CH. X.] REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. 195
Many witnesses share the view which one witness tersely expresses thus:
"Sanyasis are respected by the people; low caste people are not respected."
There is no doubt that by far the greater part of the community abstain from
any disapproval, and in fact are even strongly in favour, of the use of these drugs
by religious persons, although that use is so often excessive. Mr. Monro (Bengal
witness No. 206), however, records an instance of his having persuaded
the people among whom he was working to dissociate ganja and holiness,
so that "a sanyasi was laughed out of the town when I convicted him of habi-
tually consuming ganja."
The disapproval of the use of hemp drugs by classes other than these reli-
gious classes is, as has been already indicated, based also on a religious objection
to intoxicants still held by many, both Hindus and Muhammadans. There can be
no doubt that this orthodox objection influences the public expression of opinion
by many who have ceased themselves to share this religious sentiment. It is a
respectable thing to denounce intoxicants; and it sometimes requires an effort for
a witness to speak favourably or apologetically of intoxicants, especially of those
which are used by the lower orders. Another ground for this expression of dis-
approval by so large a majority of the witnesses is the fact that so many of them
have seen nothing but the excessive use. It cannot be too carefully remembered
that the moderate use does not obtrude itself, and that much of the evidence given
before the Commission deals in truth only with excess. Thus we find a large num-
ber of witnesses illustrating the popular disapproval of the drug by pointing out
that "ganjeri" or "bhangi" (the names given to the consumers of ganja or bhang)
is a term of great reproach. They point out that it means "one who acts as if he
had lost all sense," an unreliable and despicable character. Other witnesses
explain that these terms correspond to the English word "drunkard," and that the
moderate use is not, so far as their experience goes, regarded with contempt at all.
Akin to this is the natural desire expressed by several witnesses to assist the young
in resisting the temptations of bad companions by establishing in their minds a
wholesome antipathy to intoxicants of all kinds, excessive indulgence in which is
followed by disastrous results, especially to the young.
Hemp drugs and alcohol.
490. In this connection it is well to notice the references made to alcohol.
It is only a minority of the witnesses who compare
alcohol and hemp drugs. But it is a striking fact that
of these witnesses a majority of about three to one declare alcohol to be more
injurious than hemp drugs. In every province the majority of the witnesses who
make this comparison hold the view above expressed. This majority includes
experienced officers of Government. Thus Colonel Hutchinson, Commissioner of
Lahore (Punjab witness No. 4), says: "So far as effects have come to my notice,
the effects of liquor are infinitely worse than those of drugs." Mr. J. B. Thom-
son, Collector of Allahabad (North-Western Provinces witness No. 2), gave
evidence to the following effect: "I remember no case from which I can deduce
the theory that the use of the drugs is in any way connected with crime; that is to
say, from my own personal experience. I cannot say the same regarding alcohol
even among natives of this country." Similarly, Mr. Toynbee, Commissioner of
Bhagalpur (Bengal witness No. 4), says: "I have never had persons pointed
out to me as social wrecks from the effects of ganja. As far as I have seen, many
more cases of evil effects from alcohol than from hemp have come before me."