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tempt. Both social and religious public opinion
is against the use of these drugs, especially the
sect of the Swami Narayen Pantha in Gujarat
and Kathiwad. The ganja smoker is particularly
looked upon with indifference.
34. I am strongly of opinion that it will be a
serious privation to deprive the habitual consumers
of the drugs, because it is a necessary of life with
many and a luxury with others, which would
ultimately lead to discontent.
35. I don't believe it will be feasible to prohibit
the use of any or all of these drugs. It will be
consumed illicitly. The prohibition will, I
believe, cause serious discontent amongst the
consumers which may spread amongst the other
class and may lead to undesirable results. The
prohibition may lead to the use of alcoholic
stimulant or to the use of opium, at least in the
case of some of those who have no religious
scruples. It would be impolitic to restrict the
use.
36. I believe alcohol is now to a large extent
being substituted for these drugs, especially bhang.
I am not able to produce any proof in support of
the statement, It is only my belief.
37. Charas is not so much in vogue as ganja in
these parts; still some persons use it, and from
observations it is known that the effects of charas
smoking are to a certain extent different to those
of ganja smoking. Ganja produces for a time a
refreshing or exhilarating effect, and then drow-
siness, while charas produces drowsiness immediate-
ly and then insensibility. There is also a
marked difference in the duration of the effect ;
that for charas lasts for several hours, while that
for ganja is not much prolonged.
39. I don't believe the smoking
o f t h e s e d r u g s i s l e s s i n j u r i o u s ; p e r h a p s i t i s m o r e i n j u r i o u s t h a n
the drinking. My reason for holding this opinion
is that the smoking process is more rapid by the
absorption of the narcotic principles of the drugs,
and the poison is at once and directly brought
into contact with the lungs, the blood and the
nervous system ; while the drinking process affects
the system through digestive organs.
40. Bhang and ganja are often prescribed by
the vaidyas and hakims in fevers, dysentery,
diarrhœa, sleeplessness and impotence, and as
aphrodisiacs very commonly.
41. I believe the moderate use of bhang is to a
certain extent beneficial, as ( a) a digestive, (b) an
exhilarant to alleviate fatigue and over-exertion,
(c) a prophylactic to a very small extent against
malaria, and ( d) adjunct to concentration of the
mind and contemplation. I believe this use of
the drug is to be found amongst the higher,
middle and lower classes to the extent of about
5 to 10 per cent. I refer to the moderate habitual
use of the drug. I don't include ganja and
charas in the above remarks, for I consider their
moderate habitual use not only not beneficial, but
positively harmful.
43. I believe moderate consumers of bhang
are generally inoffensive to their neighbours.
44. I am of opinion that the immediate effect
of the moderate use of these drugs on the habitual
consumer is to cause a refreshing or exhilarating
sensation, followed by intoxication, not in the
sense caused by alcoholic stimulants. I believe
these drugs in moderate doses produce appetite,
in some cases even ravenous appetite. The effect
in the majority of cases lasts from 3 to 4 hours,
sometimes 6 hours. The after-effects are those
of exhaustion of the nervous system, lassitude,
inability to work, and I am inclined to believe
the want of subsequent gratification produces
longing and uneasiness.
45. I have not met with any cases in which the
habitual moderate use of bhang has produced any
noxious effect, either physical, mental or moral.
But I believe the habitual moderate use of ganja
and charas does produce some noxious effect,
physically, mentall y and morally. I am inclined
to believe that the habitual moderate use of the
latter two drugs impairs the constitution, generally
injures the digestion, causes laziness and indolence ;
but I have not known of cases where it led to
immorality or debauchery. It to a certain extent
deadens the intellect, but I don't believe it leads
to insanity, at least of a permanent nature. It
may perhaps lead to temporary aberration for the
time being.
46. The habitual excessive use of all these three
drugs is in my opinion very injurious. It causes
the face to become bloated, the eyes injected, and
the limbs weak and tremulous ; the mind grows
imbecile and ultimately death by marasmus closes
the scene. I have known several typical cases
of this sort. Of them some three or four cases were
of mania due to excessive use of ganja, due to bad
company. If I remember right, I believe there
was no mental anxiety or brain disease to obtain
relief by these drugs.
47. I am not aware of the hereditary nature of
the moderate habitual use of the drugs.
49.I believe the moderate use of the drugs is
practised as an aphrodisiac. I am not aware of
their use by prostitutes, The moderate use of any
of the hemp drugs does not, so far as I am aware,
produce any impotence.
50. The excessive use of these drugs does tend
to produce impotence.
53. I believe the excessive indulgence in any
of these drugs leads to unpremeditated crime, I
have heard of cases, but I have not come across
any.
54. I have heard of their being used for this
purpose, such as running amuck, but I have not
seen any case.
55. I have not come across any cases. Dr.
Lyon, late Professor of Medical Jurisprudence and
Toxicology in the Grant Medical College and
Government Chemical Analyser to the Govern
-ment of Bombay, says : " In India Cannabis ap-
pears to be seldom, if ever, used for homicidal
purposes." Dr. Norman Chevers, however, men-
tions a case which occurred in Ahmednagar in
which a woman having first drugged with majum
a child aged 7 afterwards murdered her for
ornaments.
62. I am of opinion that there is no necessity
of controlling the cultivation. I believe it would
produce discontent.
67. I believe that the present method of
taxation of ganja and bhang is objectionable,
inasmuch as the ultimate incident of the tax falls
rather heavily on the poor mendicant classes.