink and
substantial food. But its effect is generally
exciting. It excites passions, and may affect
mental power when taken in excess like all other
intoxicating substances. But when the consumer
goes to excess by intemperate habit, for want of
proper food, and by debauchery and immorality,
he is subjected to all sorts of diseases, but not
otherwise.
It is sometimes reported that excessive use of
ganja may be one of the causes which leads to
insanity, but certainly not in all cases.
47 and 48. I don't think that use of ganja is a
hereditary habit, or that it affects the children of
moderate consumers.
51. Except criminal tribes, I don't think other
bad characters are moderate consumers. They
generally go to excess in every respect, and com-
mit theft and burglary to meet their want. It is
generally found that poor ganja-smokers and
opium-eaters commit theft when they are other-
wise unable to meet the expenses of their habitual
drugs. But the moderate use seldom, if ever,
induces one to commit theft or crime in general.
52. Charas is not sold in this part of the
district. Bhang is very rarely taken, and appears
to be inoffensive in its nature.
53 to 55. I have no experience to answer these
questions.
56. I have nothing more to add than what I
have already stated regarding moderate and ex-
cessive use of ganja. Dhatura is sometimes used
as medicine.
57. Ganja is only smoked at this locality.
Charas is not sold here.
58 and 59. I am not prepared to answer these
questions, as I have very little experience regard-
ing excise administration, and have had no
occasion to study the subject carefully.
60. Ganja is not produced in this part of the
district.
61. Charas is neither produced nor sold in this
part of the district.
62. I don't think that spontaneous growth of
hemp plant for production of bhang should be
controlled. It appears to be inoffensive in its
nature, and is very rarely used in this district for
intoxicating purposes.
63 to 67. I am not prepared to answer these
questions, as I have no knowledge on the subject.
68. There are shops for licensed vendors of
ganja, etc. Ganja is sometimes smoked publicly
on the premises of the shops, which may be dis-
continued and not exposed to public view; but
this may, however, be allowed in private compart-
ments of the shops to be set apart for the pur-
pose.
69. No new shop has been opened at this local-
ity. I don't know whether the wishes of the
people were consulted when the existing shops
were opened.
70. I am not aware of smuggling or importation
of hemp drugs from Native States in this locality.
The drugs are sold by licensed vendors.