CH. VIII.] REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. 143
The use of ganja compared by
districts.
377. It will be seen from these figures that the area of heaviest consumption
is the group of four districts, Balaghat, Seoni, Jub-
bulpore, and Mandla; and among these Balaghat uses
the drug at double the rate of the other three. Next in order come the districts of
the Chhattisgarh Division. After these the other districts along the northern front-
ier, Damoh, Saugor, Narsinghpur, and Hoshangabad, with the addition of Chhind-
wara. Then follow the districts on the western and southern frontiers, Nimar,
Betul, and Wardha, with Nagpur and Bhandara. And far behind comes the
district of Chanda. The first two of the above groups consume the drug at a
higher ratte han one maund to 10,000 of the population; the last three at less.
Saugoris is included in the second group in spite of its apparently light consump-
tion, because the large difference between it and the neighbouring district of Damoh
in this respect confirms the evidence of illicit import given by reports and witnesses.
Nagpur is placed in the fourth group in spite of its heavy sale compared with
the other districts of the same group, because the consumption is to some degree
foreign to the district, being connected with the troops at Kampti and other people
who are attracted to the capital of the province. The high rate of consumption
in Chhindwara, Seoni, Balaghat, and Mandla may probably be associated with
their physical characteristics and their very malarious climate, for they cover
the central highlands of the province—a tract of mountains and dense forest.
Estimate of individual consump-
tion of ganja.
378. The evidence fixes the daily ration of ganja at about one-fourth of a
tola. Making allowance for the custom of smoking
in company, a lower rate ought probably to be
adopted. And, on the other hand, the comparative cheapness and inferiority
of the drug suggests a higher allowance than was thought appropriate for the
Bengal calculations. The allowance of 64 tolas in the year, costing Rs. 5 to 8,
or 50 consumers to the maund, appears to be a just medium. At this rate
the number of consumers in the province would be about 60,000. A con-
siderable share of the excise ganja is used as bhang under the name of
desi bhang. It seems to consist of the leaves and bracts, and often perhaps
of the flowers themselves, picked off the ganja stalks. A reduction has to be
made on this account if the number of smokers only is to be ascertained. On
the other hand, some addition has to be made for the use of smuggled ganja.
It will perhaps be sufficient to regard 60,000 as the number of smokers of
ganja, for the estimate does not pretend to exactness. This gives a percentage
of .6 on the population of 10,000,000.
Increase of use of ganja.
379. The evidence on the point of increase or decrease of use is very con-
tradictory. In full view of many of the witnesses is
the fact of the great and steady increase of the reve-
nue and registered consumption in seven or eight districts, and their opinion as to
the growth or decline of the use are doubtless affected by it. It has been stated
above that the Commission attribute this increase for the most part to improv-
ed administration. Many witnesses hold this view, and none controvert it.
But there are some who think that the extended use of the drug has materially
contributed to the enhanced revenue. The Judicial Commissioner, Mr. Neill,
has discussed the matter rather fully. He believes that the use has increased
because (I) he is so informed by natives of sound and sober judgment; (2)
the consumption and revenue have been steadily growing up to date, whereas "if