3
I think that there is a tendency to substitute
alcohol for drugs among the lower classes also:
but it is more expensive than they.
Charas is hardly known in these parts. Yakuti
is also hardly known. Majum is used to a slight
extent.
In regard to effects, I have made no special en-
-quiry, but from all I hear, the use of bhang is prac--
tically innocuous. You hear of a "bandani" of
ganja, i.e., a man who has the habit. You seldom
hear of this with bhang. It is also said that jew-
- e l l e r s w h e n t h e y h a v e d e l i c a t e a p p r a i s i n g t o d o ,
clear their wits with bhang. This quality is fre-
- q u e n t l y a t t r i b u t e d t o b h a n g . I h a v e m y s e l f h a d
no cases of ganja among my servants or depend--
ents, but I know there is a general impression
that ganja is bad, especially if you cannot satisfy
the great appetite it produces. I have been told
this. I have been told in asylums that some cases
were due to ganja. I have also seen dissipated
people of the loafer and fakir classes who had the
red eyes and generally dissolute appearance popu--
larly ascribed to ganja. But I have had no person--
al experience in my official capacity of the effects
of the drugs among the people. There can be no
doubt of the general popular impression which as-
-cribes this dissipated appearance to ganja, but I
have never known any popular opinion ascribing
insanity to ganja. I have been told that in asy--
lums only. I have had no cases myself in which
insanity was attributed to ganja, i.e ., in which that
connection was brought to my notice. I find that
the intelligent natives scoff at the idea of a man
preparing himself by bhang and ganja for any
desperate act. I myself have seen no connection
between hemp and crime. I remember the Ah--
medabad case referred to by Colonel Humfrey be--
fore the Commission the other day. I was clearly
of opinion that there was no connection between
bhang and the crime, and I sent the case up for
revision. The sentence was altered from one day
to seven years. I know of no case in which a
connection between hemp drugs and crime has
been established.
I wish, however, not to be understood as saying
that the effect of ganja is not deleterious. I think
it is deleterious. I mean that the effect of the ex--
cessive use is deleterious. I think that excessive
use is prevalent among the fakir classes and such
disreputable classes as I have already indicated.
It is not prevalent at all among the people gene--
rally. I do not think that prohibition is at all
necessary; and as regards the part of the country
with which I am acquainted, I do not think that
the Government policy should aim at further re--
striction. The drug is mixed up with the religious
ideas of the people, especially in regard to the
followers of Shiva. Any actual restriction would
thus be resented, and it is uncalled for. In regard
to the effects of such restriction on the habits of
the people, prohibition or severe restriction would
tend to drive the people, perhaps, to opium, and
certainly to liquor. I see no advantage in this
whatever. Excessive consumption of drugs is
checked by the difficulties of preparation. This
is a natural restriction, which operates on the
people generally.
I think that the present system of administra-
tion in regard to these drugs seems to have grown
up in a haphazard way. But it seems to be work--
ing well, and I am unable to see necessity at pre--
sent for much modification. I think that Govern--
ment is entitled to control the growth of the hemp
drug and so to regulate supply. I should say also
that there would be no hardship in localising cul--
tivation, and no primâ facie reason why it should
not be done. The production in Native States
would also have to be considered. I may add, to
prevent misconception, that some of the ganja
cultivation shown in the returns, e.g ., Broach and
Surat, is really only bhang cultivation. The ela--
borate cultivation of ganja is quite different.
I have not studied the matter carefully; but,
so far as I see at present, I see no adequate
reason for so taxing the drug as materially to
raise the price. I do not know any reason why
taxation and the price of the drugs should be less
here than in other provinces; but I have not per--
sonally studied this aspect of the subject. Primâ
facie, there seems to me no reason for different
rates in different provinces. Of course the faci-
-lities for smuggling would have to be considered.
As to the best means of raising taxation, I should
prefer not to give an opinion at present, as I have
had no notice that I should be asked about these
details.
3 . Evidence of MR. G. W. VIDAL, Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay.
Government. I have been in the Civil Service
over twenty-six years, and served in the Poona,
Satara, Ratnagiri, Broach and Thana districts.
Question 25. – 1 h a v e n e v e r m a d e a n y s p e c i a l
study of this question; but I can state that I
never as a Magistrate had any case before me in
which crime was associated with hemp drugs. I
have had no experience of the extent of the use of
the drugs from their effects on the people. In--
spection of shops has shown that the consumption
is very small as compared with the population of
the presidency. I have no special information as
to whether consumption is increasing, and no
reason to believe that it is so. It has never come
to my notice that alcohol is being substituted
for the drugs, or they for alcohol, to any extent.
Question 45.—The effects of the drugs have
never forced themselves on my notice in any way
vol. vii.
either as a Magistrate or as a Revenue Officer. I
have never observed any connection between them
and crime. I have certainly heard insanity fre-
- q u e n t l y a t t r i b u t e d t o h e m p d r u g s . I c a n n o t
specify cases or discriminate between cases I have
seen as a Magistrate and those in the asylum. I
cannot recall individual cases. I have heard (from
asylum records, etc.) that insanity has sometimes
been attributed to the different forms of hemp
drugs. I have myself made no special enquiry,
and have had no opportunities myself of coming
to any conclusion on this subject. I have met
many lunatics about the country outside of
asylums, but I have no reason to attribute their
insanity to hemp drugs. I think enquiry was
made as to the connection of hemp drugs with
insanity in 1873 ; but I am not able to say any-
- t h i n g b e y o n d w h a t t h e p a p e r s m a y s h o w .
Question 59 .–I think that total prohibition
would hardly be possible; and I think that, as far
as can be judged at present, it would be both
D 2