298 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. XV.
apply to the sale of their bhang by owners of spontaneous produce. Restriction,
therefore, only operates when the cultivator sells his produce, and there is prac-
tically little, if any, check on the supply of the drugs produced in the province.
The Excise Commissioner states that ganja of fair or good quality can be
made, and is made locally. Charas is produced to some extent in Kumaon; and as
the hemp plant grows abundantly in all the montane and submontane districts,
bhang can be produced to any extent.
Imports of the drugs.
607. The ganja consumed in the province is mainly derived from Bengal, the
Central Provinces, Gwalior, Bundelkhand, and, in
small quantities, from Nepal and Indore, possibly
also from Rewah. Where the production of this ganja is under excise manage-
ment, these imports are of course subject to such management. The importers
of ganja and bhang are said to be all contractors holding licenses for the sale
of the drugs. Charas is brought by Punjabi traders, who sell to the contractors.
These traders take out no licenses, and the Excise Commissioner states that the
legality of the arrangement is questionable. Some of these traders themselves
hold district contracts. Nearly the whole of the bhang consumed is grown in the
province. A certain amount is imported from the Punjab, and goes chiefly to the
western districts.
Notwithstanding the silence of the Act regarding import of the drugs, a
rule has been passed that no ganja, charas, or bhang shall be imported into the
province except under a pass. No import duty is levied. Transport and export
are also made subject to a free pass.
Smuggling.
608. The Excise Commissioner is of opinion that the amount of smuggling
from outside the province is quite inconsiderable,
and this is confirmed by the Hon'ble A. Cadell, the
Member of the Board in charge of Excise, and there is no very definite evidence
to the contrary.
Defect in the North-Western
Provinces system of supply.
609. The weak point in the North-Western Provinces system of supply is
that the ganja which comes from the different
provinces and States abovementioned is taxed
before it reaches the frontier at widely different rates, and there is no equalization
of this taxation after it has reached the province. Bengal ganja pays from Rs. 6
to Rs. 9 per sér, the Khandwa ganja pays no duty but small fees which may
amount to Rs. 2 per maund, Gwalior ganja less than Rs. 5 per maund, and
Bundelkhand ganja possibly as much as Rs. 2 per maund. And these different
kinds of ganja are freely available under existing regulations to the licensed
vendor, who has it in his power to play them off on the consumer in such a way
as will best repay him without damaging his credit. In addition to this, the
cultivation and manufacture of ganja locally is under no legal control. It is
unnecessary to say more on this subject, as the Excise authorities have recorded
their opinion that the present system needs reform, and proposals have been
made which will be considered further on.
System of vend.
610. The right of selling the drugs is farmed to contractors, who are at
liberty to procure the drugs wherever they like, and
sell them at any price they choose.
No dis-
tinction is drawn between the different kinds of drugs all are included in