Drug Abuse

17. Evidence of MR. K. G. GUPTA, Commissioner of Excise, Bengal

1. During my 20 years' service, I have worked in various parts of Lower Bengal and Orissa, and as Subdivisional Officer and afterwards as District officer had to administer excise in my jurisdiction. Latterly 1 was Secretary to the Board of Revenue for four years and had charge of excise. In 1891 I acted as Excise Commissioner for four months, and have been permanently appointed to the post since March last.

2. The definitions may be accepted.

The three varieties of ganja defined here have reference to the Rajshahi drug, which is almost exclusively used in these provinces. The flat ganja retains the larger twigs and the round ganja the smaller ones, while chur has only the detached flower tops. There is thus more wooly matter in round than in chur, and most in flat.

Gurjat, which is treated as a separate ganja, is used to a small extent in Orissa. In shape it is like flat ganja.

3. It grows spontaneously everywhere in Lower Bengal as well as in Behar and Orissa. It is somewhat scarce in the districts of the Chota Nagpur division ; but elsewhere it is generally abundant, especially in Champaran, Monghyr, Bhagalpur, Purnea, Rungpur, Jessore, etc.

4. General name bhang.

Siddhi (specially in Lower Bengal). Patti or subji (in Orissa).

Thandai (cooler) (specially in Behar).

5. It flourishes in a damp loose alluvial soil. The amount of rainfall is not so material, provided there is sufficient moisture. It is thus found abundantly in such distant localities as the extreme North-West of Behar (Champaran) and the North-East of Bengal (Mymensing). It does not like a dry laterite soil, but grows luxuriantly in the char lands of the Ganges and other rivers, which are submerged during the rains. It is an annual plant.

6. Ordinarily dense. Cultivators and indigo planters do their best to keep down its growth.

7. (a) Yes.
(b) No.
(c) No.
(d) I am not aware as regards (d). See my memorandum as Excise Commissioner.

8. The area fluctuates considerably from year to year, but there is little change on the whole. See official note.

9. Vide H. C. Ker's report.

10. (a) No, they do not form a separate class.

11. No.

12. Yes. In the Gurjat States of Orissa, in Hill Tipperah, and in Nepal. The practice is very general in the former ; and smuggling of this drug seriously affects the ganja revenue in Orissa. That produced in Hill Tipperah is rarely brought into British territory. The extirpation of the male plant is not so thorough as in the case of the Rajshahi drug; but even in the ganja tract the male plant cannot be absolutely eradicated. Gurjat ganja is decidedly inferior in quality, containing more leaves and seeds and less narcotic matter than the Rajshahi drug. It is, however, much cheaper, the price being about one-sixth that of the Rajshahi drug.

13. See official note. Cultivation restricted to a small tract in Rajshahi, Dinajpur and Bogra.

14. (a) Yes.
(b) No.
(c) Yes.
Sm official note.

15. As regards preparation of ganja see H. C. Ker's report. No ganja is made from the wild hemp plant.

Bhang does not require any special preparation. The plant is cut down and allowed to dry for a day or two. The leaves are then shaken off and collected with bits of flowers. These are kept in bags and used as bhang. Bhang is collected for the market in Monghyr, Bhagalpur and Purnea and stored in the licensed golas of the two first-named districts, which supply the whole province.

The plant germinates after the rains and comes to maturity in the following May.

Bhang is gathered in that month and also in June and July. Ganja and charas are always smoked and bhang is always drunk. Majum, which is a confection made from bhang, is eaten. Siddhi kachauri is a kind of fritter in which bhang is used.

16. (a) Bhang in small quantities is generally made by the people in their houses, especially where the wild plant is abundant, as in the rural areas of certain districts.
(b) Yes.
(c) No.

17. Ganja, by cultivators of ganja. Bhang, by wholesale dealers, and by villagers generally.

Majum & Siddhi kachauri } by confectioners.

18. Ganja-

Deteriorates by keeping. Fresher the better. Most valued during first year : lese so in two years; in fact, is not sold after the first year if new ganja is available ; absolutely unsaleable after the two years ; this with ordinary care, without which deterioration may take place earlier. Damp and natural decay cause deterioration. Precaution is taken against damp. The question of preserving the active principle of the drug is under consideration with reference to Dr. Prain's recent enquiries.

Bhang.—.

Narcotic property deteriorates, but the value of bhang as a medicine is enhanced by age. Three to four years. Old bha,ng is much esteemed as a palliative in bowel complaints.

Charas keeps longer than ganja.

