186
of ganja, the most deleterious of the drugs
to which the excise law applies, is much to be
regretted."
(2) Page 13, Bengal Excise Administration
Report for 1874-75—
"There is reason to fear that the increase in its
consumption of ganja during the year under
report is to be attributed to some extent to in-
creased difficulty of access to liquor which has
been caused by the reduction in the number of
shops. It has therefore been determined to in-
crease the number of liquor shops again as the
lesser evil of the two."
(3) Page 31 of the same Report—
The Commissioner writes—"It is probable that
coolies returning from Calcutta, Assam, and else-
where, bring back with them the habit of using
ganja, and that others following their example,
the evil spreads. I think it extremely desirable
to check this habit at once decisively. The people
of this part of the country are excitable enough
naturally, and as they will make use of stimulants
of some sort, country spirit is about as harmless
a one as they could have, but ganja is not so, and
I think it well worth consideration whether its
consumption should not at once be checked by the
imposition of a considerably heavier duty."
(4) Page 3, Resolution of Government on Ben-
gal Excise Report for 1877-78—
"Ganja is doubtless the most injurious
of all
the articles which contribute to the excise revenue.
(5) Page 8, Bengal Excise Report for 1879-80—
"In trying to estimate the moral effects of the
change of system, the Commissioner observes
that there are two separate questions to be con-
sidered, viz., first, whether it has led to greater
consumption of spirits than would have taken
place under the Sudder distillery system; and,
secondly, supposing that there has been such an
increase, whether it has not been counterbalanced
by a decrease in the consumption of other,
and in some cases more hurtful, liquors and drugs.
On the first point opinions are divided, and we
have not sufficient materials to form a definite con-
clusion. As regards the second point, there is no
doubt that the outstill liquor being within easy
reach of people, has proportionately diminished
the consumption of tari, ganja and other more
hurtful intoxicating articles, so that, evil against
evil, the outstill compares favourably in this re-
spect with the distillery system. The revenue has
increased, and if the consumption has also in-
creased it is at least balanced by the cheering fact
that it has in some measure displaced the intoxi-
cating drugs."
It may be asked that if your arguments are
valid, why not recommend total prohibition, as
your arguments apply equally to total prohibition
as to partial restriction.
I think total prohibition is not feasible unless,
of course, we are prepared to keep up an enormous
establishment far exceeding that at present main-
tained. What makes total prohibition impossible
and considerable restriction possible is that in the
latter case, for each detective officer that we main-
tain, there are twenty or thirty licensed vendors
whose motives for bringing to light smuggling
and illicit cultivation are far stronger than those of
the Government officials. Thus total prohibition
will be possible if we are prepared to maintain a
costly and unremunerative establishment twenty
or thirty fold larger than we have at present.
My first proposal, therefore, is that the present
duty upon ganja should be considerably enhanced,
say to R25 a seer.
My second proposal is that there should be a
minimum price fixed for the sale of ganja. En-
forcement of minimum price is not difficult in the
case of ganja, though it is difficult in the case of
liquor. The utility of the minimum price is to
prevent the lowering of the price of the article by
the spirit of gambling which prevails so much
amongst the vendors.
My next proposal is to greatly reduce the
number of retail licenses which are at present
issued for the sale of this drug.
Multiplication
of shops has a serious tendency in increasing con-
sumption. Ganja, unlike liquor, is an article
which will keep without deterioration for a long
time. So there is no necessity to bring ganja
within easy reach. If in a locality sparsely populat-
ed we have shops five miles apart, there is no
reason why they should be closer in a place where
there is a greater demand for the drug. The
greater demand shews the necessity of discouraging
the consumption of the drug in the locality rather
than stimulating it by multiplication of shops.
My next proposal is that local option should be
given in the selection of the site of a shop. The
objection to it is that it may lead to the persecu-
tion of a minority by a majority. But I am of
opinion that to throw difficulties in the way of
indulging in ganja is not a persecution but a
benefit. My last proposal is that duty on ganja
should be paid at Rajshahi before the wholesale
dealer is allowed to transport it to the selling
district. This will indirectly tend to diminish
consumption.
60. I am unable to answer this question. Only
the Rajshahi officials can throw light on this
subject from practical experience.
61. Charas is not prepared in Bengal, but is
obtained from Amritsar and Allahabad.
62. The injurious effects of bhang are only
a step lower than those of ganja. The produc-
tion of bhang should be brought under proper
control. For, unless this is done, the effect of
raising the duty on ganja will also be partially
neutralised. The difficulty about placing the
cultivation of bhang under control arises from the
fact that this plant grows wild everywhere, and no
one can be held responsible for bhang grown wild
on his land. The law, as it stands at present, pro-
hibits the cultivation of bhang except under a
license. Any scheme, therefore, for controlling
bhang cultivation must first deal with the best
means that should be adopted for extirpating the
wild growth of the plant.
An attempt in this direction was lately made
by the Commissioner of Excise; but Government
has ordered that, as the measure involves a great
deal of trouble and inconvenience, it should be
given up.
One way of checking the wild growth of the
plant will be to grant licenses for the sale of this
drug more extensively, and thereby inducing the
people to take their supply from the licensed shops.
My idea is that all ganja licensees should be for
the present allowed to sell bhang also, and also
allowed to cultivate for himself the bhang that
would be required for his licit trade. We will thus
have a body of men throughout the country who
will be able to assist our officers to detect un-
licensed cultivation. Self-interest will also induce
these men to extirpate as much of the wild plant
as they can.