98
REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94.
[APP.
given in statement A* considerable deductions from the I figures must be made for wastage
and loss on account of spoiled drugs. From time to time quantities of these drugs are destroy-
ed under the supervision of Abkari officers as unfit for sale. The quantities reported by the
farmer to have been consumed in the island during the last two years are believed to be fairly
correct.
23. The statement marked J* shows the total revenue derived from hemp-drugs during
each of the past five revenue years. A comparison of the figures given in table J* with those
in table I* shows for the five years that the incidence of duty on these drugs, excluding those
used in the medicinal preparations, extract Cannabis Indica, amounts to Rs. 87.4 the Indian
maund, that is, nearly Rs. 2.2 the seer. The largest item of revenue is the license fee. This
has steadily increased for each successive term for which the license has been granted. For
the present term, starting from 1st August 1893, the annual license fee payable is Rs. 48,000,
that is, Rs. 8,500 more than the same fee paid for the previous term of three years.
24. The statement marked K* shows the exports of drugs by sea during the past five years.
When drugs arrive by rail for export by sea, the weight of the packages is checked by an
Abkari officer at the railway station. If the weight is found correct, the officer escorts the
package to the docks or bandar and hands them to the Port Trust or Customs authorities.
If the drugs arrive by water for transhipment and export, the Customs authorities supervise
and allow the transhipment after the Abkari Department have endorsed on the covering permit
that the transhipment is free from objection. The figures under "British Indian Ports" in-
dicate exports to ports in British territory. Those under " Foreign Indian Ports" relate to ports
within the limits of Native States.
25. The smuggling of hemp-drugs into Bombay cannot at present be said to prevail to
any extent. Bona fide travellers may bring into Bombay 10 tolas of drugs from places with-
out the presidency, and any person may bring 40 tolas of drugs into Bombay from a place
within the presidency. The Abkari and Opium Departments have special establishments who
watch the railway lines for smugglers. The Customs Department guard the sea front of the
island. The present Bombay farmer also holds the hemp-drugs farm in the Thana district,
and regulates the prices at Bandra, Kurla, and Thana so as to discourage people running out
by rail to these places and bringing back with them less than 40 tolas of a drug.
26. The table marked L* shows the admissions to the Colaba Lunatic Asylum during each
of the five years ending 1892-93 and the causes of insanity so far as they have been ascer-
tained.
Colaba Lunatic Asylum. Cause of Admission, 1888—1893.
DUE TO INTOXICANTS.
Admissions.
Hemp drugs.
Spirits.
Opium.
Other intoxicants.
774
62
79
8
1
Percentage on total admissions.
8.0
10.2
1.0
0.1
Compared with eight from opium, sixty-two is a heavy total from hemp-drugs. Considering
how comparatively few persons use the drug, sixty-two is also large compared with seventy-
nine from spirits. Of the sixty-two admissions due to the excessive use of hemp-drugs all but
four, two from bhang and two from charas, are ascribed to ganja-smoking. It is perhaps
doubtful whether some entered as ganja smokers were not actually charas smokers. In any
case the number of smokers of charas is small compared to the drinkers of bhang. It follows,
and this agrees with all other received information, that the drinking of bhang is comparatively
a harmless practice.
27. The import, export, transport, manufacture, sale, and possession of intoxicating drugs
other than opium are regulated by the Bombay Abkari Act, No. V of 1878, and the rules and
notifications published under that Act. Subject to the control and direction of the Commissioner
of Customs, Salt, Opium, and Abkari, the Collector of Land Revenue, Customs, and Opium is
charged with the collection of abkari revenue, and with the carrying out of the provisions of
the Abkari Act in Bombay. In addition to its other abkari duties the Collector's abkari
establishment is engaged in preventing the smuggling of hemp-drugs and their illicit sale with-
in the island. Under the orders of the Collector, the Abkari officers also see that the farmer
* Not printed.