407
There is no special class of people to whom the
above remarks apply, except those who are known
amongst the Hindus as "religious mendicants";
they use exclusively bhang. My remarks apply to
both moderate habitual use as well as to moderate
occasional use of the drug.
42. I have mentioned above that moderate use of
bhang is beneficial. Moderate use of ganja may
not be beneficial, but it is harmless, because it is
not very expensive, nor the smokers are in any
way troublesome to the neighbours.
43. Yes, they are inoffensive.
44. Immediate effect is refreshing; the consum-
ers also feel little intoxication. They say that it
does not allay hunger, but it creates appetite. The
effect lasts only a short time. No after-effects.
The want of subsequent gratification produces no
uneasiness.
45. I think this is intended for medical men.
46. The general opinion amongst the sober and
educated men is that excessive smoking of ganja
has a tendency to insanity. It is productive of
dysentery. It impairs the moral sense and leads to
laziness and to debauchery.
47. and 48. I am not of opinion that the habi-
tual moderate or excessive use of these drugs, viz.,
bhang and ganja, would appear to be a hereditary
habit, or to affect in any way the children of the
moderate consumer.
49. The moderate use of both ganja and bhang
is practised as an aphrodisiac. It is so used by
prostitutes. The use is said to be less injurious
than its use as an ordinary narcotic. No one
whom I asked says that the use of hemp produces
impotence, but they are not medical men.
50. The same remarks apply to excessive use.
After such use for some years the ganja con-
sumer naturally becomes weak, peevish, and is apt
to get dysentery.
51. It is supposed by many that bad charac-
ters are generally consumers of ganja, and in
few cases they are addicted to other narcotic.
They use ganja to refresh themselves before they
attempt to commit any crime. This opinion is
general or common amongst the natives.
52. The same as above.
53. I found no case to suppose that excessive
indulgence in using ganja or bhang incites to any
unpremeditated crime, violent or otherwise, I
know no case in which it has led to temporary
homicidal frenzy.
54. They do so, but not in all cases.
55. I am aware that criminals do sometimes try
to stupefy their victims, but I cannot say whether
they do this by means of these drugs. The im-
pression prevails that they use dhatura for this
purpose. Latter part I cannot answer.
56. I have no information to answer this ques-
tion. I can only say that dhatura is seldom or
never used in this country (East Bengal) as an
admixture.
57. No reply can be given,
58. Excise administration in respect to hemp
drugs, as far as I can judge, is working well,
though it is capable of improvement.
59. I would suggest a reduction in the number
of shops for selling the drugs and increase of duty.
This will, I am of opinion, reduce consumption
without causing loss of Government revenue.
60. Dacca, Mymensingh, and Backergunge are
not ganja-producing districts. I can give no in-
formation.
61. No reply can be given.
62. Wild bhang grows spontaneously in abun-
dance in the district of Dacca, and partly in
Mymensingh, but not in Backergunge, where the
growth is scarce. The consumers of bhang in
these districts are few, and they use it to some
extent medicinally. There is no cultivation, and
any control on the part of the authorities quite
unnecessary. Orders for destruction of the wild
plants may continue as at present.
63. I left service for about ten years, and during
this period took no notice of the present system;
but generally I have no objection to the whole-
sale and retail vend of ganja and bhang or their
preparation. I can say nothing of charas.
64. There is, in my opinion, no objection to
the existing regulations.
65. In my opinion the taxation is reasonable. I
would suggest a still heavier tax for the drugs, as
well as for alcoholic intoxicants, with a view to
reduce consumption.
66. There is some slight difference in the quali-
ties of the three different sorts of ganja. The tax
for flat ought to be very slightly less than for
round and chur ganja, but the effect or intoxicat-
ing power of all three kinds is comparatively very
little, at least such is expressed by the ordinary
consumers.
67. I do not consider that there is any objection
to the present method. The administration is
going on smoothly for some time past.
68. I am aware of no houses or shops in the
three districts I named, licensed for the sale of
the drugs or their preparations, where, at the same
time, they may be consumed on the premises.
Had the case been such, it would have been ob-
jectionable. It would be giving undue advan-
tages to the vendors.
69. When I was in the service, it was usual
to consult and take the opinion of the neighbour-
ing people before a site for a shop was settled,
but no opinion was ever asked before a shop was
to be opened. I think local public opinion ought
to be asked or consulted.
70. I have no information to answer this ques-
tion.
182. Evidence of BABU BEPIN BEHARI BOSE, Kayasth, Zamindar, Sridhanpur in
Jessore.
1. I have the opportunity of seeing only bhang
plants spontaneously growing in many parts of
Jessore.
2. As regards the same Dr. Prain's report is
correct. Ganja and charas are not grown any-
where in the district.
Bhang, charas and ganja.
3. Jessore and Backergunge are the places in
which bhang grows in abundance spontaneously.
Ganja grows in Rajshahi I have heard, but not
spontaneously; they are cultivated.
4. Bhang and ganja. They are different plants.