123
48. I do not think that the habitual excessive
u s e o f t h e s e d r u g s i s l i k e l y t o b e c o m e a h e r e d i t a r y
habit, or to affect to any great extent the offspring
o f s u c h c o n s u m e r s .
49. I do not think that ganja is used as an
aphrodisiac, though bhang and majum probably
are. Majum is sometimes so used by prostitutes.
Doubtlessly, if so used, the effects would be more
injurious than if used as an ordinary narcotic.
The excessive smoking of ganja induces impot
-
ency, and it is used for this purpose by sadhus.
51. Not so far as I am aware of, and I don't
think that there is any general connection between
the habitual moderate users of these drugs and any
particular class of criminals.
52. Neither do I think that even the excessive
use of any of these drugs has any connection with
any general or special class of crime.
53. Excessive indulgence does, I consider, in
-
cite to unpremeditated violence, though not to
crime. Habitual ganja smokers are, when under
the influence of the drug, inclined to be quarrel
-
some, and, if interfered with, to commit acts of
violence.
54. So far as my experience goes, these drugs
are not used by criminals preparatory to commit
-
ting premediated crime, for increased cheerfulness
and good humour, followed by drowsiness, is the
effect generally produced.
55. I do not think that the preparations of
hemp are so used, though complete stupefaction
can be induced if they are partaken of in large
quantities by persons unaccustomed to them.
56. The effects of ganja are modified by ad
-
mixture of tobacco and of bhang by the use of
different massalas, while excessive habitual users
mix dhatura seeds with both ganja and bhang.
58. The present system is working well, and I
have no suggestions to offer as to its improvement.
Only one license for the retail sale of ganja and
bhang, and another for their exportation are issued,
and cultivators can only sell their crops to one or
the other licensee.
60. Ganja is not made from the hemp grown in
this district or in any part of Gujarat, so far as I
know.
61. Charas is not prepared in this part of India.
62. The cultivation of hemp is controlled in
this district, as also in the other parts of the
presidency, inasmuch as the cultivator has to take
out a license, and though the license does not
specify the amount which may be grown, the
extent to which it is cultivated is limited to the
quantity he can induce the licensees to purchase at
a remunerative rate. All not so disposed of has
to be destroyed.
63. I have no objections to offer to the present
system.
64. No.
65. Yes.
66. I do not consider it desirable to have differ
-
e n t r a t e s o f t a x a t i o n f o r t h e d i f f e r e n t k i n d s o f
ganja.
67. None.
68. Neither in this district, nor, as far as I
know, in any district in Gujarat, are any shops
licensed to sell these drugs to be consumed on the
premises. Ganja and bhang are sold in twenty-two
shops in this district, eight in the city of Surat and
fourteen in the different talukas, and the annual
sales amount to about 30 maunds of ganja and
40 of bhang.
69. The wishes of the neighbouring shopkeepers
are not, so far as I know, consulted before the
issue of a license for the sale of these drugs, and
as they are not consumed on the premises, no
objection is ever raised, and I do not consider
that local public Opinion should be in any way
considered, for these preparations of hemp are very
often sold by grain sellers, tobacco shopkeepers,
etc., and their sale is no more likely to be objec
-
tionable to the neighbouring shopkeepers or to the
public than the sale of any other commodity.
70. This district is much intersected with Gaik
-
wari territory, and prior to 1892 both bhang and
ganja were to some extent smuggled from the
State ; but the introduction of the license system
into the Baroda State has almost entirely pre
-
vented this smuggling ; and to this is also due
the increase in the sales of ganja and bhang in
this district during the past as compared with
former years.
58. Evidence of Mr. DHANJISHA DADABHOY, Parsi, District Superintendent of
Police, Thana.
1. Nothing beyond my own observation and the
little experience ordinarily obtained.
4. It is known by the name of ganja plant, and
refers to exactly the same plant.
It grows generally in the Satara and Ahmed
-
nagar districts and soon after the rainy season.
6. It is scattered.
7. Vide No. 5.
8 . I c a n n o t s a y .
9. I am not acquainted with the method of its
cultivation.
11. I do not know.
14 and 15. (a ) Ganja is the leaves of ganja tree.
Seeds are found when it is dried. When the
seeds are sown they produce the bhang plants.
Ganja is used only for smoking. The plants are
called nar and mada (male and female). Nar
is bhang tree and mada ganja tree.
vol. vii.
(b) Charas is the gum of bhang tree, and is aise
used for smoking.
( c) Bhang plants grow when ganja seeds are
sown. Bhang is used for drinking only.
16. Bhang can be prepared by the people in
their houses, and it can be prepared from the
hemp plant, wherever grown. Ganja can, but
charas cannot.
17. Specially Hindus.
18. They do after some time ; and no measure
can be taken to prevent their deterioration.
19. Ganja and charas are used for smoking and
also for medical purposes in rare cases in India
and other countries.
21. Flat ganja and chur are used for smoking
and drinking respectively.
22. Foreign charas is chiefly used, and it is
imported from Arabia and Persia.