56
generally temperate. It is not likely to lead to the
formation of the habit, and is not otherwise
injurious.
33. In this district those who make use of ganja
as an intoxicating ingredient are regarded as men
of a lower social grade, and their actions are severe
- l y c r i t i c i s e d . T h e r e i s a p u b l i c o p i n i o n , b u t n o t
so strong as before. As the consumption of in
- t o x i c a n t s i s p r o h i b i t e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e H i n d u
religion, those who consume them incur a certain
amount of odium. The use of any form of the
narcotic is generally in disrepute on account of
religious sentiment. There is no custom of wor
- s h i p p i n g t h e h e m p p l a n t i n t h i s d i s t r i c t .
34. It will be a serious privation to those who
ore habituated to the excessive consumption of the
drug to forego its use. The consumers would
suffer from illness when they are deprived of the
drug they are accustomed to. They will not be
able to take their ordinary meals, and will get
maciated. The probable number of ganja con
- s u m e r s w i l l b e o n e p e r c e n t . o f t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n .
35. It will be feasible to prohibit the use of
these drugs. The drug would be consumed
illicitly. The use of ganja can be effectively pro
- h i b i t e d b y p u t t i n g a s t o p t o i t s c u l t i v a t i o n . T h e
prohibition will occasion serious discontent among
the consumers. Such discontent will not amount
to a political danger. Most of the consumers are
said to have become cowards by the use of the
hemp plant. It is impossible to say that the pro
- h i b i t i o n w i l l b e f o l l o w e d b y r e c o u r s e t o a l c o h o l i c
stimulants or other drugs. But the probabilities
are that recourse will be had to alcoholic stimu
- l a n t s .
36. There is no reason for thinking that alcohol
is now being substituted for ganja.
37. Charas smoking is not practised in this
district.
38. Round ganja is not imported here for sale.
The flat ganja is considered more intoxicating
than the chur ganja.
39. Smoking is considered more injurious than '
drinking or eating any of these drugs, as the
smoke affects the brain more quickly than eating
or drinking.
40. Native doctors substitute on rare occasions
ganja for chloroform on account of the medicinal
qualitities of the former. Ganja is also utilized
in the treatment of cattle disease.
41. The moderate use of ganja is beneficial in
its effects—
(a) as a food accessory and digestive ;
( b) to give staying-power under severe exer-
tion or exposure, and to alleviate
fatigue.
(c) It is a popular belief here that the use of
ganja in malarious and unhealthy
tracts is a febrifuge and preventive of
disease.
About 5 per cent. of manual labourers use
ganja for its above-mentioned properties. It is the
moderate occasional use of the drug I refer to.
42. No answer is required, as the answer to 41
is in the affirmative.
43. Moderate consumers of ganja are inoffen-
sive to their neighbours.
44. The immediate effect of the moderate use
of ganja on the habitual consumer is that it is re-
freshing, and that it produces immediate intoxica
- t i o n , a l l e v i a t e s f a t i g u e a n d c r e a t e s a p p e t i t e , b u t i t
does not allay hunger. The intoxication produced
by ganja lasts for an hour. Its after-effects are
generally attended with various emotions, such as
the heaviness of the eyes and the production of
cold. The want of subsequent gratification pro
- d u c e s u n e a s i n e s s a n d l o n g i n g f o r t h e d r u g .
45. The habitual moderate use of ganja pro-
duces noxious effects on the consumer's mind,
conduct, and physique. It impairs the constitu
- t i o n a n d i n j u r e s t h e d i g e s t i v e s y s t e m . I t c a u s e s
bowel complaint and bronchitis and asthma, but
not dysentery. It impairs the moral sense, and
induces laziness and diminishes the power of
understanding. It does not induce habits of de
- b a u c h e r y , b u t c r e a t e s i n s a n i t y , w h i c h i s t e m p o r a r y ,
and which is removable by the discontinuance of
the use of ganja. The symptoms of insanity will
be reinduced by the use of ganja after liberation
from restraint. The eyes of the consumer grow
red, and he presents the appearance of one deeply
absorbed in meditations. Instances of insanes
who have no recorded ganja history confessing to
the use of the drug are not known. He who makes
use of ganja to obtain relief from his mental
anxiety or brain disease is likely to become in
- s a n ev
e r y s o o n . T h e r e i s n o e v i d e n c e t o i n d i c a t e
that insanity tends to indulgence in the use of
ganja by a person of weakened intellect.
An account of some cases is given below :—
( 1 ) N a n e s a h i b a l i a s
Hasansab wallad Ghud
- u s a b N e e l i w a l e o f D h a r w a r w a s a p e o n i n
the office of the Dharwar Municipality, and
was not in good terms with the Sanitary Ins
- p e c t o r o f t h a t m u n i c i p a l i t y . T h e p e o n w a s
in the habit of smoking ganja. He was
reported to his superiors for some fault.
The peon, thinking that he would lose his
appointment, proceeded on leave from 1st
August 1889, and commenced to smoke
ganja intemperately. He began to show
signs of insanity in the month of Decem
- b e r
1 8 8 9 .N
a n e s a h i b , b e i n g s t i l l i n t h e
habit of smoking ganja, continues in his
state of insanity, and abuses those who
speak to him. He is now thirty years old.
(2) Haìpa bin Fakirapa was a measurer in the
Survey Department of the Bombay presi-
dency. Being of weak constitution, he
could not bear the cold climate of malarious
districts. He therefore took to ganja smok-
ing as a preventive of sickness. But by
degrees he increased his doses, and conse-
quently he became insane. He was there-
fore removed from service. He now resides
at Dharwar and still smokes ganja, and has
become a confirmed insane. His age is now
about thirty five years.
(3) Jinapa bin Appana Upadhya, a Jain priest
of Dharwar, was adopted by one Appana
Upadhya, who left him nothing. Jinapa,
having received nothing either from his
natural or adopted father, took to ga
n j a s m o k i n g . A s h e w a s n o t a b l e t o r e c i t e
mantras of the god Jin, he was not employ
- e d i n p e r f o r m i n g r e l i g i o u s c e r e m o n i e s . H e
therefore spent much of his time in smoking
ganja. Within six months he became
insane on account of smoking ganja.
Since the last four years he has been resid
- i n g a t D h a r w a r . H e i s n o w s m o k i n g g a n j a
intemperately.
46. All the abovementioned noxious effects are