138
REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94.
[APP.
Mode of disposal of retail vend.
19. The right of retail vend is not disposed of generally by public auction. But when
more than one application is received for one and the same
shop, the Deputy Commissioner of the district concerned
sometimes puts it up to auction. When an application for a license to sell the drugs is
received, the local residents and officials are consulted; and if the want for a shop is really
felt, the license is granted by the Deputy Commissioner with the previous sanction of the
Excise Commissioner, the site for the shop being fixed by the Deputy Commissioner.
Preventive measures.
20. In addition to the establishment of a separate excise state for the prevention and
detection of clandestine cultivation and import of ganja, the
members of the Police Revenue Sayer, Octroi, and Municipal
Departments have been appointed as Excise officers under sections 24 and 34A. of the Excise
Act. Illicit cultivation and smuggling are not carried on to any appreciable extent.
How and by what classes of people
ganja is consumed, and its effects?
21. Ganja is used for smoking by simply crushing the dry leaves and mixing them
with tobacco in the proportion of two parts of the former to
one part of the latter. Majum and halva are generally
eaten in sweetmeats. An infusion of the withered flowers of the hemp plant is occasionally
made and mixed with pepper, poppy-seed, and fried Bengal gram, the preparations being
either diluted and drunk under the name of "ramras," or made up into pills and swallowed,
or dissolved in jaggery water and milk or expressed juice of the cocoanut and drunk under
the name of "bhang." The generality of the consumers are said to be Mahomedans, many
of whom are idle and disreputable men of the lower classes, as also Bairaghis, Gosayis,
Rajputs, and a few other Hindus. It is represented that where the quantity consumed is
below 2½ tolas weight, it does not produce any bad effects; but where this is exceeded,
stupefaction or even temporary insanity is the result. In the Lunatic Asylum, Bangalore
City, instances were to be met with of patients affected by excessive use of ganja. The
Excise Commissioner is, however, not aware of any instances in which crime was excited
under its influence or permanent insanity was produced by it. He is informed that it tends to
affect the nervous system and undermine the constitution gradually.
Ganja revenue.
22. The revenue from ganja for the past 20 years is as per
particulars below:—
Years.
Revenue.
Rs.
1873-74
10,296
1874-75
9,989
1875-76
11,342
1876-77
11,240
1877-78
11,026
1878-79
10,224
1879-80
6,130
1880-81
4,036
1881-82
6,033
1882-83
6,127
1883-84
7,528
1884-85
8,061
1885-86
8,556
1886-87
6,943
1887-88
6,872
1888-89
7,557
1889-90
9,400
1890-91
11,501
1891-92
15,517 for 15 months
or 12,414 for 12
"
1892-93
14,197
In the year 1878-79 the privilege of selling ganja in the province was partly rented out
and partly worked under a system of license fees. The gradual fall of the revenue from 1879-
80 was due to the contract system having been replaced by the amani management. In conse-
quence of efficient preventive measures adopted since June 1889 to put down illicit cultivation
of the hemp and smuggling of the drug, the revenue increased from Rs. 9,400 in the year
1889-90 to Rs. 14,197 in the year 1892-93. In 1891-92 the official year was ordered to be
reckoned from 1st July to 30th June instead of from 1st April to 31st March, and therefore