80
REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94.
[APP.
Although ganja is cleaned before issue, the mere fingering of it in the process of sale to
retail vendors causes a residue of crumbled fragments to form. This residue, or refuse, as it
is commonly called, though it is by no means useless, is small in quantity, and is not allowed
to accumulate. It can be easily amalgamated with subsequent issues, if not allowed to collect
and grow stale by keeping: when it amounts to a seer or upwards it is treated as consumed
ganja, and is destroyed by burning, duty being levied as if it had been sold.
At the end of June and December in each year the balance of ganja under double lock is
verified by the tahsildar by actual weighment.
When ganja is sent by road, it is escorted by one or more police constables, whose pay
while on this duty is recovered from the transporter. Each tahsil must be supplied direct
from the Khandwa Central Store, and the amount in stock must never be less than will suffice
for two months. Transport passes to cover removal of ganja from one tahsil to another are
only granted in cases of urgent necessity. The quantity of ganja produced in the Khandwa
tahsil is far in excess of what is required for consumption in the Central Provinces, and there
has never hitherto been any necessity for granting an import license.
Retail vend.
5. The number of shops to be licensed in each district is fixed by the Deputy Commis-
sioner subject to the control of the Commissioner of Excise.
Ordinarily only as many shops are licensed as are necessary
to meet the demands of consumers who, if a licit supply were not obtainable, would probably
supply themselves with the drug illicitly. None is established in any place merely for the
benefit of one or two occasional ganja smokers. In those districts, however, which are special-
ly exposed to smuggling from foreign States shops are licensed more freely.
The localities of all shops are definitely fixed, sale at other localities being prohibited. The
monopoly of retail vend at each locality is auctioned separately, but in large towns the shops
are generally sold in lump: temporary bazar shops are generally attached to the nearest per-
manent shop and sold with it. The general rule is that retail shops are to be auctioned, but
with the sanction of the Chief Commissioner shops can be licensed on payment of a fixed year-
ly or monthly fee.
All retail vendors are entitled to obtain from the wholesale vendor as much good, fresh
and well cleaned ganja as they require at Rs. 3 a seer, except in Sambulpur and the south-east
part of the Raipur District, where they are supplied at Rs. 2 per seer.
In order that the consumption of ganja at the retail shops may be watched, and that the
retail vendors or their servants may be secure from molestation when taking their supplies to
their shops, they are furnished with a pass-book in which the wholesale vendor enters up every
purchase of ganja made from him.
(3). Foreign bhang.
The consumption of bhang is not general, being chiefly confined to Marwaris. Every
wholesale vendor of ganja is given a license for the retail vend of this drug free of charge.
Licenses are not granted to any other persons, and no wholesale vendor may import without
a written permit from the Deputy Commissioner. A duty of Rs. 2 per seer is payable on all
foreign bhang sold, and the rate of sale to the public must not exceed Rs. 3 per seer.
Stocks of bhang are kept under control in the same way as ganja.
(4). Majum.
Majum is a confection prepared from ganja, ghi, and sugar, and the use of it is for the
most part confined to the Holi and Moharam festivals. Shops are sold by auction, and ordi-
narily the right to make and sell this preparation is restricted to the Holi festival.
(5). Registers and Returns.
A register is kept in the district office of monthly sales and duty receipts in respect of
ganja and bhang. The tahsildar is required to submit the necessary information at the end
of the month, and obtains it from a similar tahsil register. This information is eventually
embodied in the monthly and annual returns submitted to the Commissioner of Excise.
2.—FEUDATORY STATES AND ZAMINDARIS.
Raipur District.—Ganja is supplied to all the feudatories (a) except Kanker, at Rs. 2
per seer through the wholesale vendor of the district. Of the price paid, Re. 1 is taken by the
wholesale vendor, and the remaining Re. 1 is credited to Government. Kanker is supplied at
Re. 1 (b) per seer, and the whole of the price paid is taken by the wholesale vendor.
The non-feudatory zamindars generally are supplied at Rs. 3 (c) per seer (the rate of
supply to licensed vendors in the Khalsa), but Khariar and Bindra Nawagarh are supplied (d)
(a) From Secretary to Chi ef Commi ssi oner, No. 2587/123, dated 13th July 1880.
(b) "
"
"
" 3908/204, " 21st October 1880.
(c) "
"
"
" 2587/123, " 13th July 1880.
(d) "
"
"
" 597/26,
" 12th February 1883.