18. Yes; ganja and bhang deteriorate by keep
- i n g . B h a n g b e i n g n a t u r a l l y a m i l d e r i n t o x i c a n t
deteriorates earlier. It has not been ascertained
by actual experiments that they quite lose their
effects in time. But as their intoxicating pro-
-perties are gradually de creased, it seems that they
will lose them. entirely in time. They can be
kept good, with ordinary care, for not more than
twelvemonths. The principal causes of deterioration
are, I think, exposure to heat, damp, or atmos
-
phere and frequent handling. The first destroys
the resinous substance by its formation into some
other substance by chemical combination with the
ingredients of the atmosphere, rain, etc.; and the
second by separating such resinous substance from
the flowering tops, which, being dry, allow it to
be easily detached from them by the smallest
force.
19. Ganja is also used for preparing majum,
etc., as stated in reply to question 15. It is also
used as a medicine by physicians practising in
native medicine to cure looseness of bowels, to im
-
prove digestion, and, in small doses, to bring on
sleep when the patient is restless. It is also
used in the treatment of some of the cattle dis
-
eases. These uses are not limited to any particular
localities.
20. Charas smoking is nowhere practised,
except perhaps to a very small extent in the town
of Bombay. In the mufassal ganja alone is used.
No statistics are available as to the classes and
the proportion of people smoking ganja. Different
estimates might be given about this proportion;
but none, I think, could be accepted as correct.
The best mode of finding out this proportion would,
I think, be the following:—Take the quantity of
ganja consumed during the year 189 .2-93 for the
whole presidency; find out the daily consumption
by dividing this quantity by 365; divide this quan
-
tity by the average rate of consumption of one
person using the narcotic per diem, which I take
to be about three-fourths of a tola. The quotient
will represent the number of persons using ganja.
This, divided by the population of the presidency
according to the census of 189-92, will give
the proportion of ganja smokers to the whole
population. It is true that the rate of consump-
tion is not uniform either with reference to the
several classes of consumers or in respect to the
different varieties or preparations made from
ganja. But, for the purpose of finding out the
proportion, the above-mentioned quantity may
safely be taken, I think, as a fair average.
Ganja-smoking is not restricted to any parti
-
cular localities; it is practised more or less in all
parts of the country. The people most addicted
to the vice of ganja-smoking are mendicants, a
s -
cetics, fakirs, gosains, bairagis, and such other
irresponsible classes who pass an easy, idle life,
maintaining themselves chiefly on begging. Ganja
is also smoked by artizans and men of handicraft,
such as smiths, weavers and drummers, who are
required to work hard and continuously for a long
time during day and night. In a few instances
prostitutes and persons of loose character smoke
ganja.
21. In this part of the country flat ganja
alone is used for smoking. No other variety is
known.
22. No charas is used in the mufassal.
23. Bhang is not used for smoking. The chur
of ganja, however, which is sold as bhang, and
which contains, though in a smaller proportion,
the intoxicant properties of ganja, is in a few
instances used for smoking by poorer classes.
24. The use of bhang for drinking is not limited
to any particular localities or classes of people.
The drink prepared from bhang called ghota,
being however somewhat costly, is usually used by
well-to-do people, and only occasionally by
ascetics, mendicants, etc.
25. The use of charas is not known in the mufas-
sal. No statistics are available in respect of the
consumption of ganja or bhang. I am of opinion
that there is a. gradual decrease in the quantity
consumed of both these drugs, owing probably to
the fact that the people of the mendicant class,
who form the majority of the ganja smokers, are
gradually lessening in number. But the decline
does not seem to be of any appreciable extent.
The increase in the realisations of the abkari
revenue from intoxicating drugs cannot be ac
-
cepted as an increase in the quantity consumed.
The increase is to be found. almost exclusively in
the license fees, which only represent the amount
paid by the contractor to Government for the
purchase of the right to sell ganja and its pre
-
parations, without the slightest reference to the
quantity consumed. In a particular year the
total quantity consumed may be less than the
pr evi ous year ; but t he cont r act or woul d st i l l pay
a higher amount to Government as license-fees,
endeavouring, of course, to recoup the deficit by
enhancing the retail price at which. he would sell
ganja to the consumers.
26. It will simply be a matter of opinion and
conjecture to give such a percentage. I can,
however, say this much, that there are very few
occasional consumers, moderate or excessive, in this
part of the presidency. It is not customary to
use ganja or any preparation thereof on festivals,
worship, or any other religious ceremonies.
Drinking ghota or the drink prepared from bhang
is neither enjoined by religion as a necessary
ceremony to be observed on the Maha Shivaratra
day, nor is it practised as a matter of fact. The
occasional consumption, therefore, both of ganja
and bhang, is very rare. The majority of con
-
sumers of both the drugs is habitual moderate
consumers, excessive consumers being . propor
-
tionately few in number.
27. As already stated in reply to question
No. 26, occasional consumption is very rare.
Habitual moderate or excessive consumption is
not confined to any particular class of people. The
habit of excessive consumption is purely indivi-
dual. An excessive consumer may be found in
any class of people. Well-to-do people who can
afford to pay for any quantity of ganja are
g e n e r a l l y e x c e s s i v e c o n s u m e r s .
28. Average allowance of ganja (for smoking)
per diem is to (a) one tola, (b) two tolas. The
average allowance of majum and other prepara-
- t i o n s o f g a n j a i s a b o u t h a l f t h e a b o v e q u a n t i t y ,
as those preparations contain the essence of ganja,
which is a more powerful intoxicant. The cost
would be different in different districts, according
to the. retail sale price, which varies greatly in
different places. The average cost would be
—
for (a) half an anna
"
(b) one anna
f o r g a n j a .
I don't know about charas or bhang.
29. I do not know of any ingredients ever
being mixed, with these drug. Dhatura is not
used to my knowledge. I do not know bhang
massala.
30. Ganja-smoking is practised more in com-
pany, especially among mendicants, etc., than in