19. Yes, Gurjat ganja is, however, drunk in the same way as bhang by the priests attached to the temples of Jagannath, Bhuvaneswar and Satyabadi in Pad.
Ganja is occasionally chewed by ascetics.

20. The consumption of charas is confined to the residents of towns in Central and Western Bengal. It is difficult to give the exact proportion of consumers. Some idea may be formed from the fact that in 1892-93 11 maunds 26 seers 12 chittacks, or, say, 12 maunds of charas, were consumed against 4,711 maunds of ganja (excluding the quantities sent to the North-Western Provinces and Oudh) ; and assuming that charas is twice as effective as ganja, the proportion of charas consumers to ganja-smokers would be 24 to 4,711 or 1 to 196.

Ganja is used by all classes, though in varying proportions, throughout the province. Hindu mendicants (sadhus, sanyasis, etc.) use it to a man, as do the priests and attendants of Hindu temples, especially of those that are dedicated to Siva. In Lower Bengal boatmen, fishermen and others who are constantly exposed to wet and inclement weather, palki and dooly-bearers and coolies who have to perform great physical exertion, freely use ganja; also cooks and artizans. Its use is considerable among cultivators, but limited among the bhadro log or respectable castes. Its use is equally common among Hindus and Musalmans.

In Behar, however, Musalmans do not much indulge in ganja. Of the Hindus its use is rare among the poorer classes (who seem to be more addicted to tad and cheap country liquor), but is general among the middle classes, comprising Brahmins, Rajputs, and Babhans. Artizans of all classes freely consume it.

Smallest consumption of a moderate smoker, 1 anna or T218 o of a seer per diem.

The quantity shown as consumed is thus sufficient for 660,813 or 9 in 1,000 of the total population, which is less than 1 per cent.; but the average quantity consumed by a smoker is probably higher, and the proportion then becomes still less. On the above assumption (1 anna per diem per smoker) the proportion of smokers to total population is as follows in the undermentioned districts where the consumption of ganja is large :-

Dacca .    •    .    •    •    . 15 in 1,000
Mymensing    •    •    • 15 in 1,000
Patna .    •    . 12 in 1,000

21. In the hands of the consumer all ganja is reduced to chur at the time of smoking. Yet one variety is preferred in one district and another in another district, e.g., round is favoured in Calcutta, 24-Parganas, Nadia and the districts of the Burd wan and Orissa divisions, and flat elsewhere. But this preference for one sort is more a matter of habit and is not based on any real difference in quality.

22. All foreign. Obtained from Amritsar (Punjab) and Mirzapur (North-Western Provinces), where they are imported from Central Asia.

Formerly some charas used to be brought from Nepal, but the trade seems to have died out.

23. Wild bhang is said to be smoked in Dacca and Mymensing, but only by very poor people. The extent of such use cannot be large.

24. Bhang is eaten in the shape of majum or siddhi hatband. In these forms it is used by the well-to-do classes in town areas, but the consumption is very small. Out of a total of Rs. 1,984 realized from majnm licenses in 1892-93, Patna contributed Rs. 683, Calcutta Rs. 559, and Cut-tack Its. 245. The use of bhang as a drink was at one time general in Lower Bengal, but is now very much restricted owing to progress of education and breaking up of old habits, and also to the spread of a taste for imported spirits. In Behar, among the higher and middle classes, it is still a favourite drink, though the poorer classes prefer tan i and country spirit.

25. Use of ganja is on the decrease owing to enhanced cost caused by increasing taxation and restrictions on manufacture.

Use of bhang is also less general, due to progress of education and to losing faith in ceremonies and celebrations of which the consumption of bhang formed a feature.

26. It is impossible to state the proportion, even approximately, without a census of the consumers. But it may be said generally that the great majority of consumers come under (a). Sanyasis, sadhus and other mendicants belong to (b).

27. Fishermen, labourers, coolies, boatmen and others who smoke ganja as a matter of necessity are habitual moderate consumers ; while mendicants, including sanyasis and sadhus, who lead idle lives, are, as a rule, habitual excessive consumers, the idea being that ganja-smoking helps their meditations. Occasional moderate smokers are beginners, and those who join in any rites in which ganja forms a votive offering, as in the worship of Trinath in Eastern Bengal.

29. Tobacco is almost always mixed with ganja in the proportion of one-half or one-third. Dhatura seed is very occasionally used, and only by debauched smokers, to increase intoxication.

Various ingredients are mixed with bbang, such as cucumber seeds, ginger, sugar, spices, milk, curd, ttc.

