208
I think this will mean a
great deal of undue inter-
ference, which is much to be
deprecated here just at the
present time. I would,
however, punish people for
regularly cultivating it,
i.e., when it is not growing
wild, to show we discourage
it and do not recognize the
right to grow it.
H. C. W.
to sub-divide the district into a certain number
of vend-farms, and put up to auction each farm
with a fixed number of ganja retail shops at
fixed localities under the present system; and
with a right to gather and sell bhang within the
limits of the farm, for which no duty, except a
monthly fee, will be levied. "This will be an
amalgamated system of ganja retail shops under
the fixed duty or the present system and bhang
vend-farm."
This will, it is expected, create
competition among the present ganja dealers,
while each vend-farmer
will serve in his own
interest as a detective
against illicit possession
and sale of bhang and
ganja in
his
farm.
After the system has
worked for a few years,
the people, who now
gather bhang, will cease
doing so, as they will
find both the danger of illicit possession of the
drug, and the facility of obtaining it from a
licensed farm.
63. I find nothing against the system in force
as regards wholesale and retail of ganja and
charas. With reference to bhang the objection
is that, under the circumstances as they now
exist, it is difficult and not feasible to manage
this branch of excise in the districts in which
bhang grows spontaneously and can be had every-
where, and for which I have suggested a system
explained above.
They could easily find
the money; but I do not
think any necessity for
this has arisen.
H. C. W.
64. I have no objection to the existing regula-
tions governing the export and import of the
drugs. I find, however, that the wholesale deal-
ers have given no security, and if they sell their
ganja while in transit, or anyhow clandestinely
dispose of it and run away, how would Government
realize the duty due upon the drug? I think
they may be required to give a cash security of
R100 and deposit it
by instalments in the
saving bank if they find
it difficult to pay it in a
lump sum.
Ganja being such a much
more harmful drug than
opium, I do not think
there should be such a
difference between the two.
Duty on the former should
he gradually raised.
H. C. W.
65. I have no charas sale in this district.
With reference to bhang, I have already discussed
the question of its taxation. As regards ganja,
the incidence of duty per seer last year amounted
to above R8, while we levy duty on distillery
liquor at R2 per L. P. gallon and our incidence
of duty on outstill liquor per proof gallon last
year was R1-15-7, which much exceeds the tax
levied on tari. The tax levied on ganja with re-
ference to the taxation
of the above articles is
reasonable.
It
falls
short of that levied on
opium by 50 per cent.,
the duty on the former
(see above) being R8
per seer, while Government sells the latter at
R16 per seer in this district.
Certainly, because of the
different amounts of the
drug contained in a seer of
each. If you look at a
seer of each, you will at
once see the difference. In
flat a fourth is stalk only.
H. C. W.
66. Yes, it is necessary
to levy duty at different
rates on different sorts of
ganja.
67. No, I have no objection to the present
method of taxing ganja. Bhang has been discussed
above, and charas is not sold.
68. Charas is not sold. For bhang there is no
shop here, for the reasons explained above. The
ganja consumers, it has been observed, take their
ganja with them either to smoke it in solitude or
in company. Rarely a customer has been seen
smoking ganja at a licensed shop. There are no
houses in this district intended for ganja smoking.
69. The wishes of the people are consulted and
considered before a new shop is opened, and with
reference to all the shops when they are visited by
the inspecting officers.
70. There are no cases worth notice regarding
the importation of hemp drugs from Native
States. Petty cases of illicit possession of ganja
by persons (ignorant of excise laws), being con-
sumers and not smugglers, are detected on the
British-Nepal frontier in the district, and they
are dealt with according to law.
72. Evidence of BABU BANKU BEHARI DUTT, Excise Deputy Collector, Backergunge.
1. Excise Deputy Collector of Backergunge for
about one year and general experience.
18. I have no experience of charas.
Bhang does not seem to deteriorate much, if
kept with ordinary care, for one year. Ganja
appears to deteriorate by keeping, but it remains
good for a year with ordinary care. The cause of
deterioration seems to be the loss of resin in case
of ganja. I think protection from damp and ex-
cess of heat may tend to prevent deterioration.
19. Ganja is also used for preparing majum. I
have come to know of two persons in this district,
one of whom intoxicates himself by keeping a bit
of ganja in his mouth and taking the juice thus
extracted, and the other using it with betels, just
as tobacco leaves are sometimes used in this
country. But this use is very rare.
20. Ganja is smoked generally by boatmen and
labourers in this district, sometimes also by gentle-
men class.
21. We have not here round ganja. Flat ganja
(the vendors say) is prepared for smoking in this
district.
23. The Sadar Sub-Inspector was telling me
that when ganja smokers are in need of ganja and
can't afford to get it, they semetimes use bhang
for smoking.
26. Ganja.—The habitual consumers of ganja
are generally moderate; 1 out of 100 persons
seems to be habitual excessive consumer. There