90
price officially reported is Re. 1-8-0 per pound of 40
tolas; but I think the retail sale price actually
charged is Rs. 2-8-0 per pound. There are at pr
e -
sent no means to examine the accounts of the
ganja-farmer. Had they been regularly kept, I
am sure they would have shown a large profit to
the farmer.
For all these reasons, I am respectfully of opi
-
nion that the system of officially fixing the retail
sale price is at least worth experimenting upon.
64. The present regulations seem to be unobjec
-
tionable.
65. No charas smoking known in this part. Con
-
sumption of bhang comparatively small. Bhang
is not separately taxed. The taxation, as com
-
pared with alcoholic and other intoxicants, seems
moderate and fair. The quantity of the alcoho
-
lic stimulant required by an habitual moderate
consumer costs about 5 annas per diem and that
of opium 2 annas. Compared with these, the cost
of these drugs required also by an habitual mode
-
rate consumer is much less, and must therefore be
considered reasonable. This cost includes the
contractor's profits, which seems to me unreason
-
ably high. If, therefore, they are reduced to a
f a i r m i n i m u m b y o f f i c i a l l y f i x i n g t h e p r i c e , a s
suggested in reply to question No. 66, the cost
will be still reduced, and the taxation will be clear
-
ly seen as quite moderate.
66. The principle which governs or should
govern the taxation of intoxicating drugs is, I
think, that the State should, by the imposition of
heavy taxes, endeavour to check, as far as practic
-
able, the use of such drugs because they act injuri
-
ously on the body and mind of its subjects. Accord
-
ing to this principle the intoxicant which has
more mischievous effects by spoiling the body or
mind or by creating a greater tendency to commit
the crime should, I think, be more heavily taxed.
Unless, therefore, the different varieties have differ
-
ent powers of so acting, they need not be taxed at
different rates.
6 7 . M y v i e w s h a v e a l r e a d y b e e n e x p r e s s e d i n
reply to question No. 63. The retail sale price
not being fixed officially, the consumer is practi
-
cally required to pay a much higher tax in the
shape of the price of ganja, though the tax impos
-
ed by Government is very moderate. The system,
therefore, requires modification.
68. In the mufassal there are not such houses.
I am of opinion that it is not desirable that there
should be such houses.
69. Yes; generally they are. If a particular
locality is objected to by the people, their com
-
plaint is sent to the local revenue officer for in
-
quiry and report; and if, on receipt of such
report, the Collector is satisfied that there are
sufficient grounds not to allow the shop to be
opened, no permission is granted.
70. No, there are no facts regarding the import
-
ation or smuggling of hemp drugs from Native
States to which I wish to draw attention.
Yes; duty is paid in respect of all the hemp plant
drugs used. So far as I am aware, there is no
use of untaxed drugs.
Oral evidence.
Question 13.— My information regarding the
export of hemp drugs to European countries was
gathered from an Administration Report of the
Abkari Department, which I can mention after
reference to my notes.
Question 26.—In the districts I have served I
have not found the hemp drugs to he used as a
custom at religious ceremonies. I am a follower
of the Shiva side of the Hindu religion, and I do
not consider the use of the drugs essential.
Question 35 .—The ascetics have not enough
influence with any class of the people to cause
political difficulty. They may have exercised
influence in former days, but times have changed,
a n d I o n l y s p e a k f o r m y o w n p a r t o f t h e c o u n t r y .
They have influence in religious matters, but not
in political.
40. Evidence of RAO SAHEB NARAYAN WAMAN DEOBHANKAR, Brahmin Mamlatdar
and Magistrate, 2nd Class, Chopda, District Khandesh.
1. I have been a Magistrate for the last fifteen
years, and exercised jurisdiction in eleven talukas
in five different districts. I have thus had oppor
-
tunities of studying the habits of criminals in
different parts of the Deccan as regards the use
of the hemp drugs. I have also consulted some
persons whose family have for several generations
been dealers in these drugs.
51. I do not think that any sensible proportion
of bad characters are habitual consumers of any
of the hemp drugs; their proportion is certainly
larger than that of habitual consumers in the
general population of the country. I can only
trace the connection of the moderate use of these
drugs with crime in the following two ways:
—
(a ) Criminals as well as consumers of the hemp
drugs are recruited from the lower ranks of society;
(b ) a moderate use of these drugs prevents fatigue
and exhaustion, and imparts a certain spirit
and boldness to the temper; it has a tendency to
concentrate the mind to the one object or senti
-
ment which is uppermost in the consumer's
thoughts, and to fortify it to some degree against
danger and difficulties.
I do not think that the use of hemp drugs by
itself prompts a person to crime; they (the hemp
drugs) are cheap enough to be within the reach of
the poorest classes, and unlike opium they create
no desire for sweet, greasy or other expensive
food.
52. The above answer holds good mutatis mutan
-
dis in respect of this question; only that a habi
-
tual excessive consumer is less disposed for
the
activity and excitement of crime then a moderate
consumer. Excessive use is observed to have the
effect of increasing fretfulness, but decreasing
physical powers.
53. Excessive indulgence in any of these drugs
does not by itself incite to unpremeditated crime,
violent or otherwise, unless such a crime happens
to be uppermost in the consumer's thoughts, or
unless he conceives an intention to commit such a
crime subsequent to his taking any of these drugs,
in which case the influence will tend to intensify
and help on the intention so conceived. I do not
know of any case in which excessive indulgence
in any of these drugs has led to temporary homi
-
cidal frenzy.