82
ation is reported to act as a food accessory, to
alleviate fatigue, and to be a febrifuge. It is
said also to have cooling properties on the
system. Many of the Jain jewellers in Bombay
are habitual moderate users of bhang. They use
it as a food accessory, to alleviate fatigue, and
on account of its cooling properties. I am also
told that in Guzerat and Kathiawar bhang is drunk
by people in the hot season on account of its cool-
ing properties. Many of these people only use it
in the hot season.
42. The habitual use of any of the hemp drugs,
except in moderation, is, I believe, harmful. The
occasional moderate use is, I understand, beneficial.
I h a v e c o m e t o t h e s e c o n c l u s i o n s f r o m w h a t I s e e
and hear.
43. I believe that moderate consumers of a hemp
drug are not offensive to their neighbours.
44. The immediate effect of the moderate use
of ganja on the habitual consumer is said to be
refreshing. It produces slight intoxication. It
creates an appetite, gives sound sleep, and acts as
a digestive. The effects last about three hours.
The after-effects are lassitude , prompting subse
- q u e n t g r a t i f i c a t i o n , a n d p r o d u c i n g a l o n g i n g a n d
uneasiness until the want is again supplied. The
immediate effect of bhang on the moderate habitual
consumer is said to be refreshing. It produces
slight intoxication. It creates an appetite, and
the effect lasts about seven hours. The after-effects
are said to be similar to those produced by ganja
smoking.
45 and 46. The habitual moderate or excessive
use of a hemp ding does, I believe, eventually harm
the consumer in a greater or lesser degree. The
harm done will depend much on the individual's
constitution and his style of living.
51 and 52. In Bombay it cannot be said that
any large proportion of bad characters are habitual
moderate or excessive consumers of hemp drugs.
So far as I know or have learnt, there is only a
little connection between crime and the use of a
hemp drug. Consumers say that when they are
under the influence of a hemp drug they feel timid
and disinclined to fight ; but I am also told that
sometimes a ganja smoker acts violently. Some
occasional consumers of hemp drugs are abusive
when under the influence of the drug.
53. So far as I know, excessive indulgence in
any of the hemp drugs does not generally incite
to unpremeditated crime of any kind. In excep--
tional cases, however, excessive charas and ganja
smoking is said to make a man violent and fren--
zied. I do not myself know of any case in which
the use of a hemp drug has led the consumer to
temporary homicidal frenzy.
5 4 . I a m t o l d t h e d r u g s a r e n o t s o u s e d .
55. I do not know of any case in which a cri--
minal, to further his design, has induced his victim
to partake of a hemp drug and become stupefied.
I am told that it is done but very rarely. It is
said that complete stupefaction can be induced if
a sufficient quantity of a hemp drug is consumed.
An habitual consumer would require a larger quan--
tity of the drug to completely stupefy him than
would be required for a new or occasional con-
sumer.
56. I have not learnt that in Bombay anything
s added to hemp drugs to modify their intoxicat-
ing effects. Tobacco and goorako are smoked
with ganja and charas to make the latter smoke
freely. Black pepper is added to bhang and garda
to prevent wind and stomach-ache, and other in-
gredients are added to make the drink pleasant.
I have not learnt that in Bombay dhatura is added
to hemp drugs for personal consumption or for
administration to others. It is, however, said that
sometimes dhatura and the roots of the jawari
plant are added to hemp drugs to make them more
intoxicating.
57. I do not learn that ganja and charas are
eaten or drunk in Bombay. Garda is drunk
generally. Garda is also eaten with bhang ; but
a very little of this preparation is consumed here.
58. I am acquainted with the present system
of excise administration in respect to hemp drugs
in the Island of Bombay, and I think it works
fairly well. Some little improvement might be
made; but there is no great need, I think, for
any change. A very small number of people use
hemp drugs in Bombay—from 3,000 to 4,000,
I e s t i m a t e — a n d t h e r e v e n u e r a i s e d i s n e a r l y
Rs. 50,000 a year.
59. To sell the license for each hemp drug
shop separately by public auction. To raise the
duty of eight annas an Indian mound to Rs. 10 per
Indian maund. To reduce the quantity of a hemp
drug that may he imported, transported, sold or
possessed in Bombay by an individual without a
permit from 40 tolas to 5 tolas. By selling
each hemp drug shop separately, the absolute
monopoly system would disappear. To the con-
sumer this would be an advantage, as he would
have a number of shops with different shopkeepers,
at any one of which he might make his purchase.
Competition among shopkeepers would reduce the
possibility of immoderate prices being charged,
and insure to some extent the sale of good drugs.
The number of competitors for the privilege of
selling these drugs would be increased, and it is
reasonable to expect that there would be some in-
crease in the license fee collections. The rate
of fixed duty, eight annas an Indian maund, is
low, and might be increased to Rs. 10. This would
bring in a small additional revenue. The rate of
fixed duty might be increased, from time to time,
as considered necessary.
The quantity of a hemp drug that may be im
-ported, transported, possessed, or sold to an indi-
- v i d u a l w i t h o u t a p e r m i t s h o u l d b e r e d u c e d f r o m
40 tolas to 5 tolas to prevent people bringing into.
Bombay any excess quantity of a drug for use or
sale.
63. I have no objections. See answer to ques--
tion No. 59.
64. So far as the island of Bombay is affected,
the quantity of a hemp drug which may be im
- p o r t e d , e x p o r t e d
o r
t r a n s p o r t e d w i t h o u t a p e r m i t
might, I think, be reduced from 40 to 5 tolas.
This measure would tend to prevent people run--
ning out by rail to the Thana district and bring-
ing back with them so much as 40 tolas of the
drug or any one bringing into Bombay so much.
65. For the island of Bombay I do not think
different fixed rates of duty should be charged on
ganja, charas, bhang, and garda. A rate might be
fixed for ganja, and the same rate charged on the
other hemp drugs. Ganja is the chief hemp drug
consumed ; and there are not, I think, great rea--
sons here for having differential rates of duty on
other hemp drugs. The incidence of duty on hemp
drugs is, I think, slightly low at present in Bom--
bay as compared with that on alcoholic drinks. I
have formed this opinion, having regard to the
cost of hemp drugs and alcohol to the consumer
as intoxicants.