166
REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94.
[APP.
JEYPORE STATE MEMORANDUM.
(1) The hemp plant is grown here only for use as bhang. Its cultivation is not in any
way controlled by the Raj.
(2) Ganja and charas are not manufactured here from the products of the hemp (bhang)
plants. Both these drugs are imported from Hoshiarpur and the Punjab. Bhang of a
quality superior to what is locally produced is also imported here to some extent.
The sale of bhang, charas, and ganja is not in any way controlled by the Raj. Anybody
can, at any place, open shops for the sale of these drugs.
(3) Customs duty only is levied by the Raj on bhang, charas, and ganja.
The customs duty on the export and import of bhang as well as on its import into the
capital city from the districts is Re. 1 per maund.
The "mapa" or inland customs duty on bhang is 4 annas per maund.
The customs duty on the import of charas is at Rs. 20 per maund and on that of ganja
is at the rate of Rs. 4 per maund.
(a) No particular system is in existence here regarding the growth of the hemp plant
or the sale of its products.
(b) Wild hemp is not found in abundance anywhere in the Jeypore territory. The
hemp plant, whether wild or cultivated, is only used as bhang and not made to
yield either charas or ganja.
About 10,000 maunds of bhang is produced in the Jeypore territory. No attempt is
made here to control the possession or sale of this drug.
(c) The hemp plant is not at all cultivated here for the production of ganja or charas,
but only for use as bhang. The cultivation of bhang plants in this part of the
country is neither prohibited nor restricted to any particular locality.
(d) Charas is imported here by the Afghans and the Kabulis and ganja and bhang
by native traders.
All imports into and exports from the British territory of bhang, charas, and ganja are
covered under Government license, and when exported from other Native States, under the
customs pass (rawana) of that State.
All goods allowed to pass into the territory after being examined by the customs chaukies,
which are located at places where traffic is generally carried on.
Bhang is exported from here to other neighbouring Native States, but before allowing it
to pass in any quantity, the Customs Department requires the intending exporter to give
security that the drug will not be smuggled into any other place.
(e) The wholesale and retail vendors of bhang, charas, and ganja are not under any
control, nor are they required to obtain license from the Raj.
(f) Besides the customs duty as mentioned in paragraph No. 3, no other tax is levied
by the Raj on bhang, charas, or ganja.
(g) The number and sites of the retail shops of any of these drugs are neither fixed
here by the Raj nor put to auction sale. The vendors are quite free to open
shops anywhere they like in the territory.
(h) The Raj does not fix any rate at which the drug must be supplied by wholesale
to retail vendors. The average retail price (to consumers) of bhang is Rs. 13
per maund, of ganja Rs. 25 per maund, and of charas of the first quality Rs. 160
per maund and of the second quality Rs. 100 per maund. These prices of the
drugs do not differ much in different districts.
(i) Neither any maximum amount is fixed for retail sales to, or possession by, the
ordinary consumer, nor any minimum price is fixed for the drugs.
(j) There is no reason to believe that smuggling of bhang, charas or ganja from
other provinces or other Native States prevails here to any extent; and to pre-
vent smuggling of all articles on which customs duty is due to the Raj, it is
provided in the rules of the Customs Department that the smuggler, when
detected, forfeits the goods smuggled.