81
Well-to-do people use the exceptional ingre
- d i e n t s a n d p o o r p e o p l e t h e o r d i n a r y a d d i t i o n s .
I have not learnt that dhatura is used with
hemp drugs in Bombay. I am told that it is
necessary to mix tobacco with ganja and charas
to make it smoke freely and to improve the taste
of the smoke. The mixing of black pepper with
bhang and garda is said to be essential to prevent
its producing pains in the stomach. The other
ingredients are added to make the drink more
palatable and pleasant. I cannot learn that any
ready-made preparation, "bhang masala," is sold
here to be mixed with bhang.
30. I learn that the consumption of ganja,
bhang, garda and charas is practised chiefly
in company. The habitual consumer does also
smoke ganja or drink bhang alone in his house.
The consumption of hemp drugs in Bombay is
mainly confined to the male sex. Occasionally
females may be seen smoking ganja or drinking
bhang or garda; but the use of these drugs by
females is exceptional. The females that use these
drugs are usually prostitutes. The use of these
drugs is confined to adults. It is, I believe, very
unusual for children to consume these drugs.
31. I think it mainly depends upon the charac
-
ter of the individual as to whether he will acquire
the habit or not. If the individual does not
happen to associate or come in contact with con
-
sumers of these drugs, he will not probably smoke
or drink himself. On the whole, I would say
that the temptation to form the habit is not great
in Bombay; but the habit would be very easily
acquired if the individual had friends and asso
-
ciates who were habitual consumers. I un
-
derstand from my enquiries that the habit of
smoking ganja, if of long standing, would be
d i f f i c u l t t o b r e a k o f f , a n d t h a t t h e h a b i t o f d r i n k i n g
bhang is not so difficult to throw off. I believe
the tendency is for the moderate habit to develop
into the excessive; but this also depends very
much on the individual himself. There are many
moderate habitual consumers of hemp drugs
who do not, I learn, become habitual excessive
consumers.
32. I have not learnt that there is any social
custom among Bombay people requiring them to
use a hemp drug. During the Shimga and other
holidays, bhang is sometimes made and drunk by
Hindus who do not use alcohol. Offerings of
bhang are said to be very acceptable to the god
Shiva; but the offering of bhang is not essential.
Offerings of bhang are said to be essential in the
worship of Baldeo. Bhang is, I learn, offered to
Dévi by those who cannot, on account of caste,
offer spirits to the goddess. The use of bhang in
the customs above referred to would not, I believe,
be likely to lead to the habit of consuming the
drug, except perhaps in the case of pujaris.
The Hindu ganja smoker, before smoking, will
often make offering to Shiva by repeating the
words "Lena Shankar Lena Babulnath."
33. Public opinion is averse to the moderate or
excessive habitual use of any of the hemp drugs.
The occasional use of a hemp drug by an indivi
-
dual would not, I am told, be regarded as disre
-
putable. I understand that the habitual use of
ganja is looked upon as more disreputable than
the habitual use of bhang. I attribute the above
mentioned sentiment as regards the habitual use
of a hemp drug to the objection and dislike that
respectable natives have to the use of intoxicants
of al l ki nds. I have not l earnt t hat t here i s any
custom if worshipping the hemp plant by any
sects of the people here.
34. It would, I believe, be a serious deprivation
to an habitual excessive consumer of a hemp drug
of long standing to have his supply of the drug
cut off. The habitual moderate consumer would
not feel the deprivation so great; but a person
of this class would feel the deprivation for some
little time also. Some, at any rate, of the occa
-
sional consumers of bhang would also consider
they had a grievance, as they believe that the use
of bhang is beneficial to their health. I estimate
the total number of hemp drug consumers in
Bombay at from 3,000 to 4,000.
35. In the island of Bombay it would, I believe,
be feasible to prohibit practically the consumption
of hemp drugs. The drugs would to some extent,
without doubt, be smuggled and consumed illicitly.
Prohibition would have to be enforced by making
the possession and sale of a hemp drug a penal act.
Prohibition would, I think, be an ill-advised
measure. It would cause much discontent among
consumers, and, having regard to its use in Hindu
religious rites, the discontent would not, I believe,
be confined to consumers. I consider that the dis
-
content consequent on prohibition would amount
to a political danger. I believe that if the use of
hemp drugs was prohibited, many of the consumers
would take to alcohol or opium, and many ignorant
p e o p l e w o u l d a t t r i b u t e t h e p r o h i b i t i o n t o t h e
desire of Government to favour the consumption
of liquor, particularly of European liquors.
36. My belief is that wines and spirits are now
being to a certain extent substituted for hemp
drugs. I believe that many of the poorer classes
of consumers of hemp drugs will go into the
liquor shops if they have money. The hemp drug
consumer resorts to ganja or bhang because it is
a cheaper intoxicant or he has caste objections
against drinking liquor. I believe that the man
with au English education, whose caste feelings
are not strong, and whose parents would occasion
-
ally perhaps only drink bhang, will now take wine
or spirits as being, according to his notions, more
fashionable and in keeping with cultivated ideas.
37. As far as I have learnt, the effects of charas
and ganja smoking are the same. The difference
is said to be that charas is very much stronger
than ganja.
38. Round ganja is not known in Bombay.
Flat ganja is usually smoked here. Garda, when
smoked, is usually mixed with flat ganja. Garda
is seldom smoked without being mixed with flat
g a n j a , a n d t h e n o n l y b e c a u s e i t i s c h e a p e r . T h e
difference between the effects of flat ganja and
g a r d a s m o k i n g i s , I u n d e r s t a n d , o n e o f d e g r e e ;
the latter being weaker in its effects than flat
g a n j a .
39. I am told that bhang drinking is the least
injurious form in which a hemp drug may be used,
and that charas smoking is the worst form. Ganja
smoking is said to be more injurious than bhang
drinking. A little bhang only is eaten in Bombay,
and I understand, when eaten, it is more injurious
than when drunk. Garda is drunk in the shops
like bhang, and is said to be stronger in intoxi
-
c a t i n g e f f e c t a n d m o r e i n j u r i o u s t h a n b h a n g .
40. Bhang and ganja are prescribed, I believe,
by vaidyas as a medicine. Bhang is given to
horses and garda to buffaloes as an appetizer or
tonic.
41. I am told that the moderate use of ganja
acts as a digestive; it alleviates fatigue, and is a
preventive of disease in an unhealthy country, or
where the drinking water is not good. It is
said also to be an appetizer. Bhang in mode
r-
vol. vii.