366
Ganja and charas, when moderately used, have
not been found beneficial as digestive, but they have
been found beneficial in respect to severe exertion,
exposure or fatigue.
42. The moderate use of ganja and charas, even
where not beneficial, does no particular harm, be-
cause it does not create any organic disorder,
mental derangement, or impair the nervous system
and the vigour of the body.
44. The immediate effect of the moderate use of
ganja and bhang is a pleasant sensation of intoxi-
cation accompanied with forgetfulness of worldly
cares. It is also refreshing, and creates appetite.
The effect of the moderate use of bhang, however,
does not allay hunger as it does in the case of
ganja. The effect of bhang moderately used
lasts for some ten to twelve hours, whereas that of
ganja lasts for about two or three hours. In both
cases there are no after-effects. The want of sub-
sequent gratification produces longing for it and
uneasiness. The moderate use of charas:—Its
immediate effect is that the smoker becomes giddy
and feels a pleasant sensation of intoxication. It
is refreshing. It does not allay hunger, but
creates a little appetite, and its effect lasts for
about 1½ or 2 hours. It leaves no after-effect and
produces a longing or uneasiness for want of sub-
sequent gratification.
45. It does not.
46. The excessive use of ganja and charas
produces noxious effects, physical, mental or
moral. It impairs the constitution by reducing
the body, injures the power of digestion, and
causes loss of appetite. It may bring on dysentery
bronchitis, and asthma. It also brings on laziness
and habits of immorality. It affects the intellect,
and produces temporary insanity of mild type, but
not necessarily in all case. In cases that came
under my notice, where it has produced temporary
insanity, it appeared to me that the excessive use
was the exciting cause. The symptoms of in-
sanity may be reinduced by the fresh use of the
drugs. In such insanity there are no typical
symptoms. Insanes having no recorded history
very rarely confess to the use of the drugs.
But the excessive use of bhang does not produce
any of those bad effects enumerated above,
except that it brings in a temporary stupor.
47. No.
48. Even the habitual excessive use of the
drugs does not appear to be a hereditary habit or
that it affects the children.
49. The moderate use of siddhi and ganja is
occasionally practised as an aphrodisiac even by
the prostitutes. These drugs, when used for
such purposes, become more injurious than when
used for ordinary purposes, inasmuch as by
repeated and constant use of these stimulants for
the said purpose, impotency is rather increased.
The use of hemp does not necessarily produce
impotency.
50. The answer to this question is the same
in all its bearings, as stated in answer to question
No. 49.
In conclusion, in submitting the answers to some
of the questions in connection with the hemp drugs
before the Commission, I beg to express the
following opinion:—
The moderate consumption of the hemp drugs
in not injurious to health, etc., in so far as it can
be restrained within limit. But since it has been
found that the habitual moderate consumption of
these drugs naturally tends towards development
into the excessive in time, and since the excessive
habitual use of ganja and charas brings in physical
and mental disorders, the more the use of these two
drugs is restricted, the better.
154. Evidence of PIYARI MOHAN KAVIRAJ, Vaidya, Native Physician,
Calcutta.
1. As we use siddhi and its seed in medicines
prescribed by Aurvedic Sastras, I have ample
opportunities of getting experience as to their
medical virtue. Moreover, as many persons use
siddhi, ganja and charas for intoxicating purposes,
I have got certain opportunities of forming an
opinion as to their effects.
2. I have no knowledge of the cultivation of
siddhi, ganja or charas, because I have never been
in those places where they are cultivated. But in
some villages of our native district of Jessore,
siddhi grows wild, and it is called bhang. This is
less stringent than that cultivated or grown in
Behar or in the North-Western Provinces. But
it also causes intoxication. In our part of the
country, it and its seed are used in the preparation
of Aurvedic medicines. These products are locally
known as siddhi or bhang, ganja and charas.
19. Yes, ganja and charas are generally used
for smoking, and they are not used in any other
way. But in skin diseases, such as itches, ganja
is used as a medicine, boiled with cocoanut oil.
23. It is seldom used for smoking.
28. Very few gentlemen take to ganja-smoking.
But lower class labourers take to ganja-smoking
to alleviate fatigue, and religious mendicants
(sadhus) and sanyasis often take to ganja-smok-
ing and drinking siddhi for devotional pur-
poses. Moreover, inhabitants of the Behar and
the North-Western Provinces, as a rule, drink
siddhi daily. Charas-smoking is not very preva-
lent, somebody taking a chillum or two for the
sake of amusements. It has been known that
some habitual ganja-smokers smoke twenty to
thirty chillums daily. But siddhi is never drunk
more than once daily. The cost of a habitual
ganja-smoker, say one or two chillums daily, is
one or two pice; but the cost of a habitual exces-
sive consumer is one anna to three annas daily.
But the number of such consumers is very few.
The cost of a habitual siddhi drinker is not more
than one pice daily, and in the case of many
persons, a pice worth is sufficient for 3 or 4 days'
consumption. Charas is not, as far as I am
aware, smoked daily, but taken for the sake of
amusement. It does not cost more than a pice
for each chillum.
29. As far as I have been able to ascertain on
enquiry, I am come to know that pepper and clove
are ordinarily mixed with siddhi. Some also mix
cucumber seed in addition. I have never heard of
dhatura, opium, nux vomica, cantharides or betel-
nut being mixed with any of these drugs for
drinking or smoking purposes.
But instances
have come to my notice of mixing dhatura and
opium with siddhi for poisoning. The object of
the said admixtures is relishing.
Yes, I have
heard of bhang massala being sold in the bazar for
the purpose of being mixed with bhang, but I
know not what its ingredients are.