138 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. VIII.
organized movement among the Kayasths which forbids the drinking of liquor,
and that these people are taking to bhang instead. Some witnesses allege that
irrigation in rendering the country damp and cold makes the drugs a necessity,
and one that the use of charas is increasing because the drug "is generally prepar-
ed and sold (as retail dealing) by the fair sex in large towns." This last matter
was taken up by the Commission, and will be noticed further on.
Direct evidence of decrease.
363. But the evidence is not all on the side of increase. Some witnesses think
that the consumption is stationary, and some that
it is decreasing. The principal cause of decrease
alleged is the change of habit among the higher classes and the better-to-do of
the lower in the direction of liquor. The high cost of the drugs has, according
to one or two witnesses, caused people to abandon them.
Competition between ganja and
charas.
364. There is some evidence that ganja is being supplanted by charas in public
favour. Mr. Wall, late Commissioner of Excise,
wrote as far back as 1881: "From the large propor-
tion which charas bears to other drugs in large cities like Allahabad and
Benares, and from the increase in license fees for sale of charas which is noticed
by the Bengal Government, it is highly probable that charas is coming into
favour. It is, in fact, said that within the last few years, owing to increased
duty levied on baluchar ganja in Lower Bengal, the consumption of charas has
largely increased everywhere." Charas is now even cheaper as compared with
Bengal ganja than it was then, and there is some evidence that the change is
still going on.
Rampur.
Extent of use of the drugs.
365. The Revenue Member of the Rampur Council of Regency (35) states
that people smoke ganja and charas everywhere in the
North-Western Provinces and in the State of Rampur.
Rampur, however, is situated in the Rohilkhand Divi-
sion, where charas appears to be used almost exclusively. It is probable, therefore,
that the statement about the use of ganja in Rampur is rather too general.
This witness also alleges that the use of all three drugs is increasing because
they are cheap, and they are not forbidden by the Hindu religion.
Tehri Garhwal.
Extent of use of the drugs.
366. The use of the drugs in Tehri Garhwal is probably as prevalent as it is in
Kumaon and British Garhwal. There is no special
information for the State, but from the evidence
of witness (49) it may be assumed that charas is the
only form of the drug used; that its use is not extensive, but possibly spread-
ing through " a growing tendency to take narcotics of all kinds."
Punjab.
Extent of use.
Charas and bhang are used, not
ganja.
367. In the Punjab the use of ganja disappears, the indications of its existence
being found only in the statements of occasional
witnesses. It has no place in the excise arrangements.
Charas and bhang are used to a greater or less ex-
tent in all parts of the province. Regarding bhang,
the Excise Commissioner admits that a certain quantity is consumed with-
out passing through the hands of the licensed vendors, but he does not think
that it is very great, because the people of the parts in which the plant grows
wild are not addicted to its use, while the retail price (three or four annas a sér)
is so small that it is not worth while for a consumer to attempt to obtain a sup-
ply elsewhere than from the nearest licensed shop. There is, however, reason to