25. As already stated, I infer from the higher
sums paid for the right to sell the drug that the
use of ganja is increasing, but I can assign no
cause except a probable improvement in income.
Mr. Artal states that the habit of smoking
ganja is fostered by ascetics, and as they move
about more rapidly now with the improved means
of communication, the increase may be partly
accounted for in this manner.
26. I can make only the roughest guesses at
these proportions. Of the ganja consumers, I
should think 10 per cent, are habitual excessive
consumers, the rest being habitual moderate con
-sumers, there being practically no occasional consu
- m e r s a t a l l o f t h e d r u g i n t h a t f o r m . A l m o s t a l l
the consumers of bhang in the form of ghota seem
to be occasional moderate consumers.
27. I can give no information on this point in
addition to what is stated above.
28. Ganja only habitually used
Average allowance.
Average cost.
(a) 1 tola. . .
½ anna.
(b) 4 tolas . . .
2 annas.
18
I have been able to get no information direct
from actual consumers, and the second-hand in-
- f o r m a t i o n I h a v e g o t v a r i e s c o n s i d e r a b l y .
29. I have no information on these points be-
yond what is in Mr. Artal's report above men-
tioned.
30. The consumption, I am informed, is gene
- r a l l y i n c o m p a n y , a n d , e x c e p t a s r e g a r d s a f e w
prostitutes, is confined to the male sex. Persons
under 20 are seldom addicted to the drugs.
31. I am informed that the habit of smoking
ganja is easily formed and is difficult to break off.
33. The occasional consumption of ghota at
festivals is apparently not considered by any class
of the community to be open to objection. The
habitual use of ganja is considered discreditable,
and I have not been able to find a single person
who will admit he uses it. Even the persons en
- g a g e d i n t h e c u l t i v a t i o n o f t h e p l a n t i n f o r m e d m e
that no consumer of ganja would confess that he
consumes it. The cause of the shame is presum
- a b l y t h a t t h e h a b i t u a l u s e o f t h e d r u g i s g e n e r a l l y
considered deleterious. The plant is not worship
- p e d i n t h i s d i s t r i c t .
34. As the habit of smoking ganja is difficult
to break off, it would doubtless be a serious priva
- t i o n , t h o u g h p r o b a b l y b e n e f i c i a l , t o f o r e g o t h e u s e
of the drug.
35. I do not think the use of the drugs could
be effectually prohibited ; certainly not unless cul
- t i v a t i o n w a s a l s o s t o p p e d i n N a t i v e S t a t e s . T h e
prohibition would create serious discontent, and
as regards the occasional consumers of ghota
would be a needless hardship. The discontent
would scarcely amount to a political danger. A
Government is not in my opinion justified in ab
- s o l u t e l y p r o h i b i t i n g t h e u s e o f a n a r t i c l e w h i c h i n
moderation gives pleasure and does little or no
harm. What is legitimate is to check its use in
excess, which is harmful, by making it expensive
through the imposition of duty. I do not think
the prohibition would necessarily be followed by
recourse to alcoholic stimulants or other drugs ; or,
if it were, that that would be a serious objection,
for the immoderate use of hemp seems to be worse
than the immoderate use of the others.
36. I do not think so. If anything, the
tendency is the other way.
37. My opinion on the points specified in this
chapter would, of course, be of no value, but in
case the Commission have not seen it, I would
refer to an article on Cannabis saliva in Part VI
of the Pharmacographia Indica, which probably
contains the most authoritative exposition extant
of the effects of the drug.
58 and 59. I think that the present system of
excise administration in respect of hemp drugs has
worked fairly well, but that the time has, come
for putting these drugs on the same footing as
alcoholic stimulants and opium. Hitherto the
consumption of preparations of hemp has not been
extensive, and so long as it was very small, the
farm of the right to sell, as dispensing with the
need of any preventive establishment, was perhaps
most suitable. But it seems that not only in this
district, but throughout the presidency, the
amounts bid for the right to sell have been in
-creasing, and it may fairly be inferred that the
habit of consuming these drugs is spreading. It
cannot indeed be said yet to be prevalent ; still the
total consumption is, I think, sufficient to make
it worth while to impose an excise duty ; it is al
-ready in this district much in excess of the con
-sumption of opium, though insignificant as com--
pared with the consumption of alcoholic stimulants,
particularly toddy. I use the expression " make
it worth while," for in my opinion the question
whether it is worth while is the only one which
calls for consideration in this connection. It is,
I believe, generally admitted that the system of
deriving a revenue by farming the right to sell
is suitable only in the earliest stage, and that the
levy of an excise duty is the fairest and most
satisfactory method of taxing an article produced
in the country. Now the levy of an excise duty
on preparations of hemp will present no difficulties
in this presidency. The wild hemp does not grow,
and the cultivation of the plant requires great
attention, and cannot be carried on surreptitiously.
The existing Abkari establishments would probably
suffice for the levy of the duty, or at least would
require strengthening to but a small extent. The
article is too bulky to be easily smuggled, and the
arrangement with various Native States as regards
alcoholic liquor and opium could probably be
easily extended to hemp intoxicants. The levy of
an excise duty is of course a very different thing
from total prohibition, and would not, I think,
excite any opposition. The article already pays
a duty through the incidence on the consumers of
the amount paid for the farm, and is a very legi-
timate subject of revenue. An alteration in the
form of the duty could not reasonably be objected
to. The drugs would probably be a little dearer
under an excise duty than they are now, but not
so much so as to materially affect anybody—cer-
tainly not the occasional consumers, while the
habitual consumers are ashamed of the habit, and
are the less likely to make open opposition to a
check on it.
The levy of an excise duty would, of course,
have to be accompanied by an import duty on so
much of the article as is imported from places
outside British India, except such States as might
give over to the Government the management
of this as of other abkari revenue. The present
duty on import, export, and transport is not, in
my opinion, a very fair or satisfactory one. I
apprehend it is intended rather to recoup the cost
of controlling transport than to be a source
of revenue. It does not, however, seem right
that in a district in which the hemp plant
is not grown the price should be increased
by an import duty from which, or from any-
- t h i n g c o r r e s p o n d i n g w i t h w h i c h , d i s t r i c t s i n