CH. IV.] REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. 43
states that cultivation is carried on in every district more or less, "but more
so in Hoshiarpur, Derajat, and other frontier districts." All this cultivation is
stated to be for the production of bhang. Ganja is not smoked in the Punjab.
The cultivation of the more systematic kind is probably not understated at 100
acres. The desultory cultivation of a few plants seems to be a wide-spread
practice; but the total amount of bhang produced by it cannot be important—
must, in fact, be trifling compared with what the wild growth yields.
Cultivation not increasing.
113. The evidence and other papers do not show that the cultivation is
other than stationary. There is no legal prohibition
to the growth of hemp, but it is probable that it is
discouraged and restricted by the fact that the sale of the produce is under
regulation.
Punjab States.
114. There does not appear to be any artificial restriction in any Punjab State
on the cultivation of hemp, not even in Nabha, where
the use of ganja and charas is said to be prohibited.
Bahawalpur is, however, the only State of those furnishing information in
which cultivation for the narcotic is admitted to exist. It is not confined to
any special locality. Farmers grow small patches with other crops, generally
near wells. It yields bhang, only in sufficient quantity for local consumption,
and seeds which are used for food as well as for fresh sowing. It is stationary
in extent. Chamba reports that the drugs are not produced, but it is probable
that cultivation for fibre and seeds exists in this State as in the rest of the
Himalayan region. There is no reason to suppose that the cultivation, which
is habitual at certain elevations in the Himalayas, i.e., from about 4,000 to 8,000
feet, is not practised by the Native States. Mr. Coldstream refers to cultivation
in Bashahr and near Kasauli, and says that in the former tract the plant pro-
duces resin. But it certainly appears from Mr. Anderson's report regarding Kulu,
the evidence of witness (71), and the fact that the evidence about the prepar-
ation of charas is wanting in certainty and definiteness, that charas is not
looked upon as a regular bye-produce of hemp cultivation to the same extent
that it is in Garhwal further east. It would appear that towards Kashmir the wild
plant becomes more extensively used for the preparation of drugs.
Central Provinces.
The progress of restriction of
cultivation.
115. Going back to the year 1872-73, the Excise Commissioner writes
that "in almost every district a few hemp plants were
to be found in the gardens of cultivators, and it was
only in Raipur and Bilaspur that a license-fee was imposed on cultivation."
This general and unsystematic cultivation was an impediment to excise manage-
ment and to the control which the Government of India enjoined on the
Local Governments as the result of the inquiries made in 1873. By special
inquiries instituted in 1873-74, it was ascertained "that in every district,
except perhaps Hoshungabad, Narsinghpur, Mandla, Chhindwara, and Bilas-
pur, the amount privately grown for home consumption was insignificant,
while in Sambalpur it was nil, home-growing having been prohibited
by
executive order of the Deputy Commissioner." From this date the general
restriction of cultivation was kept steadily in view, and before long a system of
licensing cultivation was introduced. Penalties for unlicensed cultivation were
ordained and enforced in many cases. The districts where regular cultivation has