CHAPTER XIII.
EFFECTS-MORAL: GENERAL SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS.
Social effects.
Are consumers offensive to their
neighbours?
540. Hitherto the effects of hemp drugs have been considered principally
with reference to consumers themselves. In turning
now to the discussion of their moral effects, we
shall practically consider briefly their direct effects on society. Are consu-
mers offensive to their neighbours, and is there any connection between hemp
drugs and crime? These are the questions which it is proposed now to discuss.
A considerable mass of evidence has been collected on these questions.
541. As to whether moderate consumers are offensive to their neighbours the
evidence can leave little doubt on the mind of any
one who peruses it carefully. About seven hundred
witnesses have thought it worth while to speak on this point. It may be safely
presumed that of the remainder the great majority have no experience of any-
thing offensive in consumers. Of those who have given their opinions, over six
hundred say that moderate consumers are not offensive to their neighbours. Of
the small minority, some object, not unnaturally, to the bad example they think
their ganja smoking neighbour may be to their sons who are growing up.
Some merely take offence at the smell of the ganja smoke, and some at the
"coughing and expectorating." They are evidently not inclined to be tolerant of
the indulgence which they do not care themselves to practise. On the other
hand, some of the minority are clearly dealing not with moderate consumption,
but with the worst type of excess. They speak vaguely of the consumers as
committing the gravest crimes under the influence of these drugs. Altogether it
is clear that the moderate consumer is as a rule perfectly inoffensive. There
appear to be quite adequate grounds for accepting the statement of those who
assert that as a rule he "cannot be distinguished from the total abstainer."
Some witnesses have stated that they had difficulty in finding the moderate con-
sumers, though they did find that the habit of moderate consumption is common.
Indeed, there are not wanting those who say that no consumer of bhang or ganja,
whether in moderation or in excess, is ever an offensive neighbour. The contrast
in this respect between the excessive consumer of hemp drugs and the excessive
consumer of alcohol is frequently emphasized. No doubt the excessive consumer
of hemp drugs must sometimes be a disagreeable and perhaps even dangerous
neighbour; but even among excessive consumers such cases seem to be very rare
indeed.
Connection of hemp drugs with
crime.
542. In discussing the connection of hemp drugs with crime, it is necessary to
discriminate between any effect which they may be
supposed to produce on crime in general and the
unpremeditated crimes of violence to which intoxication may give rise. Thus
there are those who allege that the habitual use of alcohol, at all events if carried
to excess, degrades the mind and character of the consumer and predisposes
him to crime in general, or to crimes of a particular character, especially to
offences against property. Drink is thus set down sometimes as one of the most
efficient agencies for increasing the criminal classes. On the other hand, there
are well known cases in which intoxication from alcohol has led to crimes of an
occasional and exceptional character, generally to unpremeditated crimes of