The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-11-18
DREAM-sRINeINo CANA.
The Smoking of the Indian Hemp 10 the
Coolies Chief Solace.

Coolies Chief Solace.
All those who have yielded them
selves to the fascination of Monte
| Cristo" have an ineffaceable recollec-
ton of the wonderful cave scene in
which the guests of Dantes are placed
under the voluptuous influence of has
heesh. Hasheesh is kind of greenish
jelly made from hemp, and cunningly
favored, and it is said by its votaries to
afford very short pathway to the
most exquisite sensations known, and
the penalties for its use are bitter and
CHASTITY in proportion
A milder form of the intoxication
produced by hasheesh follows the smok-
ing of the leaves of ''ganja," or the
hemp plant. This plant is grown in
many parts of Asia, and so addicted is
the Indian Coolie to solacing himself
with its fumes that in whatever part of
the world he happens to pitch his tent,
even if only temporarily, he makes the
ganja plant occupy prominent place
in the little cultivated clearing that
inevitably surrounds his barracks"
Now that the periodic fulminations
y
figures of much of their force the at
tention of the English government has
been diverted to the subject of ganja
consumption in India. So long ago as
1871 the deleterious effects of ganja
were brought to the notice of the gov
eminent in India. The question has
been taken up again, and local govern
ments have been directed to inquire
into the truth of the allegations fire.
quently made that the abuse of the
drug produces insanity and other dan
gerous effects, and they were requested
to report whether it would be expedient
to restrict the use of the ganja or to
suppress the cultivation of the hemp
plant altogether. Upon careful con-
sideration of the opinions elected the
government of India has come to the
following conclusion in regard to the
effect of the drug:
1T does not appear to be specifically
proved that hemp incites to crime more
than any other drugs or other spirits
And there is evidence to show that, on
rare occasions, this drug, usually SO
noxious, may be usefully taken. There
can, however, be no doubt that it's hab-
itual use does tend to produce insanity.
The total number of cases of insanity
is small in proportion to the popula-
tion, and not large even in proportion
to the number of ganja smokers; but
of the cases of insanity produced by
the excessive use of drugs or spirits by
far the largest number must be attrib-
uted to the abuse of hemp"
CANA cultivation has been prohibited
for many years in Burmah, and it has
lately been suggested that the prohibi-
ton be extended to other provinces of
British India. The wisdom of this step |
is questioned by those who know the
people and country of India, where the |
practice of ganja smoking has existed |
from time immemorial, and among GER |
tain sects of Hindoos, ascetics and re-
ligious mendicants, hemp intoxication |
is habitually INDUCED in 1t would be |
too, to suppress the growth |
OF the plant Furthermore. it is thought |
that its prohibition might induce the /
use of still more noxous drugs India
abounds with plants growing wild from
which drugs can be procured which are
more deleterous in their effects than
yanja. One such plant is the dhatura
(stramonium), the seeds of which are
already used to intensity the narcotic
effects of bhang, liquid preparation
Of hemp leaves; and if the use of ganja
we're suppressed altogether dhatura
night be largely resorted to by the
poorer classes as means of satisfying
heir craving for stimulants. The
probable result of the presentagitation
viii be to restrict the consumption of
The drug as far as possible. Y. Ad-
7ertiser.