64
51. I do not think so. Neither the moderate
nor excessive use of any of the drugs has any
close connection with crime in general, or with
crime of any special character.
52. Vide answer to question No. 51,
53. No ; I am not aware of any case of the
kind.
54. I do not think so.
55. It seems from what Rao Bahadur Rudra--
gowda, District Deputy Collector, Bijapur, has
written in his report, which is quoted by the
Commissioner of Customs, Salt, Opium and
Abkari, in his report to Government, No. 4752,
dated the 11th September 1893, that criminals,
in order to further their de s igns, sometimes induce
their victims to partake of ganja mixed with
madan-masta, madan-kamsi and dhatura, and so
stupefy themselves. I do not think that com-
-plete stupefaction can be thus induced by this
drug without admixture.
56. I am unable to answer this question, as I
have not received proper information on this
point.
57. Some years ago I had an occasion of observ--
ing the effects which the use of bhang for drink--
ing produced on a novice. If I recollect well, the
individual who used it began to act like a mad--
man. When it seemed that he was highly intoxi--
cated, he was kept in a dark room and given an
antidote, which gradually restored him to his
proper senses. I think he was only drowsy the
whole night and had no sound sleep.
58. I consider the present system is capable of
some improvement.
59. The only suggestions that I can make are
(1) that the maximum quantity at present fixed,
40 tolas, for retail sale to, and possession by, one
person, should be reduced to 10 tolas ; (2) that
minimum retail sale prices of the drugs should be
fixed ; and (3) that the rate of duty on import,
export and transport of the drugs should be
enhanced. [ make t hese suggest i ons wi t h a vi ew
to restrict the use of the drugs as far as possible
for the reasons given in my answer to question
No. 35.
60. Yes ; I think so. The present system re--
quires no modification in this respect.
61. Charas is not produced in the Southern
Mahratta country.
62. No.
63. The only suggestion that I have to make
is, as already stated, that the minimum retail sale
prices of the drugs should be fixed.
64. In order to enhance the price of the drugs,
I propose that the present rate of duty on import,
export and transport of the drugs should be
doubled.
65. At present ganja and bhang are sold under
one license, and the rate of taxation on both
the drugs is the same. The present taxation on
the drugs, as compared with that on alcoholic and
other intoxicants, is considerably light. I am of
opinion that the minimum rate of retail sale
price of ganja should be fixed at R2-8 per lb.,
and that of bhang at 10 annas per lb. The
highest rate at which ganja is sold by retail is
R1-4 per lb., and that at which bhang is sold by
retail is 2 annas per lb. If the rates proposed by
me be adopted, the drugs will be dearer and the
consumers will naturally be more economic and
considerate in using them than now.
66. Only one kind of ganja is produced in the
Southern Mahratta country.
67. I consider the present method of taxing the
drugs entails a very light incidence of the tax on
the consumer, and I am of opinion that it should
be improved, as suggested in my answer to ques-
tion No. 65.
68. Sometimes consumers use drugs on the
premises of the shops licensed for the sale of the
drugs. I am of opinion that they should be
strictly prohibited from using them there.
60. From the enquiries made it seems that the
wishes of the people are consulted before a shop
is opened, in some districts through mamlatdars
and village officers. It is necessary that local
public opinion should be considered invariably.
70. There are none. I think duty is really
paid in respect of the drugs used. I cannot say
that there is any general use of untaxed drugs in
the Southern Mahratta country.
Statement referred to in the answer to
question No. 25.
QUANTITY SOLD BY
RETAIL
Name of
district,
Year,
Total
P°Pula-
tion.
Amount
of
license
fees.
a
au
gja.
of
bhang,`5
0
.0
i
-• m --
.' -' -,
7 8 ,.,'
Belgaurn
.
, 1883-84
,
1881-S5
.
1385-48
.
' 186-87
.
1447-48
.
! 1 .
483-49
s6, -,9
1489-90
.
1890-91
.
139L-92
.
' 1492-93
.
i
864,014 I
Do. ,
Do.
Do.
.
Do.
Do,
Do
'
1,013,261 1
Do.
I
R
2,731
2,844
3,223
3,372
4,03)
3 960
3,136
3.163
3,166
3,935
1. S.
...
...
...
...
. .,
.
...
.
189.21
178-4
s. s.
...
...
..,
•••
'" ...
..,
..,
m. s.
...
...
...
- ...
...
...
••
2 10
1-7
Dharwar . 'f
I 1883-84
.
1884-85
.
1885-86
.
1886-87
.
1437-88
.
1888-.9
.
1849-90
.
1390-91
.
1391-92
,
1892-93
.
I
882,907 i
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do,
Do.
Do.
1,051,314'
Do,
6, 7
6,255
6,086
7,505
10,500
11,095
11,000
9,550
11,180
10,800
346-5
496-14
692-24
810-28
849-5
880-42
833 . 16
1,117-2
1,110-17
...
..
...
...
...
.,,
...
.„
...
...
2-33
1-1.4
2-2.1
2-40
0-35
7-25
1-23
.
(
Bijapur
.
L
1883-81
,
1881-85
.
1885-46
.
1886-87
•
1887-88
.
1888-89
.
1849-90
.
1890-91
.
1891-92
.
1892-93
.
638,193
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do,
Do.
Do,
Do.
796,339
Do,
1,578
1,795
1,485
1,400
1,579
2,015
2,065
2,525
3,510
4,400
150-31
224-11
...
...
-
..
435-0
135-0
113.0
...
...
...
...
•••
..,
...
...
...
...
-
...
...
...
-
...
32. Evidence of RAO BAHADUR RUDRAGOWDA CHANVIRGOWDA ARTAL, Lengayet,
Deputy Collector, Bijapur.
1. By coming in contact with the masses as
well as by observing the health and conduct of
persons addicted to the vice , and also by visiting
places where sadhus or saints reside.
2. The definitions of ganja and charas herein
given may be accepted as correct for this district.
The ganja manufactured and sold here is flat
ganja.