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27. Ganja and bhang—
(a) Fakirs, sanyasis, up-country men,
darwans.
(b) Brahmins who worship Kali, palki-
bearers, porters, labourers, etc., etc.
(c) Young people prone to gaiety.
(d) Those among the latter class who have
no control over themselves.
I have learnt by enquiry from numerous con¬
sumers of ganja that they contracted the habit
by keeping company with people given to ganja
smoking; such people might be members of their
family either a grandfather, a maternal uncle and
sometimes an elder brother, who would probably
ask the novice to prepare the chillum or put the
chillum in its place after ganja has been smoked,
and on the latter opportunity the man in charge of
the chillum would take a pull.
Ganja.
Bhang.
28. (a) 3 to 7 pice
1 pice.
(b) 8 to 10 pice
3 pice.
29. (a) For ganja—ordinarily tobacco leaves,
as also prepared tobacco.
For blang—gol-
mirich (black pepper), sugar and mowri.
(b) Exceptionally for ganja, dhatura; for
siddhi, rotten knots of babui thread in old
thatches and sugar and dhatura and powdered
seeds of cucumber. Bhang massala is not heard
of here.
30. Ganja is ordinarily smoked in company and
seldom (when no company is available) in solitude.
Bhang when taken for purposes of amusement is
drunk in company, otherwise in solitude. Females
have been known to consume ganja, especially
Bowri women and female companions of Baisnab
mendicants who assume Bhek. Bhang is also
taken by female Baisnabs and women of light re¬
putation generally. Ganja is ordinarily consum¬
ed by people above thirty years of age. Bhang
is begun earlier in life. Ganja is consumed by
children, especially those that attend upon
mahantas and jogis as intending disciples.
31. In the case of ganja and bhang the habit
is easily formed Ganja is difficult to give up.
The tendency referred to exists.
32. It is customary with the Hindus of Lower
Bengal to consume bhang on the Bijaya Dasami
day of the Durga Puja festival. The offering of
a little quantity of bhang to the goddess Durga
seems to have been prescribed as an essential ele¬
ment of the day's worship as in Raghunandan's
Smriti Tatwa. There does not appear to be any
Pauranic sanction for this kind of worship
Many Hindus believe that the hilarity to be
caused by the consumption of bhang on the
Bijaya Dasami day is to commemorate Rama's
victory over Ravana, won after the assurance of
goddess. Durga who was propitiated by the offer¬
ing of 108 lotus flowers. Ravana is said to have
been vanquished and killed on the Bijaya Dasami
day. The use of the drug (bhang) on such occa¬
sions is generally moderate except with the few.
It is not likely to lead to the formation of the
habit, but is highly injurious as judged from
after-effects on the day following Bijaya.
33. Consumption of ganja is regarded as lead¬
ing to habits of laziness, inactivity, and persons
who are given to the practice are looked upon
with great distrust. There is a strong social
public opinion against those who consume the
drug, such people being regarded as unworthy of
confidence. A ganjari" is a nickname for
people who generally bear this character. This
sentiment is to be attributed to the effects which
ganja consumption brings on its victim. The
consumer of bhang is generally credited with up¬
rightness, courage and physical strength. Such
people, however, are generally rash.
No; I am aware of no such custom of wor¬
shipping the plant.
34. Ganja.—Foregoing consumption of ganja
is likely to be serious privation to habitual
moderate and excessive consumers. Many are
such, the nature of whose occupation and daily
work demands the use of the drug which alleviates
pain and supports the frame under severe exer¬
tion or exposure. For probable numbers, vide
ante (answer 26).
Bhang.—Foregoing consumption of bhang is
likely to be serious privation to no class of con¬
sumers.
35. Bhang, feasible. Ganja, not quite so.
Ganja would be consumed illicitly when pro¬
curable. It is not easy to suggest means of pro¬
hibition. Serious discontent among consumers of
ganja would ensue. It will not amount to a
political danger. (a) Yes; to some extent.
(b) Yes; such as opium.
36. Rather the reverse is the case for ganja; the
reason is the comparatively smaller cost at which
a ganja smoker can get himself intoxicated. One
pice worth of ganja is supposed to give greater
intoxication than four pice worth of outstill liquor.
Many have given up liquor and taken to ganja.
37. Not known to me.
38. Yes; in degree, in intensity of intoxication.
Round ganja is supposed to be most effective in
this regard, chur less, and flat least.
39. No; except in cases in which ganja or bhang
is used with dhatura.
40. (a) Bhang is used by native doctors in the
preparation of medicines for dysentery, leprosy and
other diseases.
(b) Not known.
41. Moderate use of bhang, but none other may
be beneficial in its effects.
(a) As a food accessory or digestive. Charas
may, and ganja does prove beneficial in its effects.
(b) To give staying-power under severe exer¬
tion or exposure, or to alleviate fatigue.
(c) Charas and ganja in moderation may serve as
febrifuge or preventive of disease in malarious
and unhealthy tracts.
For purposes mentioned in (a), people generally
having bowel complaints occasionally use bhang.
For purposes mentioned in (b) and (c), people of
the labouring classess use ganja habitually in
moderate quantities.
42. Beneficial as stated above.
43. Yes.
44. Refreshing to a certain extent; intoxica¬
tion in a small degree; allays hunger for a little
while; creates appetite; effect lasts about two
hours; after-effects: a general weakness of the
system, dulness, a headache lasting for a short
while. Yes. The want of subsequent gratifica¬
tion produces longing or uneasiness.
These refer to ganja and bhang.
45. Ganja.—Habitual moderate use of ganjapro-
duces physicial debility, mental disorder, and leads
to debauchery in the earlier stages of the habit.