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as to the extent of the cultivation I cannot speak,
having but little property in that direction, my
impression is that the area under hemp drugs
cultivation is exceedingly small; so much so, as
to make it impossible for me to classify the loca-
tion of the different varieties.
It is certain that in all cases the cultivation of
ganja is only a matter of agricultural expediency,
and is confined to no particular class of the people.
Ganja plants are raised from the seeds of flat
ganja, which is the staple hemp drug in common
and general use in the district.
Charas is practically unknown in the district,
and what bhang there is grows wild.
The principal and almost the only form in which
hemp drugs are consumed in this district is in the
shape of flat ganja.
The preparation of hemp drugs, like their culti-
vation, is undertaken by any person, irrespective
of caste or creed, either as a commercial specula-
tion or for domestic consumption.
Bhang and ganja, when old, lose their in-
toxicating power and they become useless after a
year or so. It is said that damp and exposure
materially lessen the intoxicating effects of these
drugs. Charas does not deteriorate so rapidly;
it remains effective for years if not exposed to
damp. It is also used medicinally.
I do not know whether ganja or charas is used
in other ways in general besides smoking, though
sometimes majum and other intoxicating confec-
tions are prepared with ganja, and it is said that
dhatura is sometimes put in them, as well as
bhang, to make them stronger narcotics.
Ganja is almost invariably inhaled in the same
manner as tobacco smoked, and it is generally
believed that more than one-half of the labouring
classes smoke it and do so as refreshment, either
to stimulate them to the hard work they have to
undergo in sun, rain, or cold, as the case may be,
or else to assist their repose after the great fatigue
of their day's work, and it may be said that ganja-
smoking is almost general amongst these classes,
without any distinction of locality. A labourer
who can afford ganja, will, as a rule, indulge in it,
and I would be sorry to see that class deprived of
what is to them, in my opinion, an indispensable
luxury and an inexpensive tonic.
The consumption is yearly on the increase, as
labour in the fields is gradually greater.
Charas is little known and seldom used in this
district, while bhang is never smoked and only
used in form of sherbet and for medicinal purposes.
Up-country people, who reside here or come
down for work, are very partial to bhang; but
the consumption is small, and cannot be accur-
ately estimated or localised.
I think it may be safely assumed that the
great majority of ganja-smokers in this district
are moderate in their use of the drug, although
of course some go to excess, as is the case with
the drinkers of spirituous liquor.
The average consumption per diem of ganja for
an adult may be taken at one-eight to one-fourth
of a tola, up to 2 tolas for an excessive consumer,
and aggravated cases have come to my knowledge
in which individuals have got through as much
as half a powah, i.e., ten tolas, in one day. The
average cost is about 3 annas per tola.
In rare instances I believe dhatura is mixed
with ganja to increase its strength. Bhang and
patti are also mixed together with other drugs
and spices by those bent on complete intoxica-
tion, but such cases are the exception.
Hemp drugs are as a rule consumed in private,
by which I mean on the smoker's own premises,
especially by those with whom the practice is
not a daily one; but habitual smokers often meet
together at a given place and pass their leisure
in conversation, refreshing and exhilarating them-
selves with the fumes of ganja.
I do not believe that any women, except
those of loose character, use the drug, and even
among that class the percentage of ganja-smokers
is very small.
Instances of ganja-smoking among children
are almost entirely confined to those who are
being trained up for immoral purposes, and are
consequently more in the way of such tempta-
tion.
The habit af ganja-smoking, once contracted,
is apt to become a permanent one, and is certainly
very difficult to break off, and in many cases,
especially if acquired very early in life, is apt
to lead to its excessive abuse.
Among Hindus, in certain forms of worship
of their god Mahadeo, the use of ganja is
prescribed; but the custom is observed only by
the lower classes as a rule.
Recently among the lower class of people a
new ceremonial by the name of Tinlakpeer has
come into practice, in which ganja is the chief
ingredient, and in this ceremony habitual and
occasional ganja-smokers, even non-smokers, join,
and all indulge freely in ganja-smoking, and in
these so-called religious meets people are given
a taste for ganja.
The use of ganja in connection with religious
rites is now-a-days discouraged and in disrepute.
Certain ascetics favour the use of ganja very
strongly, but I have never heard in this dis-
trict of such a thing as ganja plants being
worshipped.
With special reference to question 34, I think
that any such course as the prohibition of the
use of ganja would be too drastic a measure,
and would entail a serious and perhaps a dan-
gerous privation on the hardest worked section
of our population, vi z., the bona fide agriculturists
and artisans. Moreover, it must be borne in mind
that our raiyats can afford to pay for a stimu-
lant if they wanted, and once deprived of their
ganja, they might, and probably would, take to
spirit-drinking, and worst state of affairs would
possibly result. At present spirit-drinking among
the classes I speak of is almost unknown. In
the higher strata of native society the consump-
tion of ganja is on the wane. But the con-
sumption of European liquor by these classes is
daily increasing and becoming more fashionable,
and ganja-smoking and the drinking of country
liquor are looked upon as most plebeian habits.
I believe native kabirajes prescribe ganja as
an ingredient in aphrodisiac medicines, and bhang
is sometimes used as
digestive.
A moderate use of ganja is said to help the
appetite, but of course I can speak only from
hearsay. I certainly believe that it gives stay-
ing-power and recuperates a tired man by assist-
ing his repose as I have previously mentioned.
I am not prepared to say of ganja that it is
harmless even in moderation. But at the risk
even of seeming inconsistent, I must say that I
consider it a necessity to the people and a thing of
which it would be undesirable to deprive them.