Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-26
DREAM-BRINGING CANA.
The Smoking of the Indian Hemp 90
the Coolies Chief SoIace

All those who have yielded themselves 70
the fascination OF Monte Cristo' have an
tneffaceable recollection of the wonderful
cave scene In which the guests Of Dantes
are placed under the voluptuous influence Il
hasheesh. says the New York Commercial
Advertiser. Hasheesh is a kind OF Ereenish
jelly made from hemp and cunningly IA
Vored' ana IL is said by its votaries To sf-
ford very short pathway 10 the most en-
quisite sensations known, and the penalti-.
LOT It's use are bitter and CHASTITY In pro-
portion.
A milder form of the intoxIeatio, mr.
duced by hasheesh follows the smoking of
the leaves OF 'iganja," or the hemp cant
ms plant Is grown in many parts OF Asia.
ana SO addicted is the Indian coolia 70 sol-
aclng himself with it's fumes that In what
ever part of the world he happens TO ritcb
MS tent even IL only temporarily. ne makes
the eahla plant occupy prominent place
IN the little cultivated clearing that newt
ABLY surrounds his barracks" Now tbat
ens perlodle fulminations against opium
are deprived by facts and figures of inuch
OF tneH force the attention Of the English
government has been diverted 70 the sui
- - ol CANA consumption in India So
long ago as ISL the deleterious elects OF
CANA were brought to the notice Of the
government OF India. The question has
peeh taken up again. and local Governments
nave been directed to inquire INTO the truth
or the allegations frequently made that ths
abuse of the drug produces insanity and
other dangerous effects. and they were re-
pedient to restrict the use of gania or 10
suppress the cultivation OF the hemp plant
altogether. Upon a careful consideration q
the opinions elicftel the government %
india has come 10 the following conclusion
IN regard 10 the effect Of the drug:
IL does not appear 10 be specifically
proved that hemp incites TO crime more
than any other drugs or othe- spirits
anu there is evidence to show that. on
rare occasions, this drug. usually 80 nox-
ious may be usefully taken. There can.
however, be no doubt that its habitual use
does tend TO produce insanity The total
number OF cases of insanity is small in
proportion TO the population. and not largs
even IN proportion TO the number OF ganja
SMOKERS, but OF the cases OF insanity pro-
duced 10y the excessive use of drugs or
spirits by far the largest number must he
attributed 70 the abuse OF hamp"
CANA cultivation has been prohibited for
many years i'm Burmah, and IL has lately
been suggested that the prohibition be ex-
tended 10 other provinces of British India
The wisdom OF this step is questioned by
tfose who know the people and country OF
india, where the practice OF Eanja smoking
mas existed from time immemoriaL and
among certain sects Of Hindoos. ascetics
and religious mendicants. hemp intoxication
Is habitually INDUCED in. IL would be i'm
possible. too, 20 suppress the growth OF the
pant Furthermore. IL Is thought that It's
more noNtous drugs. India aboundS with
plants. growing wild from which drugs can
DE procured which are more deleteriOus in
tner effects than gania. One plant is
me dhatura fstremoniump the seeds OF
Whlch are already used TO intensity the mar
coic effects OF bhang a LIQUID preparation
OF hemp leaves: and N the use of gania were
suppressed altogether dhatura might he
largely resorted to by the poorer classes AZ
means OF satisfying their craving for
stimulants. The probable result az the
present agitation will be 70 restrict the con-
sumption or the drug as far as possible