104
16. (a) Prepared by the people in their own
houses. (b) Yes, from the hemp plant growing
wild.
17. By everyone using bhang.
18. Bhang deteriorates by long keeping. It
may keep good for six months. Ganja deteriorates
by long keeping, say, for two years. Bhang and
ganja quite lose their effects in time, but ganja
will take a much longer time. Exposure to damp
and air is the cause of deterioration. Deteriora¬
tion may be prevented by keeping these in air¬
tight boxes.
19. Ganja is used for smoking. Ganja is also
pounded and used in mixing with sweetmeats.
This is so used in Dacca by hardened ganja
smokers.
20. The lower classes of Hindus and Muham-
madans smoke ganja and very little is smoked by
the middle classes and trading classes. I think
the ganja smokers may be 3 per cent. in all local¬
ities.
21. Flat ganja is preferred. Flat, round, and
chur ganja are used, but chur ganja in very small
quantities.
23. Bhang is sometimes used for smoking when
ganja cannot be got by the consumers. In all
localities; by all habitual smokers; and to a very
small extent.
24. The up-country men eat or drink bhang,
but not the coolies. Kshetryas and Brahmins use
it. About 20 per cent. so use it. This is to be
found in all places. Natives drink bhang; about
5 per cent. so use it. All classes of the people
use bhang for medicinal purposes.
In all localities.
25. The use of ganja was on the increase, as
many opium smokers took to ganja-smoking on
account of the increase of price of opium, but the
increase of duty this year has checked the increase
in consumption. The use of bhang is on the
decrease, as the present generation do not consider
it very necessary for stimulating their digestive
organs.
26. Ganja consumers are—
(a) 75 per cent.
(b) 15
"
(c) 8
"
(d) 2 "
For bhang—
(a) 75 per cent.
(b) 0
"
(c)
13 "
(d) 2
"
27. The ganja consumers are the working and
labouring classes of Muhammadans and Hindus.
The Chamars and mehtars among the Hindus.
The occasional consumers of ganja are the Sahas,
Pals, and low-class Kayasth, who smoke on re¬
ligious and social festivities, such as Trinath Mela
and marriages and pujas.
The habitual consumers of ganja are those who
do hard bodily labour and pursue detestable and
noxious callings, such as Chamars and mehtars.
The habitual consumers of bhang are the up-
country men and very few natives of this place.
The occasional consumers are the up-country
men and natives.
28. For ganja—
(a) 2 pice.
(b) 2 annas.
For bhang—
(a) ¼ of a pice.
(b) 1 pice.
Bhang is ordinarily taken with salt or sugar.
29. Dhatura leaves are exceptionally but rarely
used with bhang. This is done to increase the
narcotic effects. Ganja is ordinarily mixed with
tobacco. Dhatura seed is exceptionally mixed
with ganja by habitual excessive consumers to
increase the narcotic effects. No bhang massala
is mixed here.
30. Ganja is consumed 25 per cent. in solitude
and 75 per cent. in company of at least two persons.
Bhang is consumed in solitude. It is mostly
confined to the male sex. People of middle age
mostly consume ganja. Habitual consumers also
smoke ganja, when old. Low-class women,
Baishnabis and unfortunates, also consume ganja.
Bhang is consumed also by old men. Children
do not consume these drugs. Boys below 16, who
are tobacco smokers, also smoke ganja in Trinath
Mela, a religious gathering among low people.
31. The habit is easily formed. It is difficult
to break off the habit. The moderate habit of
using the ganja develops into the excessive. The
habit of consuming bhang is not easily formed.
It is easy to break off the habit. Its moderate
use does not develop into the excessive.
32. Ganja is consumed in Trinath Melas.
Numbers of persons meet and sing religious songs.
Ganja is then offered to the god Trinath and every¬
one present is bound to smoke ganja on pain of
the god's displeasure. Ganja is consumed by
sanyasis to aid the concentration of their minds
on a certain subject. Its use is regarded as essen¬
tial. The use is generally excessive.
It is likely to lead to the formation of the
habit. Bhang is sometimes consumed on occa¬
sions of marriage or Durga puja, Lakhi puja, and
Kali puja festivities, but its use is not essential.
The use is temperate.
33. Ganja smokers are generally regarded with
disrepute. The public opinion as regards ganja
smokers is that they associate with low people
and have no control over their passions and are
excitable, and Bengalis generally do not approve
the use of any form of narcotic. The character of
the people is mild and the climate does not
require stimulants. Bhang consumers are not
regarded with disrepute. There is no custom of
worshipping the hemp plant, but ganja is often
given as offering to god Mahadev by habitual ex¬
cessive consumers and by sanyasis.
34. Yes; it would be a serious privation to
forego the use of ganja. People can forego their
food rather than the use of these drugs. Three
per cent. of the people use ganja. But it would
not be a serious thing to forego the use of bhang.
Two per cent. use bhaug here.
35. It would not be feasible to prohibit the use
of ganja or bhang. They would be consumed
illicitly. It will be difficult to enforce the prohi¬
bition. The prohibition would occasion serious
discontent among the consumers, but it would not
amount to a political danger. The prohibition
will be followed by recourse to alcoholic stimulants
by ganja smokers.