127
their lucid moments, or when unable to procure
the drug, they are most dejected.
35. I am inclined to think that it would be
impracticable to prohibit the use of any of these
drugs. If the use of these drugs were prohibited,
they would in my opinion be used illicitly. The
prohibition of the use of the drug would, I think,
cause serious discontent among the consumers.
The discontent may not amount to a political
danger, but in view of the fact that the use of
the drug in its various forms is principally pro
- p a g a t e d b y s a d h u s a n d f a k i r s , w h o c o m m a n d
wonderful influence over the masses and are so
blindly followed by them, it is quite possible that
these sadhus, fakirs and others would try to
spread sedition, and would at least cause a deal
of agitation. Many of these sadhus, fakirs, etc.,
were formerly ordinary members of society, but
now follow these vocations merely to gratify a
craving for the drug, which they could not satisfy
were they to remain in their ordinary spheres
in life. There are, of course, many of these sadhus,
fakirs, etc., whose vocations are hereditary; whether
hereditary or adopted, the use of the drug in
some form is indispensable. They are never free
from the effects of the drug, and smoke it eternally
from morning till night. As soon as the effect
of one pipe commences to wane, it is revived by
another. I do not think that the prohibition of
the use of these drugs would be followed by re
- c o u r s e t o a l c o h o l i c s t i m u l a n t s , b u t o p i u m w o u l d
I think be used in larger quantities.
36. There is no reason for thinking that al
- c o h o l i s n o w b e i n g s u b s t i t u t e d f o r a n y o f t h e s e
drugs in this State and, as far as I know, in
any other part of Guzerat. On the contrary,
bhang is substituted for alcoholic stimulants by
the poor classes on festive occasions. For two
pice a host can supply about 20 guests with
bhang, provided it be drunk without ingredients,
whereas to supply the same number with alco
- h o l i c s t i m u l a n t s i n m o d e r a t i o n , i t w o u l d c o s t h i m
at least Rs. 2.
37. Charas is not used in this State, but I am
told by people who have smoked it that its effect
is much stronger than ganja. This I am told is
the only way in which the effect of charas, when
smoked, differs from ganja. The fumes of charas
when inhaled, are said to be much cooler than
those of ganja.
38. Flat ganja only is used locally. People
who have travelled in India say they prefer
round ganja when procurable. It is said to be
stronger than flat ganja. Flat ganja is
a l s o s a i d t o p r o d u c e t h i r s t a n d a b u r n i n g s e n s a t i o n i n t h e
throat, stomach and chest, which is not experi
- e n c e d b y s m o k i n g r o u n d g a n j a . R o u n d g a n j a
is also said to have less seeds and leaves. Broken
ganja is said to produce more cough than round
or flat ganja, and is never used for smoking if
it can be avoided. Broken ganja is invariably
used for making majum or fakki.
39. I am unable to answer this question from
personal knowledge or observation; but from in-
formation I have been able to gather from smok
- e r s , e a t e r s a n d d r i n k e r s o f t h e d r u g , I a m t o l d
that smoking the drug is far more injurious to
the constitution than either eating or drinking
it. There are thousands who drink decoctions of
the drug who would scorn the idea of smoking it.
Either eating, drinking or smoking the drug to
excess by a novice produces intoxication, where
- a s h a b i t u a l s m o k e r s o r d r i n k e r s m a y e i t h e r s m o k e
or drink it from morning till night and never
become stupefied. The effect produced by drink-
ing bhang lasts much longer than the effect
p r o d u c e d b y s m o k i n g e i t h e r c h a r a s o r g a n j a
Smoking the drug to excess produces insanity,
asthma, bronchitis and impotence. It also dead
- e n s t h e i n t e l l e c t a n d g e n e r a l l y i m p a i r s t h e c o n -
stitution. The general belief is that eating or
drinking preparations of the drug does not pro
- d u c e t h e a b o v e - m e n t i o n e d s y m p t o m s , b u t s u c h a
question can be better answered by a medical
man.
40. Ganja and bhang are used by native quacks
for dysentery in one-grain doses twice a day.
It is also used to check the flow of seminal fluid
in cases of spermatorrhœa. It is used by native
quacks as an aphrodisiac. It is also used by
quacks to prolong the period of sexual inter
- c o u r s e , a n d i t i s a l s o a p p l i e d e x t e r n a l l y t o t h e
genital organs in case of impotence. Charas is
not used in these parts by quacks for its medi
- c i n a l p r o p e r t i e s . N o n e o f t h e s e d r u g s a p p e a r t o
be used locally in the treatment of cattle diseas e.
41. Bhang produces a most ravenous appetite
and aids digestion. The more bhang a person
drinks, the more food he will eat. Its effect
lasts for about three hours. It is said to be in
- v i g o r a t i n g a n d r e f r e s h i n g , a n d t h a t i t a l l e v i a t e s
fatigue. Bhang is not used unless by habitual
consumers, except on festivals, religious ceremo
- n i e s a n d i n t h e h o t s e a s o n . T h e r e a r e o n l y
about 175 habitual consumers of the drug in all
its forms in this city, and the majority of them
smoke it. Smokers of the drug are rarely found
amongst the villagers of this State, but all more
or less use bhang in the hot season and on festivals
at all seasons of the year.
42. Bhang, I am told, is harmless if taken in
moderation with good nourishing food. The
smoking of ganja or charas is decidedly injuri
-ous to the constitution and produces most bane
- f u l r e s u l t s , e x a m p l e s o f w h i c h a r e t o b e s e e n
daily among the emaciated and decrepit sadhus
and fakirs and others who wander about from
place to place. Smoking the drug in modera
- t i o n i s a d m i t t e d b y t h e m a j o r i t y o f c o n s u m e r s
to be injurious, and many say that they regret
having contracted the habit, and that they would
gladly leave it off if they could.
43. Moderate consumers of bhang are inoffen
-sive to their neighbours, but moderate smokers of
the drug, whether ganja or charas, are more or
less offensive. They are usually irritable, and
when under the influence of the drug are very
loquacious, and are not over-choice in their lan
-guage. The house of a consumer is usually a ren
-dezvous for consumers of the drug, who are his
only associates.
44. The immediate effect of the moderate use
of bhang on the habitual consumer is that it re
- f r e s h e s h i m , a n d c r e a t e s a p p e t i t e , b u t i t d o e s n o t
produce intoxication. The effects of bhang lasts for
about three hours if taken on an empty stomach. If
food be taken immediately after, the effect does
not last so long. There are no after-effects from
the occasional moderate use of bhang. If taken
to excess by an occasional moderate consumer, it
produces intoxication for many hours, and when
he regains consciousness, he feels a severe headache.
The first smoke in the morning only is said to
produce any effect on the smokers of the drug. If
they smoke all day it is the same, but they never
become intoxicated. The first smoke is said to be
refreshing, and the effect of it will last for about
two hours, but it is usually maintained by recourse
to another smoke. Having recourse to the second