54
42. The moderate use of these drugs may be
considered as harmless, as they are digestive and
preventive to malaria, and curative to looseness of
bowels and dyspepsia.
43. Yes.
44. Immediate effect of the moderate use of
the bhang and ganja is stimulant. It is refresh-
ing, and produces slight intoxication and increases
appetite. It does not always allay hunger. The
effect of ganja is transitory and bhang is some-
what lasting. The after-effects are depression
and loss of bodily health and flesh, and they are
generally noticed when good food is not used by
the consumers.
If the use be discontinued, it produces craving
or uneasiness.
45 and 46. Moderate use of these drugs acts
upon the physical health when proper food is not
taken. Ultimately the moderate use of these
drugs brings on loss of mental power, but generally
moral power remains intact and as a rule not
corrupted. In the long run it causes dysentery
and sometimes bronchitis, leading to asthma or
consumption. It does not produce laziness nor
impair the habits of morality or induce debauchery
as a rule.
Moderate use does not produce as a rule in-
sanity or deaden the intellect. But bhang some-
what deadens the intellect and produces laziness.
Moderate use occasionally produces insanity
in men of sanguineous temperament.
The insanity, when produced, is acute mania,
and generally of temporary character when the
habit is given up. It may relapse if the habit be
resumed. The insanity is of a violent character,
and the victim is apt to attack others or commit
suicide by injuring himself. Men confess to the
use of the ganja which has led to their insanity.
No cases have come to my notice in which a
person of weak intellect or suffering from some
brain disease was addicted to ganja, and subse-
quently fell a victim to insanity.
The excessive use has a very bad effect on the
constitution, which it impairs. It produces loss of
appetite, brings on dysentery, bronchitis leading
to consumption and asthma, and impairs the
moral sense, produces laziness and immorality,
but not debauchery, and as a rule produces loss
of sexual appetite and brings on insanity of a
violent character.
47. No hereditary tendency.
48.
Ditto
ditto.
49. It is used in moderate doses as an aphro-
disiac, and sometimes so used by prostitutes.
When used as an aphrodisiac, it is not more
injurious than when taken as a narcotic. Moder-
ate use ultimately leads to impotence sometimes.
50. When used in excess it produces loss of
sexual appetite, and is very injurious.
51. Generally bad characters of low class
people are addicted to it. Moderate use does not
produce any crime.
52. But when used in excess it leads men to
commit crime.
53. Excessive indulgence of ganja or bhang
may incite to unpremeditated crime, violent or
otherwise. I am not aware of any case in which
it has led to temporary homicidal tendency.
54. I have no personal knowledge of such cases,
but it is not impossible, but rather probable, that
criminals may fortify themselves by using the
drugs before they commit a premeditated act of
violence or other crime.
55. Generally it is not used by criminals to
stupify their victims, so as to commit violence
upon them.
56. Ganja smoked with tobacco leaf has less
effect than when taken alone, in which form it is
rarely used. Alcohol and opium enhance the in-
toxicating effect of ganja and bhang.
Bhang mixed with sugar produces much more
lasting effect than taken alone. Both are used
with tobacco to increase the intoxicating effect.
57. I have no experience as to ganja or charas
being eaten or drunk.
58 and 59. I think the Excise Administration in
respect of hemp drugs has been working fairly
well. The recent increase of duty on ganja has to
a certain extent reduced the consumption of the
drug in this district.
60. Ganja is not produced in the Saran district.
61. No charas is produced here.
62. Bhang is not cultivated in this district.
The wild plant grows spontaneously in out-of-the-
way and unfrequented places. These can be con-
trolled through the chowkidars if desired.
63. No.
64. No.
65. It is practically reasonable.
66. Yes, according as more or less of twigs and
branches contained in each.
67. No objection.
68. Generally not consumed at the shops.
69. Yes. In towns the Municipal Commis-
sioners, and in mufassal public bodies are con-
sulted through Excise Officers.
70. No. Generally consumed duty-free by all
classes of people.
20. Evidence of MR. J. KENNEDY, Magistrate and Collector of Murshidabad.
1. I have served for close on 20 years in districts
in which ganja is used.
2. Yes.
3. It grows sparsely in this district. It also
grows wild on the hills in the Cachar District, and
if I remember right Sylhet.
4. I only know it as ganja.
5. It requires a damp climate. I don't know
any more of its necessities.
6. Dense.
7. Yes, but I know nothing about it. I have
never been in a district where it was cultivated.
12. I know of no such cases.
13. It is restricted to Rajshahi District I believe,
but I know nothing about it.
14. Yes, but I can give no details of my own
knowledge.