63
31. The habit of ganja-smoking is very difficult
to break off, but I am told that bhang has no
such effect. From what I learnt from ganja-
smokers, their consumption is only limited by
their purse.
32. The higher orders of Hindus in Bengal
almost universally use bhang at the Bijaya Dasami
festival, but the practice is said not to be generally
observed in Behar.
33. The use of ganja is certainly looked upon
as a fault in a man's character, and the question
whether a witness consumes ganja, is often asked
with a view to discredit a man. This does not
seem to be the case with bhang. This dislike of
ganja-smokers has nothing religious about it, but
is attributed to the idea that ganja-smokers are
idle, hot-tempered, useless fellows.
In Bengal, and also I am informed in some
places here, quantities of ganja are given as an
offering to Mahadev on the night of the Shiv
Chatardashi.
34. It would be a serious privation to the habit-
ual ganja-smokers to give up the drug, as it is a
habit very difficult to break.
35. The use of bhang could not be prohibited,
as it would be, I think, impracticable to extirpate
the wild plant. If ganja production were prohi-
bited, no doubt there would be smuggling from the
Native States, e.g., Nepal. I hardly think ganja
consumption can be prohibited, though I dislike
the drug particularly. I should much rather see
the price increased and their consumption automa-
tically checked. The prohibition would no doubt
be followed by recourse to other intoxicants, prob-
ably alcoholic.
36. I have no information.
37. I have no knowledge of charas.
38. Not, if they are of the same quality.
39. Not known.
40. Both ganja and bhang are used by the
Ayurvedic school of medicine for their medicinal
qualities. Bhang is used as a medicine for cattle,
but I do not know for what particular form of
disease.
41. (a) Bhang is said to be astringent.
(b) Yes, both ganja and bhang are used for the
purpose.
(c) This is said to be the case.
Many of the higher classes in Behar use bhang
as a household medicine. The labouring classes
habitually use it to alleviate fatigue.
42. This is a question more for a medical expert.
43. Yes.
44. It is said to be refreshing. Yes, ganja pro-
duces intoxication, and so does bhang. Ganja is
said to allay hunger, and bhang to create appetite.
The ganja-smokers whom I questioned said that
the intoxication of bhang lasted from one to three
hours according to the quantity. The after-
effects are headache sometimes and giddiness. The
want of subsequent gratification does certainly
produce longing or uneasiness in the case of
habitual ganja-smokers.
45. (b) Ganja apparently does.
(c) Yes.
(d) Dysentery and bronchitis.
(e) It is said to do this.
(f) It is said to deaden the intellect, but not
to produce insanity.
46. The habitual excessive use of ganja cer-
tainly causes temporary insanity sometimes. I
have myself seen two cases attributable to this
cause, one when I was Deputy Commissioner of
the Sonthal Parganas, and one lately in the jail
here. In the latter case, which is fresh in my
memory, a man was sent to jail for observation as
a lunatic. The Civil Medical Officer describes him
as "always after ganja—would not even take food,
and was very insolent and dangerous." After
being kept for less than a week in jail, he entirely
recovered, and I released him. He was an habi-
tual and confirmed ganja-smoker. The former
case was one of a respectable clerk, who had twice
got fits of temporary insanity which was attributed
to excessive ganja-smoking, if I remember rightly.
47. No.
49. I am informed by the Civil Medical
Officer that it (ganja I believe) is so used by
prostitutes. He says that owing to the effects which
it produces, it overstrains the system, causes early
debility and brings on temporary impotence.
50. The same authority informs me that it is
not used excessively as an aphrodisiac, but that
people who consume it excessively are usually
impotent.
51 and 52. I have no information.
53. The Civil Medical Officer informs me that
he has heard of cases of temporary homicidal
frenzy amongst excessive ganja-smokers.
54. No information.
55. I have not met with a case.
56. Admixture with dhatura is said to be
dangerous.
57. No information.
58. I think the system is as good a one as
could be devised.
62. It would not be feasible I think as the
plant grows wild in profusion in some districts.
63. As long as ganja and bhang are consumed
I have no objection to the present system of
wholesale and retail vend.
64. No.
65. I would like to see ganja certainly more
heavily taxed. For two pice a man can get in-
toxicated on ganja, when it will cost him even in
this district one-and-a half to two annas to get
intoxicated on alcohol. I regard intoxication from
ganja as infinitely more deleterious than intoxica-
tion from alcohol, and would certainly like to see
ganja more heavily taxed. Bhang is a more
difficult question, as it is so easily prepared from
the wild plant.
66. There should be different rates of taxa-
tion, as a great part of the weight of chipta con-
sists of the weight of the stalk, and this is also
the case with gol, though to a much smaller
extent.
67. No; except that the taxation of ganja is
not high enough.
68. Yes. There are several shops licensed for
the sale of both ganja and bhang in this district.
69. Shops are not opened in places to which the
people object, and if any objection were raised, I
should certainly change the site. But as the
shops are only for the sale and not for the con-
sumption of the article, they would not be objec-
tionable to neighbours. New shops are opened
only where there is a real necessity.
70. Some small amount of ganja used to be
smuggled across from Nepal into Bettiah sub-
division. I know nothing of the Nepalese excise
system.