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ganja are mainly if not invariably, smoked in
company. The drugs are chiefly consumed by
males. The proportion of consumers appear to be
greatest between the ages of 16 and 30 than at
other ages. Females and children do not usually
indulge in them. Prostitutes may use the drugs
in one form or another. Females in the interesting
condition and children are given bhang by their
relations to induce sleep. I have seen a few
children 7 and 8 years old and boys from 10 to
14 smoking charas and ganja.
31. The habit of consuming the drugs is easily
formed. It is difficult to break off the habit in
the cases of ganja and charas chiefly. There is a
greater tendency for the moderate habit to develop
into the excessive in the case of young adults
moving chiefly in bad company. In the case of
bhang and ganja the habit develops into the
excessive after a comparatively greater length of
time than in the case of charas.
32. During the hot weather months the Hindus
leave in various parts of the city earthenware pots
containing weak bhang. Bhang is also called
Shiva booti, because it was the favourite drink of
Shiva, and on the holiday Shivaratra the above
practice of allowing people to drink bhang from
pots placed in various parts of the town is usually
followed. The custom is not a strictly religious
one. At Hindu weddings it is usual to offer visit--
ors and friends bhang; but it is quite optional for
them to drink it or not. The consumption can be
generally regarded as temperate. It is usual for
those who have already acquired the habit to con--
sume bhang at such times and places.
33. The better class of Hindus and
Muham-madans regard the consumption, especially of ganja
and charas, with great aversion and disgust. They
consider the indulgence a vice, knowing that the
drugs will be the ultimate ruin and degradation of
the individuals consuming them; and if they have
a friend or relation, they will feel ashamed to have
any connection with him, and try to dissuade him
from indulging in any of the drugs.
34. It would not be a serious privation to the
consumers, even in the case of bhang, to forego the
consumption, except perhaps in the case of habitual
excessive consumers whose minds and bodies are
enslaved to either ganja or charas. They might
suffer from mental excitement if the drugs were
completely withheld.
In a population of 100,000 there would be
roughly 4,000 bhang drinkers and 1,000 each of
ganja and charas smokers.
35. It might be feasible to prohibit the use of
charas and probably ganja. The former can be pre-
vented from being imported. The growth of the
plants can be restricted. The sale of the drugs, ex-
cept by chemists, can be rendered penal, and the con-
sumers, except under medical advice, can be made
liable to punishment.
The prohibition I do not fancy would cause any
serious discontent; neither do I think that any
discontent would amount to a political danger. I
do not consider that prohibition would be followed
by recourse to alcoholic stimulants.
36. I have no reason to believe that alcohol is
now being to a certain extent substituted for ganja
and charas. The better class of Hindus who have
of late taken to alcohol may give up bhang for
brandy.
37. Charas smoking produces almost instan-
taneous effects, ganja smoking some time after-
- w a r d s ; w h e r e a s t h e d r i n k i n g o f b h a n g p r o d u c e s
effects gradually and after a greater length of
time.
39. The smoking of ganja and charas I con--
sider more harmful to the system than the drink--
ing of bhang or even the eating of ganja, for the
reason that there is absorption, both rapid and in
large quantities, of the deleterious cannabis into
the system.
40. Yunani hakims generally prescribe bhang
to alleviate pain as in orchitis, in which bhang
soaked in water and mixed with nux vomica is
applied to the testes. In neuralgic affections of
the eyes bhang is both applied and instilled. Weak
bhang is given internally in gonorrhœa. It is
also prescribed, mixed with curds, in dysentery.
Bhang and a pill containing ganja and black
pepper are also given to prolong coitus.
I do not know if charas is prescribed, by any
class of native doctors. I cannot say that any
of the drugs are used in cattle disease.
41. I do not consider the moderate use of ganja
and charas to be beneficial in any way.
Bhang may be taken as a digestive, a cupful
of weak bhang being taken immediately or a
little before meals by moderate habitual consumers.
42. I certainly consider the moderate habitual
use of ganja and charas to be harmful.—vide an--
swer to questions 45 and 46.
43. Usually they are.
44. The immediate effects in the case of bhang
are cooling and refreshing, but subsequently, and
in the case of charas and ganja immediately; a
sensation of warmth, with general dryness and
heaviness of the head, and intoxication result.
Bhang creates appetite. Ganja and charas do
so in the case of beginners. It is not uncommon
for the moderate consumer of either of the two
latter drugs to forget his food, although if once
he starts eating he may do so ravenously. The
effects in the case of bhang last on the average
from 2½ to 4 hours; in the case of ganja and
charas from 4 to 5 or 6 hours. I do not know
if moderate habitual indulgence in bhang produces
any special after-effects. Unpleasant after-effects
are not uncommon among ganja and charas
smokers, characterised by languor, yawning, idle-
ness and general weakness. The want of subse-
quent indulgence produces a craving to a greater
extent in the cases of charas and ganja than in
the case of bhang.
45 and 46. The habitual moderate use of ganja
and charas acts injuriously upon the constitution
physically, mentally, and morally; more so the
excessive indulgence of all the hemp drugs.
Hemp drugs chiefly act upon the brain; produc
-ing pleasurable excitement and intoxication with
hallucinations. The individual, fancying himself
in paradise, is happy and contented with himself
and his surroundings. He laughs, sings, libidin
-ous ideas are frequent in his head; the appetite
is at first increased. These sensations are followed
by sleep.
The pleasurable sensations and
h a l l u c i n a t i o n s l e a d t o c o n s t a n t i n d u l g e n c e , a n d i n l a r g e d o s e s
of the drugs; the pleasing sensations become
gradually less marked, the individual remaining
in a state of stupor. He becomes anæmic, pale,
dusky in hue, debilitated, the eyesight fails, the
eyelids droop; bronchitis, and especially asthma,
are noticed in habitual consumers, chiefly of charas;
the appetite fails; the individual becomes sluggish,
idle, suffers from forgetfulness, the mind deterio
- r a t e s , t h e p e r s o n d o e s n o t a t t e n d h i s w o r k r e g u l a r l y ,