36
4 9 . ( a )T o a c e r t a i n e x t e n t .
( b) Do n ' t k n o w.
(c) Not at all.
(di I have not heard of any such conse
-quence.
51. I do not think that moderate use has any
connection with crime.
52. Even excessive use is not said to induce
criminal tendency.
53. Not necessarily. No.
54. I don't think.
55. The hemp drug by itself would not stupefy
completely.
58. I think the present system, which is de
- s i g n e d w i t h t h e o b j e c t o f r a i s i n g a m o d e r a t e
revenue from the consumption of the drugs at least
expense to Government and least inconvenience to
consumers, is working well. Any improvement
in the direction of tightening the control and
restricting the production, manufacture, and sale
of the drugs would cause needless harassment
without any counterbalancing advantage.
60. No control is exercised on the production of
the drugs, and none would appear to be necessary.
61. Charas is not produced.
62. Vide answer to query 60.
63. I have no objection to urge against the
present system of wholesale and retail vend of
ganja and bhang.
64. None.
65. There is no definite rate of taxation, the
right of vend being sold annually to the highest
bidder. The incidence of taxation, therefore,
varies in different districts, and in the same district
in different years. But, upon the whole, I think
it is reasonable.
66. No; such different rates would be unwork
-able, except at immense cost.
67. No.
68. None in this district.
6 9 . N o .
70. There are no facts regarding the importation
or smuggling of hemp drugs from: Native States.
Under the farming system, there is no room for
evasion of duty.
Oral evidence.
Question 20.
—The use of bhang in the Deccan
is much less than in Gujarat. There is no bhang
in this presidency. It is only broken bits of ganja.
It is the unsmokable ganja that is bhang.
Question 29 .—Dhatura seeds are mixed with
bhang by excessive drinkers sometimes to increase
intoxication. This is what I am told. This ad
- m i x t u r e i s n o t t o m y k n o w l e d g e m a d e i n t h e s h o p s .
I d o n o t k n o w o f d h a t u r a b e i n g s m o k e d w i t h
g a n j a .
Question 59.—I think that those who smoke
ganja are the dregs of society, the beggar class.
It any attempt were made to improve them, and
deny them that drug, they might take to crime so
as to get it if it were dearer. Bhang is consumed
by the better classes when consumed at all. I
think that the drugs have a bad effect only when
the consumers have insufficient food. I th i nk
people who want intoxicants will get it somehow.
I do not think people will be better off if they are
compelled to take to liquor. Its physical effects
are worse than those of hemp drugs. Opium-eating
would be preferable to ganja smoking, but opium
smoking worse. I do not think that the effects of
hemp drugs call for increased taxation, though
increase of revenue may be desirable. This would
be a question to be considered in reference to other
provinces. Ganja is largely imported into the
province. In Nasik it is entirely imported from
outside, i.e ., from Ahmednagar in the presidency,
and the Central Provinces outside. Bhang from
the Punjab is, I am told, obtainable in Bombay.
Statistics about imports are easily obtainable. I
only st ate my impressions. I am quite unable to
give any estimate of production. I have never
had my attention drawn to this matter. The
figures about consumption in the Excise Report
are given by contractors, whose interest it is to
understate consumption. But they may be gener
-ally accepted.
-
I know of no special reasons why taxation
should net be raised in Bombay. I do not know
the figures for other provinces, or why there should
be different rates of taxation.
The bonded warehouse system would be very
expensive unless cultivation is concentrated.
There would be no objection to stop detached
cultivation with a view to concentration, provided
the supply is kept up. I can make no recom
-mendation as to what districts should be chosen.
I have never considered the question of cultivation
or the statistics.
I do not think any change in the maximum of
40 tolas need be made unless the present system is
changed, for there can be no evasion of duty under
the present system. It would only be inconvenient
to certain consumers to have a lower maximum.
There is no scope in the present system for greatly
increasing taxation. If this is necessary, we
should have to impose a direct tax as well as the
indirect, and have the mixed system.
I am not aware that ganja is smoked on the
premises anywhere. I object to it, because it gets
consumers together, attracts people to the place,
would appear to countenance the habit, and would
thus tend to increase consumption.
I have not heard of any adulteration of the
drugs as sold in the presidency.
Question 66.— As a matter of fact only one
kind of ganja is used in this presidency. I believe
so. I have no practical knowledge of that. I
have not travelled in the districts so as to see the
ganja that is sold.
Question 59.—I could name a dozen cases in
which young men have died from the habit of
liquor; but I know no such case in regard to
hemp drugs. These cases are Hindus.
22. Evidence of RAO BAHADUR NARAYAN GANESII DESHPANDE, Brahmin, Deputy
Collector, Belgaum.
1. I served in Sind, where these drugs are very
commonly used, and also served in Ahmednagar,
where this plant is grown.
2. In Sind these definitions apply literally.
But in this district bhang and charas, as defined
here, are not imported or even known. Flat ganja
is alone imported and is known.
18. Ganja and bhang lose their qualities by