QUESTIONS FRAMED BY THE COMMISSION.
Evidence before the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission, 1893-94.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY.
1. What opportunities have you had of obtain-
ing information regarding the matters connected
with hemp drugs in regard to which your answers
are framed?
2. In the most recent work on ganja (Dr.
Prain's report of 21st June 1893) it is stated that
"in India three narcotic articles are obtained
naturally from hemp. These are, siddhi or bhang,
charas, and ganja." They are thus defined by
Dr. Prain: "Siddhi, bhang, subji or patti are
different names applied to the dry leaves of the
hemp plant, whether male or female and whether
cultivated or uncultivated.
"Charas is the name applied to the resinous
matter which forms the active principle of the
plant when collected separately.
"Ganja consists of the dried flowering tops of
cultivated female hemp plants which have become
coated with resin in consequence of having been
unable to set seeds freely. The formation of
seeds is prevented by the destruction of all the
male plants.
"Three varieties of ganja are sold. Ganja is
usually manufactured by being trodden under foot,
so that the agglutinated flower-tops assume a
flattened shape. This is 'Flat ganja.' The
other sort of ganja is not trodden, but rolled
under foot, so that the agglutinated flower-tops
are less closely adherent, and assume a rounded
shape. This is 'Round ganja.' The flower-tops
of ganja detached from the twigs, whether of flat
or of round ganja, and whether the detachment
has been accidental or deliberate, form 'chur' or
'Broken ganja.'"
May these definitions be accepted for your pro-
vince? By what name is each of these products
locally known?
CHAPTER II.
CULTIVATION OR GROWTH OF HEMP.
(Cannabis sativa.)
3. In what districts of which you have know-
ledge does the hemp plant grow spontaneously?
Mention any in which it is abundant.
4. By what different names is it known? Do
these refer to exactly the same plant?
5. What special conditions of climate, soil,
rainfall, elevation above sea level, etc., are necessary
to the growth of the wild hemp?
6. Is the growth of the wild hemp ordinarily
dense, or scattered?
7. Is there any cultivation of the hemp plant
in your province—
(a) for production of ganja;
(b) for production of charas;
(c) for use as bhang;
(d) for its fibre or seeds;
If so, where and to what extent?
8. If there has recently been any considerable
increase or decrease in the area under such culti-
vation, state the reason.
9. Give any particulars you are able regarding
the methods of such cultivation.
10. Do the persons who cultivate hemp for its
narcotic properties form a special class? Or are
they of the same classes as other agricultural
cultivators?
11. Are the plants cultivated for the production
of ganja ever raised from the seed of the wild
hemp?
12. Have you any reason to suppose that the
(so-called) wild hemp is anywhere specially culti-
vated for the production of ganja? If so, give
the names of the districts or tracts in which this
occurs, and your opinion as to the extent to which
the practice exists. Is the male plant extirpated
in such cases?
13. (a) Is the cultivation of hemp plant for
ganja restricted in your province? If so, to what
districts? Why were they selected? If not
restricted, is the cultivation common to all dis-
tricts?
(b) Are there any special conditions of climate,
soil, rainfall, elevation above sea-level, etc., which
are necessary for the cultivation of hemp for
producing ganja?
(c) Is there any part of your province where its
cultivation would be impossible?
CHAPTER III.
PREPARATION OR MANUFACTURE.
14. Are any of the following products of the
hemp plant prepared in your province:—
(a) ganja,
(b) charas,
(c) bhang?
If so, where and to what extent?
15. Give any particulars you are able regarding
the methods of such preparation, distinguishing
specially the methods of preparation from (a) the
cultivated, and (b) the wild plant respectively, and
distinguishing also preparations for (A) smoking,
(B) eating, and (C) drinking.
16. (a) Is bhang prepared generally by the
people in their houses?
(b) Can it be prepared from the hemp plant
wherever grown?
(c) Can ganja or charas also be prepared from
the wild plant wherever grown?
17. By what classes of the people are the prepar-
ations of the hemp drug respectively made?
18. Does any of these three drugs (ganja,
charas, and bhang) deteriorate by keeping? Does
B