172
REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94.
[APP.
(i) According to section 23 of the excise law the maximum amount fixed for retail
sales to, or possession by, an ordinary consumer is bhang 120 tolas and charas 40
tolas, and the fixing of the minimum prices rests with the nazims.
(j) Since the introduction of the excise rules this year, no case of smuggling has come
to notice. At the time when the excise rules came into force, all the drugs were
taken away from those who possessed them and were either confiscated or sold to
wholesale vendors. As mentioned in (f) defaulters of customs duty are punished
by fine and confiscation of the drug. Illicit sales and possession are punished
according to section 34.
(k) None.
(l) As no records of past years exist, no explanation can be given of any dif-
ferences and variations that have taken place in the cultivation, trade, etc., of the
drugs. There was neither permission nor prohibition on the part of the raj, and
everyone who chose used publicly to sell and buy. The customs duty only was
taken in the raj. The present rules have come into force this year only and have
not been fully carried out yet, and contracts have not yet been given everywhere,
but illicit sales have been stopped. The statement cannot therefore be filled in.
Statistics regarding the consumption and revenue cannot be prepared at present.
The quantity imported can be ascertained from the Customs Department. Men-
tion of cultivation has been made in (b), and regarding the importation of the
drugs information is supplied in 2.
(m) Full details are contained in the excise law.
Translated.
CHAS. S. BAYLEY,
Political Agent, Bikanir.
Translation of a communication from the head of the Customs Department, Bikanir, dated 27th
October 1893.
The Council's Order, dated the 17th October 1893, enclosing papers regarding the hemp
drugs was received on the 21st idem. With reference to paragraphs 3 and 4 of the letter
from the Secretary to the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission and the note mentioned in para-
graph 3,I beg to state that the bhang, charas, and ganja plants do not grow either wild or by
cultivation in this State, but the drugs are imported from foreign territory. No other prepa-
rations from bhang, ganja, or charas are made in this State for trading purposes, nor are they
imported from other territory. On the Holi and other festivals majum is prepared from
bhang and is sometimes sold retail. Bhang is pounded, mixed with milk and sugar and drunk.
It is also eaten dry, in which case almonds, pistachios, etc., etc., are mixed with it. The charas
imported into the State is of two kinds, viz., (1) garwa, which is smoked with tobacco; its effect
is immediate and strong; and (2) charas. This latter is also smoked in the same way, but its
effect is less strong. The ganja is of one kind only. Prior to Sambat 1942 customs duty
was levied at different rates on bhang, charas, and ganja. The system of levying the duty
was also different at head-quarters and in the districts, i.e., in the districts duty was realized
by the tahsils, and at head-quarters by the Customs Department. The statistics for the past
twenty years cannot be supplied in the prescribed form because no records exist from which the
different rates of duty prevalent in different places, the amount of revenue, the quantity of
the drugs imported, etc., could be ascertained. The Customs Department was reorganized
in Sambat 1942, since which time bhang has been taxed at Rs. 5 per maundand ganja
and charas at Rs. 20 per maund, and one system of realization of duty has been introduced
for the whole State. The customs officials are under the control of the head of the depart-
ment. The customs rules have been in force. Girdawars and Naib Girdawars have been appoint-
ed for inspection work. The rawanas of Sambat 1942 have been destroyed, but those from
Sambat 1943 to 1949 are in existence, from which a statement showing the quantity of the
drugs imported and the amount of revenue realized during the eight years has been prepared.
It is submitted with this report. For Sambat 1942 the quantity imported has been shown
in a lump. The tax on charas and ganja is levied at one rate; therefore in. some rawanas
the words "charas and ganja" have been used together, and hence information regarding
the two drugs cannot be supplied separately. There was formerly no prohibition in this State,
and no licenses for wholesale or retail vend were given; therefore the drugs were imported
and sold without restriction. According to article 5 of the Agreement with the British Govern-
ment the export from this State into British territory of intoxicating drugs was prohibited.
Exporters were punished with confiscation of the drugs and fine and imprisonment according
to rules framed in 1878. The punishment for the export of opium was different. But since-
the beginning of 1893 the excise law of the Darbar has been put in force under the super-
vision of the nazims and tahsildars, and the whole arrangement has been put under the
control of the Revenue Department, from which information regarding the granting of licenses
for wholesale and retail vend, the import and export of the drugs, and the opening of the
shops, etc., can be obtained. The answers to the Secretary's questions can also be obtained