144
any fever. This may be accidental, because I
have seen people getting fever who take ganja.
I only refer to moderate occasional use. They
are all labouring classes; and, I think, 50 per cent.
of the male adult population in particular tracts
of this class use ganja. Bhang is also considered
when habitually, but moderately, used as suppress¬
ing cravings for lust. In this way it is used by
darwans, sepoys, and constables, who are bache¬
lors, or, being married men, do not meet their
wives often.
42. Ganja and bhang.—Moderate use is harm¬
less if proper food is available. I found habitual
moderate smokers of the cultivating class strong,
healthy and possessing normal mental faculties.
43. Yes; they are inoffensive. Offensive men
are always offensive even without the intoxica¬
tion.
44. Ganja and bhang.—The immediate effect
is said to be refreshing, which means a slight in¬
toxication. It allays hunger for a habitual smoker
but creates appetite to an occasional smoker. A
habitual smoker, however, cannot digest his food
without using it. The effect of one chillum lasts
for half an hour. Want of subsequent gratifica¬
tion produces uneasiness to a habitual excessive
smoker.
45. Ganja.—(b) It weakens the physique,
gradually, but very slowly.
(c) It weakens the digestion.
(d) If moderately used, it does not, but without
proper nourishment in any case it will.
(e) No.
(f) Not if moderately used.
In bhang none.
46. If excessively used (habitual) it impairs
the constitution; causes entire loss of appetite.
As long as the intoxication lasts, food may be
swallowed to abnormal extent. It causes dysent¬
ery, bronchitis and asthma; produces laziness, but
not immorality or debauchery (vide question 49).
In extreme cases only it deadens the intellect
and produces insanity of permanent type if the
use is continued. No instances have been noticed
in which the symptoms have been reinduced by
use of the drug after liberation from restraint. In
a case enquired into by me, I found that the in¬
sane person had suffered from some mental shock
from the loss of wealth and other calamities. He
then took to ganja. He is rather a monomaniac
and always attempts to prove that he is Raja of
Banaili. I have met some begging mendicants
who did not reply to my questions. They accept
no food, but accept money which they spend in
smoking.
Excessive use of bhang is not common. I
know of a wealthy banker in another district who
for the excessive use of this drug remains dozing
whole day long, and is not better than an idiot.
47. No.
48. Ganja,—Instances have been found where
it has been found true, but there are also instances
where the son of habitual excessive smoker does
not smoke. No general rule can be laid down.
49 and 50. Ganja.—Sometimes used so, but
rarely.
Ganja and bhang.—The unanimous opinion is
that they tend to produce impotence if excessively
used. If moderately used, the tendency is coun¬
teracted by the substantial food which the con¬
sumers take. Both produce a craving for dense
boiled milk, sweets, and confections fried in
butter.
51 and 52. Not a large proportion; on the con-
trary I think very few bad characters are habitual
moderate smokers of ganja. The intoxication of
bhang and ganja rather produces a stupefaction
and overpowering sense of fear of one's own safety.
Habitual moderate smokers, of course, do not lose
their mental faculties for the moment, but I do
not think ganja is incentive in any way to crime.
It may be found, however, that criminals some¬
times take ganja, but that does not settle the
question.
53. Ganja.—One case has been reported to me
where an excessive habitual smoker killed his
mother. The reason is that excessive indulgence
tends to temporary insanity, which follows from
habitual peevishness of temper and liability to
sudden outbursts of passion common to smokers of
this class.
54. No cases are known.
55. No cases are known. Stupefaction can be
induced, but administration of ganja or bhang to
a person not used to them is not easy, and oppor¬
tunities are seldom found.
56. Ganja is always mixed with tobacco leaves
before smoking (vide question 15). So charas (reply
to ibid.) and bhang (reply to ibid.). Both in
moderation and excess the actual effects are modi¬
fied remarkably by these admixtures. The nau¬
seating effects vanish and the acuteness of intoxi¬
cation reduced; and dhatura is not used as an
admixture in these parts.
57. I can give no more information than what
I have done in reply to question 19. According
to sanyasis, eating ganja gives more chakur (revo¬
lution or rotation, i.e., intoxication) than smok¬
ing.
58 and 59. Ganja.—This district is concerned only
with the consumption of ganja exports from Raj-
shahi under pass. The trade is carried on by whole¬
sale and retail dealers. The selling price of ganja
in the market is now equal to that of opium, and in
my opinion an improvement may be effected in the
present system by regulating the manufacture and
trade of ganja in the same way as in the case of
opium. A proper check against smuggling is to
do away with the direct connection between traders
and cultivators. The system as it stands at present
has also a tendency to create undue competition
resulting in the increase of consumption which is
injurious. With the interference of Government
the consumption may be effectually checked. The
system I propose is this: Strict supervision and
vigilance must be exercised on the cultivator and
manufacturer of ganja by Government officers, a
proper establishment being made for the purpose.
The cultivators will receive from Government a
proper price for the drug manufactured. The drug
being stored in Government golas, indents will be
sent from time to time by district officers according
to local demand ascertained from licensed vendors.
Direct connection between traders and cultivators
being thus abolished and transit properly checked,
it will remain with Government either to do
away with the wholesale dealers or not. If they
are retained, the ganja will be issued to them on
payment of a certain rate for each kind, which
will cover fixed duty, cost price, cost of establish¬
ment. The licensed dealers will then take from
wholesale dealers. But I should not approve of
introducing wholesale dealers; unless the licensed
dealers deal directly with Government, the con-
sumption cannot be restricted. It will remain