2
say what measures have been taken by Govern
-ment to ascertain the effects of the drugs. Hitherto
the matter has not attracted attention. I base
my opinion of the injurious effects of the drug
on the statistics of the lunatic asylums, and the
understood fact that violent crimes are committed
under the influence of the drugs, i.e., by people
who have primed themselves with them. But I
am not able to say that the statistics in regard to
insanity are trustworthy ; nor have I in twenty-
eight years' experience, personally come across a
case of violent crime of this kind. The Collector
is responsible for the excise administration of the
district. He does not visit the ganja shops with
the object of seeing the effect of the drugs; nor
does he collect the social wrecks caused by the
drugs for purposes of inspection. I know of no
general instructions issued by Government to
undertake such inspection; nor, previous to this
Commission, were any steps taken to cause medi
-cal men to inform themselves of the effects of
the drugs. Since restriction must proceed on
a knowledge of the effects of the drug, it is
certainly the duty of Government to satisfy itself
as to these effects before introducing any restric
-tion of a prohibitive character. In the past action
of Government there may have been a desire to
protect the morals of the people ; but Government
action has been prompted principally by the right
to derive revenue from this source. The drugs are
reputed to stimulate and afterwards to intoxicate.
I have never seen any one intoxicated from the
drugs. I have seen plenty of natives intoxicated
by toddy or country spirit. Intoxication is not
harmless. I nevertheless regard the hemp drugs
as more injurious, because they are by repute
more maddening and more productive of crime.
In the Kolaba Asylum returns there appear seventy
-two admissions from spirit drinking and sixty
-two from hemp drugs during the five years from
1888 to 1892. As the number of consumers of
alcohol is much the larger, the proportion of in-
sanity would tell against the hemp drugs. I
cannot make any distinction between the effects
of ganja, bhang and charas. Charas in this presi
-dency is hardly used at all, and ganja is, accord
-ing to my information, worse than bhang.
I think the taxation of the hemp drugs in this
presidency might be raised; but the question
would require detailed and careful examination.
The ganja of this presidency is roughly manufac
-tured, though the cultivation is careful enough.
Referring to paragraph 10 of my memorandum,
I regard the revenue assessment as disposing of
the question of taxation as regards the cultivators.
A direct tax would necessitate the adoption of a
system of distinct wholesale vend. I see no
objection to that as long as the tax does not fall
on the cultivators. The variations in the retail
price shown in paragraph 8 of my memorandum
are no doubt excessive, and seem to indicate that
there is room for taxation to regulate the whole
-sale value of the drug. But it is to be noted
that the cheap rates prevail in districts where the
plant is cultivated. I think it reasonable that
the consumers in the neighbourhood of cultivation
should get the drug somewhat cheaper than con
-sumers at a distance. I think that the maximum
of possession (40 tolas) might be very materially
reduced. 1 certainly do not think that this sort
of restriction is ineffectual. It has not been
found so in the case of opium. There is no con
-sumption on the premises in the mufassal. I think
it ought to be prohibited if it is found to exist.
I do not think the provision in clause 6 of the
license Form A, sanctioned with Government
Resolution No. 4421, dated 23rd August 1880,
results in causing the markets to be flooded by
the outgoing contractor with the drugs sold at a
ruinously cheap rate. The man has sense enough
to avoid laying in a very large stock of a perish
-able article. The large contract system, I have
advocated in paragraph 11 of my memorandum,
has the advantage that it enlists the farmer in
the cause of excise. Government has a respon
-sible man to deal with, who is more to be trusted
than a number of petty shop-keepers. I think
that it is desirable that Government should exer
-cise the supervision over the drugs provided for
in clause 5 of Form A. If a wholesome quality
of drug is not ensured at the shops, people will
be driven to get it by smuggling. The same
principle applies as in the case of opium; but I
would not go so far as to furnish a guarantee of
the quality of the drug. The object is to pro
-tect the excise revenue.
2. Evidence of MR. G. B. REID, Commissioner, Northern Division, Ahmedabad.
Oral evidence.
I have been in the Civil Service for twenty-six
years. I have served in the Central Division in
Sind, and also in the Northern Division, of which
I am now Commissioner.
My general impression in regard to the use of
the hemp drugs is that in Northern Guzerat the
use of bhang and ganja is very insignificant. The
latter is confined to religious characters, such as
bairagis, etc., and people, such as gamblers and
others, of the loafing classes. The consumption is
much larger in the city of Ahmedabad than in the
districts, but is rather there confined to such class
-es as I have indicated than to the permanent local
population. Ahmedabad is a great centre for travel
-ling mendicants and has a large loafing city popu
-lation. I would remark that I have not been asked
to make any special enquiries, and my statement
deals with my general impression. I am informed
that ganja is more used in Surat than in North
-ern Guzerat, though in Surat also the consump
-tion is not very large. I know little of other parts.
Bhang is consumed by much better classes of
people. It is used by the best classes, principally
Hindus. It is not confined to any class. The
consumption is not large; hut occasional use is to
be met with among all classes. It appears to be
principally used as a cooling drink in the hot wea
-ther with cooling spices, hardly at all in Guzerat
for purposes of intoxication. There appears to be
no religious prejudice against bhang, and no shame
attaching to its use. The only class—a large and
important one—who taboo it are the Swami
Narains who take no strongly scented things at
all, not even tobacco or garlic.
My impression is that the use of both has a
tendency to decrease, partly because, among the
upper classes, the use of liquor either openly or
secretly is becoming much more common, partly
because the sadhu or bairagi classes, the fakirs
either Hindu or Muhammadan, are becoming
smaller by degrees as enlightenment and education
spread. These classes, as I have said, are great
consumers.