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of the habit or otherwise injurious by use on this
occasion only.
33. The consumers of charas and ganja are
socially regarded to be low, because these intoxica-
ting drugs are generally looked upon as hated
things, for men create a peevish temper by taking
ganja and charas.
34. When a person creates a habit of taking
these (bhang, ganja or charas) intoxicating drugs,
they would certainly feel uneasiness for some time
if required to give them up. The want of stimu-
lating effect which acts on them by their use is
the cause of this uneasiness.
35. Yes, it is feasible to prohibit the use of all
these drugs; for some time it may be illicitly
used. The present excise laws are sufficient to
enforce this.
The prohibition will certainly create discontent
to a certain extent, it will have no connection
with politics. The prohibition may be followed
by a recourse to alcoholic stimulants or other
drugs.
36. Very seldom.
37. Smoking of charas and ganja produces
nearly the same effects, but charas is little stronger
than ganja.
38. The chur is more acute than flat or round
ganja.
39. Siddhi is taken by mixing with water.
The eating of ganja and charas by mixing with
water must be more injurious than smoking.
Smoking acts less injuriously, as by this procedure
its severity is lessened and thereby some intoxi-
cating portion is burnt. But if taken by mixing
with water, their entire severity acts on the whole
system.
40. Only siddhi is used for medicinal purposes
by kavirajes.
41. Bhang, if taken in small quantity, creates
appetite and increases digestive power. All these
(bhang, ganja and charas) give staying-power
under severe exertion or exposure and alleviate
fatigue. I believe siddhi is preventive of disease
in malarious or unhealthy tracts. Monks, peasants,
cultivators, and native sailors, etc., use ganja
and charas to obtain staying-power under expo-
sure and to alleviate fatigue.
This remark is applicable to moderate con-
sumers only.
42. The moderate use of siddhi is rather
harmless. It increases the intellect of the man
and does improve the health.
43. Yes.
44. The moderate use of ganja and charas is
refreshing. They produce mild intoxication and
create appetite. The intoxication of siddhi lasts
some hours, but that of ganja or charas for an
hour or two. The want of subsequent gratifica-
tion produces longing and uneasiness, but in
certain circumstances the use of ganja causes
dysentery and interferes with the action of the
lungs and brains.
45. The habitual moderate use of ganja or
charas, but not of siddhi, may in some cases
produce noxious effects, physically, mentally and
morally. It impairs the constitution. It injures
the digestive power, and creates dysentery, bron-
chitis, asthma, etc. It also impairs the moral
sense and induces laziness, immorality and debau-
chery. It may also produce insanity both tem-
porarily and permanently, but such insanity in
most cases may be cured by giving up their use
and by proper medical treatment.
The use of these drugs by persons suffering
from mental anxiety does not produce good effect,
and the use of these drugs by those suffering from
brain disease is injurious. The persons deficient
in self-control through weakened intellect should
not use any intoxicant ingredients as these, as
indulgence in the use of hemp drugs by such
persons may create many diseases.
46. The habitual excessive use of ganja and
charas is generally found to cause all the above
diseases.
47. No.
49. They are scarcely used as aphrodisiac,
though they may be resorted to as such by infa-
mous characters of the vulgar class. Liquor is
the intoxicant in use among a great majority of
respectable prostitutes; charas and ganja are
consumed by lower classes of prostitutes who
can ill afford to pay for liquor. Their (siddhi,
ganja and charas) use as aphrodisiac is more inju-
rious than their more common use as intoxicants.
For, in cases of fatigue due to severe exertion,
their effect is beneficial owing to their stimulating
properties, but in a sound state their effect is un-
wholesome in consequence of the excitement of the
entire system.
51. Of course a great majority of moderate
habitual consumers of ganja are low and vulgar,
though not bad characters. The moderate users
of ganja are not generally injurious or criminals.
52. Large portion of bad characters are habitual
excessive consumers of ganja. Its excessive use
may make a man violent in temper and such a
person may possibly be induced to commit crimes
of dacoity, rioting or other offences of violence.
53. Sometimes the excessive consumption of
ganja and charas may incite to unpremeditated
crime, violent or otherwise. No; I do not know
of any case.
54. Such cases are very rare.
55. No; complete stupefaction cannot be effect-
ed without admixture of other strong ingredients.
56. Ganja and siddhi, moderated by the admix-
ture of other ingredients, remove the fatigue,
increase the appetite and stimulate the system of
labourers. But the effect is contrary to excessive
consumers.
57. I am not acquainted with any process of
eating or drinking of ganja and charas.
60. The cultivation of the ganja-bearing plant,
and the process of its preparation are, I believe,
sufficiently controlled by Government, and, I
think, require no modification.
61. Charas is not produced in this province
(Bengal).
62. I do not see any necessity for controlling
the cultivation of the hemp plant for the pro-
duction of bhang or siddhi.
68. I am not aware of the establishment of such
houses in this province for the preparation and
consumption of these drugs, but there are licensed
shops for selling these drugs. Such houses, if
any, must be for the use of low and vulgar persons
of bad characters, who only can resort to them.
They are considered by gentle class to be infernal
or hellish places.
69. Yes; I think so. If not, it should be done.