112
39. The smoking of ganja and charas is con-
sidered more injurious than bhang drinking,
though it takes a longer time to take effect, and
its influence lasts longer. Many moderate smokers
of ganja and charas are said to suffer, though
slightly, from chest affections, such as cough and
asthma, in old age. Again, ganja and charas
smoking is said to have caused insanity oftener
than bhang drinking.
40. These drugs are sometimes used by them-
selves in empiric treatment and in combination
with other drugs by native doctors.
Bhang forms an ingredient in the massala or
condition balls given to horses and cattle.
41. The moderate use of ganja or bhang, com-
bined with highly nourishing food, is said to be
beneficial in its effects. It improves digestion
and alleviates fatigue. It is sometimes used as
an alleged preventive of disease in malarious and
unhealthy tracts, ganja smoking for this purpose
being not quite unknown in the lower ranks of
survey subordinates, whose work causes much
exposure to unaccustomed climate. The use is
very moderate and occasional.
42. In the absence of proper nourishment, even
the moderate use of these drugs is considered more
or less injurious.
43. Moderate consumers are inoffensive to their
neighbours.
44. The immediate effect of ganja on a habitual
but moderate smoker is said to be refreshing and
only highly intoxicating. It is said to create
appetite. Bhang takes longer time to operate,
but its ultimate effect is similar. The duration of
influence varies with the quantity used. Habitua
l b u t m o d e r a t e c o n s u m e r s d o n o t a c k n o w l e d g e a n y
bad after-effect. The want of subsequent gratifi-
cation is said to cause longing, listlessness,
depression of spirits, heaviness of limbs and loss
of appetite, and to disturb digestion.
45 and 46. There is no reason to suppose that
habitual moderate consumers, when properly fed,
suffer either in body, mind, or morals ; but exces-
sive consumers may suffer both in body and mind,
and certainly do suffer in morals.
47 and 48. There is nothing to show that the
habit of consuming hemp drugs is hereditarily
transmitted, or that there is any special ten-
dency, apart from association and example, for
children of even immoderate consumers to become
addicted to the vice.
49 and 50. The moderate use of bhang or ganja
is practised as an aphrodisiac, and some prostitutes
are said to practise it. The use of these drugs
for this purpose is more harmful than ordinary
narcotics, as it is likely to lead to sexual excesses.
The excessive use of these drugs is said to cause
impotence, and it is urged by vowed celibates
among religious mendicants that they use the
drugs to weaken sexual desire and aid them in
fulfilling their vow.
51 and 52. Undoubtedly dissipated consumers of
hemp drugs associate with bad characters and may
be thus led to crime ; but there is nothing to
show that their vice prompts criminality.
53 and 54. No knowledge.
55. There are instances of people having been
robbed after they had been designedly stupefied
with ganja.
56. The effects of the hemp drugs are often in-
tensified by the addition of dhatura, opium or nux
v o mi c a . C a r d a mo ms s mo k e d wi t h g a n j a a r e s a i d
to increase the intoxicating effect of the drug.
57. Charas is not known either to be eaten or
drunk in the Deccan. Ganja, as stated above in
reply No 15, is rarely drunk as bhang, and in that
case it is more intoxicating than bhang.
58 to 70. I am not sufficiently acquainted with
the present system of excise administration of the
presidency to suggest any improvement in it.
A.
Area under Bhang and Ganja (Indian Hemp) in the districts of the Bombay Presidency, including Sind,
during the last eight years, from 1885-86 to 1892-93.
No.
D I S T R I C T S .
1885-86.
1886-87. 1887-88.
1888-89. 1889-90. 1890-91. 1891-92. 1892-93.
A.—PRESIDENCY PROPER.
I.—Gujarat.
1 Ahmedabad
2
Kaira
3
P a n c h M a h a l s
4 Broach
1
1
5 Surat.
2
7
17
7
17
10
3
17
II .—Deccan.
6 Khándesh
311
44
14
35
54
39
9
10
7 Násik
29
15
7
12
10
10
20
27
8 Ahmednagar
1,030
789
637
268
830
605
676
382
9 Poona
18
41
30
16
2
17
10
15
10 Sholápur
43
34
26
23
57
48
55
48
11 Sátára
411
558
173
170
368
471
317
299
I I I
. — K a r n a t a k .
12
Belgaum
2
13 Bijápur
1
1
1
3
13
14 Dhárwár
I V . — K o n k a n .
15 Thána
16 Kolaba.
17
Ratnágiri
18 Kánara
TOTAL A.
1,844
1,488
904
533
1,341
1,201
1,093
812