CENTRAL INDIA MEMORANDUM.
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who use ganja and bhang. But it is only the smoking of ganja that is distinctly regarded as
disreputable. The social drinking of bhang, referred to in the last paragraph, is of course
not regarded as in any way reprehensible.
24. It is generally agreed that for an habitual smoker to forego the use of ganja would be
a serious privation. The habitual users of hemp drugs, and particularly ganja, are mostly
ignorant and fanatical men. Among religious mendicants the habit of smoking ganja
is hereditary and inveterate. Nothing can take the place of ganja to these men, and the
deprivation of the drug that their order has used for so many centuries would, there is every
reason to suppose, be a serious political danger. The matter of bhang is not so serious, its
users belonging, as a rule, to a better class; but in this connexion it has been pointed out by more
than one witness that both opium and drink are dearer than bhang; that Kshattriyas are the
only twice-born Hindus to whom strong drink is not prohibited; and so that Brahmans, for
instance, if they wanted an intoxicant, would take to opium; while Sudra users of hemp drugs,
to whom strong drink is not forbidden, would not be able to afford it. On this point the
Political Agent in Bhopawar writes:—
"Prohibition would probably be as ineffective as were the numerous attempts formerly
made in all countries to prohibit the use of tobacco. The drug would certainly be consumed
whether permitted or not. Interference would undoubtedly cause discontent, but any political
danger would mainly arise from the opportunity afforded to the authorities for harassing
the people. It is also possible that the Bhil tribes might show their resentment by open
resistance. Witnesses are unanimously of opinion that prohibition would be an act of
arbitrary injustice, and this would probably be the general popular feeling. The prohibi-
tion of ganja might lead to increased consumption of alcohol. The bhang-consuming classes
generally disapprove of the use of alcohol, and would not be likely to take to it."
25. Generally speaking, there appears to be no reason to suppose that alcohol is to any
extent taking the place at present of any of the hemp drugs. But the Indore Minister is of a
different opinion.
26. In none of the States in Central India do there appear to be any restrictions on the
manufacture or on the import and export of hemp drugs. Duties are charged on importation
as on the other articles of merchandize. In some States the sale of the drugs is to some extent
restricted. In Indore, as the Minister states, the wholesale dealer requires no license; there is
no maximum limit to the quantity he may sell at a time, but there is a minimum limit, viz.,
60 seers. The right to sell the drugs in retail is farmed out by public auction, and the retail
sale is confined to the farmer and his agents. At present the retail farmer has one shop of his
own in the city, and fifteen tobacconists in the city and twenty-five more in the mofussil,
sell the drugs as his agents, there being as a rule a shop at the head-quarters of every mahal.
The only other state in which there appears to be any restriction on the sale of the drugs is
Rewah, where the "contractors" (meaning apparently the wholesale importers) are said to
pay a fixed duty and license fees to the State. Shops in which there is consumption on the
premises are not mentioned as existing anywhere. In the State of Bhopal there is a licensed
contractor for each pargana, who makes retail sales in his own shop and authorizes others to do
so as his agents.
For Cantonments and Agency head-quarters very little information about the sale of
hemp drugs is available. In M how there is one "sanctioned" shop, and the Cantonment
Magistrate reports that the daily sale is only about four seers. In Nowgong cantonment
the Abkari contractor holds a license to sell hemp drugs, for which he pays specially. In
Nimach there is one licensed vendor, who is said to sell the drugs at 50 per cent. over the
price in adjoining native territory. In Sehore bazaar there is one licensed shop. In the
Indore Residency Bazaar the right to sell hemp drugs retail is a part of the abkari contract,
supposed to be worth Rs. 20 a month.