9
Question 62.— I issued the Circular No. 6075,
dated 26th January 1893 (attached) with the object
of extirpating the self-sown plant, and to bring
bhang under taxation. Ganja was not contem-
plated in the measure. I still think that order
might be carried out without any greater amount
of oppression than generally accompanies Govern-
ment interference. I think it would be more com-
mon to find the self-sown plant growing on unoc-
cupied lands than upon occupied lands. There are
many cases in which the raiyats could not be held
responsible for its growth, as when it grows on
unoccupied spaces between houses and the river
frontage, or on the sites of deserted habitations.
The plant could undoubtedly be extirpated from
occupied lands.
Question 68.—I see no advantage in licensing
consumption on the premises. I do not see why a
man should not smoke his ganja where he likes.
There might be objection to Government licensing
places where people get intoxicated. I object to
the prohibition of smoking chandu and madak on
licensed premises, because the chandu and madak
which is smoked in unlicensed premises pays no
tax beyond the opium duty, and some does not
pay that. We lose the tax on the license for sell-
ing.
I should not think that it had resulted in
an increase of the practice.
Question 69.—By Babus I mean those known
in Bengal as the bhadralok, comprising pleaders
and school-masters in great part. My remarks do
not apply to zamindars, who would not come for-
ward and give an opinion in the matter of local
option, but I should undoubtedly go to them if
anxious to find out what the local public opinion
was. There would be no difficulty in getting
public opinion in the villages, for it would be as-
certained from the "pradhans" or principal raiyats;
but in towns the division between classes is such
that there is no homogeneous public opinion, if I
may use the phrase.
As far as I have seen the effects of the use of
the hemp drugs in Bengal, I certainly see no
reason to advocate prohibition nor any restriction
beyond that exercised at present. In imposing
any enhancement of the present taxation I should
have regard simply to the revenue, I should not,
however, wish to see the cultivation increased,
unless it were a means of counteracting any
smuggling which is going on: but I do not think
smuggling is carried on to such an extent as to
justify such extension.
Since making a closer study of the matter, I
have modified the opinions which led me to de-
scribe the hemp drugs as "this most pernicious
article" in my excise report for the year ending
31st March 1891. I used it at the time as being
in accordance with the popular opinion that this
drug is the most harmful of intoxicants. Since
then I have given more attention to the question,
and have come to the conclusion that the habitual
moderate use of the drug is not open to objection.
Appendix to MR. WESTMACOTT'S
Evidence.
Circular No. 6075, dated Calcutta, the 26th January, 1893.
From—E. V. WESTMACOTT, Esq., Commissioner of
Excise, Bengal,
To
The Collector
of
Deputy Commissioner
The variety of the hemp drug plant (Cannabis
sativa), from which the drug variously known as
subji, siddhi, or bhang, is prepared, grows wild
in many districts in Bengal, and it is not always
possible to prove the fact of a person cultivating
it, or allowing it to grow on his land, for his own
use or for sale. It is desired, therefore, to extir-
pate the plant as much as possible, so that persons
desirous of cultivating it, may take out licenses for
doing so. Where the plant is really growing wild
on unoccupied land it may not be easy to eradicate
it, but where it is found growing upon any part
of a raiyat's holding, as is generally the case, any
excise or police officer who sees the plant should
cause it to be immediately destroyed, and should
warn the raiyat of the penalty incurred under sec-
tion 54, Act VII (B.C.) of 1878, for promoting
the cultivation in any way. The fact of such
warning should be regularly recorded, and if the
plant is found again on the land of a man who has
been warned, it may fairly be presumed that he
has allowed it to grow, and he may be prosecuted.
I have the honour to request that you will
instruct excise and police officers accordingly, and
direct your Excise Deputy Collector to keep a
register of all the persons on whose land the plant
has been found, and who have been warned of
the penalty for growing it.
Circular No. 1566, dated Calcutta, the 14th June, 1893.
From—K. G. GUPTA, Esq., Commissioner of Excise,
Bengal,
To
The Collector
of
Deputy Commissioner
I have the honour to say that the attempt to
extirpate wild ganja or bhang seems to the Lieu-
tenant-Governor to be impracticable, and likely
to have no result except petty oppression. Sir
Charles Elliott accordingly desires that it may be
abandoned. I beg, therefore, to request that you
will consider my predecessor's Circular No. 6075,
dated the 26th January 1893, as cancelled.