294 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. XV.
Mahal in the Rajshahi Division gives some opportunity for illicit disposal of
the ganja, partly owing to the inadequacy of the supervising staff, and partly
to the storage arrangements above mentioned; but the principal authorities
are of opinion that very little smuggling actually occurs.
Mr. Lyall,
while admitting that the facility afforded for
smuggling constitutes the
weak part of the Bengal system, gives the following reasons for his belief
that it does not exist to any extent: "One at least is that I have never come
across a case of smuggled ganja, though cases of opium smuggling are not
uncommon. The safeguards against illicit practices are the concentration of
the area of growth and the crop estimate made by the supervisors when the
crop is on the ground. The bulkiness of ganja is an additional safeguard as
compared with opium. We have never within my knowledge discovered a
cultivator disposing of his crop illegally. Of course, if there were collusion
between the protective establishment and the cultivators, this safeguard would
be of little use; but, as a fact, I believe the establishment is trustworthy."
Charas.
597. Charas is not made in Bengal. A very small amount is imported from
Upper India under passes, and after paying duty is
sold by licensed vendors.
Bhang.
598. There is no licensed cultivation of the hemp plant for production of
bhang in Bengal. Bhang is either imported from
the North-Western Provinces or collected for the
market from the spontaneous growth which abounds in Bhagalpur and in dis-
tricts north of the Ganges, especially Monghyr and Purnea. It has been
observed above that this collection of the leaves hardly comes within the term
"manufacture," and no license is, therefore, legally necessary for the process.
But legal possession of bhang, except by licensed persons, is limited to 1/4 sér,
hence all transactions of any importance require a license. On the other hand,
there is no restriction on the use of the hemp plant in its green state. It is only
when prepared to be used, stored, or sold as a narcotic or stimulant that it comes
under Excise rules. Passes are required for the purchase or obtaining of bhang
for export to another district, or for sale, which must be accompanied by a
license from the Collector of the district into which the bhang is to be conveyed,
or in which it is to be stored. The rules for storage are similar to those for
ganja, and a small duty is levied when the bhang is removed from the warehouse
to be taken to the shop for retail sale. The extensive growth of the plant in the
districts above mentioned renders control of transactions in bhang very difficult,
and it is certain that the amount brought to record and dealt with under Excise
rules does not by any means represent all the bhang consumed in Bengal. "The
use of untaxed bhang," says the Excise Commissioner, "is general." In January
1893 orders were issued by the Excise Commissioner with the object of
extirpating the spontaneous growth of the plant, and thus bringing bhang under
more efficient excise control; but the orders were cancelled by the Bengal Govern-
ment in the following June on the ground that the attempt was impracticable,
and likely to have no result except petty oppression. There is therefore practically
little control over the production and use of bhang in Bengal; and although the
revenue from excise bhang has increased considerably, this is mainly owing
to the fact that the duty is very low and not worth evading on the part of the
licensed vendors.