320
sumption thereof, if possible, or the habitual con-
sumers will have recourse to some other alcoholic
stimulants. The sudden prohibition will lead to
serious discontent among the consumers, who are
proportionately so few in this district that the dis-
content will not be politically felt, and therefore
cause no danger. The danger will be serious where
the number of consumers is large enough in pro-
portion to population.
37. Not known, as charas is not available in the
district.
38. The different effects on consumers of the
three different preparations of ganja cannot be ex-
plained, as only the flat ganja is available and con-
sumed in the district.
39. No ; the smoking of ganja is said to be more
injurious to consumers than the bhang eating and
drinking. The smoking is said to produce asthma,
phlegm and cough in the consumers of ganja. The
smoking often causes consumers to be immediately
senseless and sometimes lose their lives.
40. Yes.
41. The ganja and bhang being digestive, the
moderate use thereof may be beneficial in. its effects
—
(a) as a food accessory ;
(b) being an intoxicant it may give staying-
power under severe exertion and may
serve to alleviate fatigue ;
(c) being hot, it may serve as a preventive
of disease in malarious and unhealthy
tracts.
42. The moderate use of the drug is harmless so
long as it is moderate.
43. Yes.
45. The habitual moderate use of the drug pro-
duces noxious effects, physical, mental and moral.
In the first place, it is to be remembered that the
use of these drugs, especially of ganja, is generally
made by low classes of society, who cannot arrange
to eat substantial food. The use of ganja for smok-
ing soon works on such men. It produces too
much heat in body and thereby causes loss of blood,
which impairs his constitution. It also injures his
digesting power and causes loss of appetite. The
drug seems to have a natural tendency to increase
the digesting power which is produced in the con-
sumer thereof. If with a digesting power substantial
food be used, it must produce large quantity of blood
in body, which may conduce to a healthy constitu-
tion. But the consumers being generally without
means, are unable to obtain substantial food in pro-
portion to the increased digestive power, and there.
by the heat works its effects on the internal system
and then the digesting power ultimately dies away
having nothing to live upon. The heat thus pro.
duced may naturally lead to cause dysentery in
a c o n s u m e r . B r o n c h i t i s a n d a s t h m a a r e a l s o t h e
effects visible in a ganja smoker. The consumer
of ganja is gradually weakened and becomes peevish,
quarrelsome, and reckless of consequences. The
smoking of ganja induces laziness and excites car-
ral It also works on brain, but does not
produce insanity of permanent nature.
58. I am acquainted with the present system of
excise administration in the province of Berar.
The right to retail sale of hemp drugs is at present
sold with that of opium, whereby the revenue from
the sale of these drugs cannot be separately as-
certained.
59. It is therefore necessary to auction the right
to retail sale of the drug separately from that of
opium. No other improvement in the present sys-
tem appears necessary.
60. I think the cultivation of the ganja-bearing
plant and the process of its preparation are suffi-
ciently controlled, and the system requires no modi-
fication.
61. Charas is not produced in the Buldana dis-
trict.
62. It is already controlled under the present
system of administration.
63. I have no objection to the present system of
retail sale of ganja, etc. There is no wholesale sale
in the district. The present system appears to be
working well.
64. I have no objection to the existing regula-
tions governing the export (which is totally prohi-
bited) and import, etc., of these drugs.
65. The taxation of ganja and bhang is under
the present system not separately levied, and there-
fore it cannot be known whether taxation on ganja
and bhang, with reference to each other or to alco-
holic or other intoxicants, is reasonable or otherwise.
However, the demand of the drugs as compared
with alcohol or other intoxicants is so low that a.
heavier taxation thereon does not appear necessary.
66. Only fiat ganja is available and used in the
district, and therefore no different rates of taxation
need be levied.
67. The incidence of the tax on the consumer is
not capable of being ascertained under the present
system. I cannot therefore say whether I have
any objection thereto.
68. There are shops licensed for the sale of these
drugs in the district, but the preparations of the
drugs are not permitted to be consumed on the pre-
mises, and therefore I have nothing to say against
these shops.
69. The wishes of the people are generally con-
sulted through the contractor before a shop is open-
ed in any locality. The tahsildar is generally re-
ferred to for the purpose.
70. No facts regarding the importation or
smuggling of hemp drugs from Native States have
ever come to notice. The duty on the hemp drugs
used is not fixed by Government. The cost of the
ganja used is paid by the contractor at the time of
purchasing the same at places from which it is im-
ported into the district.
8. Evidence of A BARAO JAUROO, Maratha, Karbhari Patel and Special Magistrate,
Khamgaon, A kola District.
1. I cultivate ganja for the last several years
and know how it is grown. I don't know anything
about the preparation of the drug or its effects.
3. So far as I know, the hemp plant does not
grow spontaneously.
5. I don't know of any special conditions. It re-
quires the same soil, rainfall, and claimate as the
other dry-weather crops.
7. I know of Khamgaon and Sutala only where
hemp plant is cultivated for production of ganja
and bhang only. Charas is not prepared, nor is
fibre or seed obtained from the plant.
8. There has been a decrease within these seven