What proporti on of the popul ati on
habi tual l y consume hemp-drugs?
Is the use of hemp drugs a frequent
cause of l unacy?
There is no reliable data to form an estimate of the proportion of the population habi-
tually consuming hemp-drugs, but one per cent. can be taken
as an approximately correct estimate for Berar. Generally,
as above said, this drug is consumed by Fakeers, Bairagis
and Sanyasis, etc., who come to the province as wanderers;
very few people indigenous to Berar are addicted to the use of these drugs. Instances are
known when excessive use of ganja-smoking has led to lunacy, but there is nothing to show
that it frequently causes lunacy.
Whether the consumpti on of hemp
drug is ei ther harml ess or benefi ci al .
If so, in what form?
Consumption of bhang as a drink is considered to be harm-
less and even beneficial. Smoking ganja is not considered
beneficial.
Admi ni strati ve arrangement in force
in Berar for control l i ng the growth
of the pl ant, the manufacture and sal e
of the drug and thei r i mportati ons
from other provi nces or from Nati ve
States, and for i mposi ng duti es on cul-
tivation and sal e.
Please see memorandum drawn up under instructions
received from the Secretary, Hemp Drugs Commission, in
his letter No. 28, dated 11th August 1893.
In this respect the Deputy Commissioner of Amraoti says:-
"As has been said above, a very small portion of the entire
community is addicted to the use of the drug. Its prohibition
in entirety may lead to discontent, but imposition of restric-
tive measures will not be resented. But serious discontentment would result in Amraoti dis-
trict if even stringent measures were adopted. Smuggling by Marwaris would increase, as
they are generally men of money. Detection would be difficult."
The Deputy Commissioner of Akola says:-
"The smokers of ganja, when compared with the total population, are not a large number,
and so if the cultivation is stopped, of course the smokers will suffer for a time and they will
show discontent, but it will wear off in course of time: probably the ganja-smokers would be
driven to other stimulants."
The Deputy Commissioner, Buldana, says:—
"If the total prohibition of the growth, consumption, or importation, is enforced, it will,
no doubt, give rise to serious discontent, but that will prevail only among the consumers of
the drug, who are so few in proportion to the total population of the district that the discon-
tent will scarcely be politically felt. However, if it be necessary, restrictive measures even of
a stringent character may be introduced, provided that the consumers have sufficient time
allowed them to become accustomed to the effect of those measures, so that eventually they
will not be felt by them at all."
The consensus of opinion appears to be that no danger will result from prohibition.
Danger resul ti ng from prohi bi ti on
or restrictive measures of a stri ngent
character. Woul d it gi ve ri se to seri -
ous di scontent and be resented by the
peopl e as an unjusti fi abl e i nterference
with l ong-establ i shed social customs?
Do any customs si mi l ar to those in
Bengal prevai l in Berar, and how far
does the use of hemp-drug form a part
of soci al or possi bl y rel i gi ous ceremo-
nial or observance?
Woul d restri cti ve measures gi ve
ri se to political di scontent among any
cl asses of popul ati on?
There are no customs similar to those in Bengal prevailing in Berar. The use of hemp
drug does not form part of any social or religious ceremoni es
or observance. The only exception is the Mahashivratri,
when the devotees of Shiva bathe the idol of Shiva by the
preparation of bhang, but such devotees are very few in pro-
portion to the population. They do not belong to any parti-
cular class of people. Any Hindu who chooses to worship
the god Shiva can do this. The festival only comes up once
in a year, and the drug is not considered to be an essential
material of worship. The god is supposed to be very fond of it, and so the devotees try and
acquire it on that day. Restrictive measures would not in Berar give rise to political discon-
tent among any classes of population.
If hemp-drugs are prohi bi ted, is
there any possibility or probabi l i ty of
the peopl e addi cted to these drugs
bei ng dri ven to have recourse to
al cohol or other sti mul ants or narcoti cs
whi ch may be more del eteri ous?
The Deputy Commissioners are of opinion that it is likely that if the use of ganja is
prohibited altogether, the habitual consumers would be
driven to other stimulants or narcotics. In my opinion the
non-drinking Hindus who are addicted to the hemp-drugs
would not be driven to alcohol necessarily. They have a fear
of losing their caste, and so even if they do not get the drugs
they would not take to drink. The Deputy Commissioner of
Amraoti district in this respect says:—
"The favourite way of taking the drug is made up in a sweetmeat called majum. Maho-
medans who by their religion are not allowed the use of alcohol are given to using majum,
but now-a-days majum is made cheaper and just as good by using the root of the jawari plant.
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