30. Ganja and bhang are generally consumed in solitude, except on festive occasions. It is not, however, unusual for two or three persons to sit down together to smoke ganja. The same remark applies to charm. The use of these narcotics is confined to the male sex (the exceptions being very few indeed—women who have renounced all worldly ties and also the lowest class of prostitutes), and is most common during middle life. Children seldom consume ganja or charm, but on ceremonial occasions they are often allowed to taste bhang.

31. (a) Yes.
(b) Yes, without outside restraint or compulsion. The bhang habit is mild and can be shaken off with ease.
(c) Hardly.

32. Ganja.—This is supposed to be the favourite drug of the god Siva, and is offered to him in all the principal Siva temples, especially on the Sivaratri night.
In Eastern Bengal, a new form of worship has been introduced in recent years, the chief votive offering being prepared ganja, which is first offered to a certain god Trinath, and is then smoked by the worshippers with some ceremony. This rite, of which gania-smoking forms an essential part, has become very general among the lower classes. The use of bhang..,, both as a drink and in the shape of various confections, is general during the Durga Puja, and the drug is freely offered to guests, but the custom is on the decline. The use of ganja and bhang on ceremonial occasions is temperate, and it does not lead to the formation of the habit and cannot be said to be otherwise injurious ; but Trinath Puja has certainly led to the spread of ganja-smoking among the classes who affect this worship. The 2nd Inspector, Babu Abhilash Chunder Mookerjee, has given a detailed account of these customs and ceremonies in his evidence.

33. Among the lower classes there is no feeling either for or against the use of any of the hemp drugs ; but it is considered a meritorious act to offer ganja to any of the gods or to religious mendicants. The educated classes certainly regard ganja-smoking with aversion and the word " ganjakhor" is an epithet of scorn and disgust, but perhaps less so than " matal " or drunkard. The ganja-smoker is believed to be light-headed, untruthful, and irritable.

34. It would certainly be considered as a privation to forego the consumption of any of the hemp drugs by the classes accustomed to its use. The moderate consumers derive benefit from it ; and as for ganja, those in the habit of smoking it would not, without it be able, for some time at all events, to carry on their ordinary avocations with efficiency, and sickness would also result. Those who use it at their religious rites and festivals would strongly resent any action tending towards prohibition. Priests and religious mendicants would consider it a great.hardship to forego the bhang or ganja they use, and would do their best Co spread the idea that such action meant interference with the religion of the people.

35. It would be possible to prohibit the use of ganja or charas, but not of bha.ng. The importation of charas could be prohibited altogether, and although some smuggling would take place its.extent would be small. Owing to the difficulties of making ganja on the sly and from any but cultivated plants, the amount of illicit manufacture could not be large. In districts bordering on Native States in which ganja is made there would be much smuggling, and it is more than probable that when manufacture is stopped in British India, such States would take to ganja cultivation regularly. With the use of ganja suppressed the consumption of bhang would increase largely. There would undoubtedly be much discontent ; but I apprehend no political danger, except from the religious mendicants, who are much respected by the masses, and who may do much to spread disaffection. In Bengal proper and Orissa the prohibition of ganja would not lead to much recourse to alcoholic stimulants, as the price of liquor is there very high and beyond the means of those who now consume ganja. There will probably be greater recourse to opium.

In Behar, where outstill liquor and tan i are cheap, there will probably be greater indulgence in both, as well as in opium.

The detective staff would have to be largely strengthened, and there can be little doubt that any preventive measures, in order to be effective, would cause endless harassment and inconvenience to the people—not to speak of extortion and other illicit dealings by departmental underlings.

The prohibition will be keenly felt by the poor labouring classes, whose lot it is to work hard amidst disagreeable surroundings and to expose themselves .Co all weathers and climates. Addiction to ganja, unlike the drinking habit, seldom ruins a man or starves his family. It does not likewise lead to vices that are usually associated with drinking. The ganja-smoker is seldom violent or boisterous, or is guilty of disgraceful conduct. He takes his drug in his house alone or with a few chosen companions, and is spared all the mischievous associations of a grog shop. It would be inexpedient to prohibit the use of ganja.

36, No. In some districts the high price of distillery liquor is said to have driven the poorer consumers to the use of ganja and opium. The result, however, is not very manifest yet.

38. No; when smoked all the woody matter is carefully removed, and in that state the original distinction between the three sorts entirely dis appears.

39. Each preparation is usually put to a single use (ganja or charas for smoking and bhane• for drinking), and the question of difference in effect, according as it is eaten or drunk, does not arise.

40. Ganja and bhang have occupied a leading place in Hindu pharmacy from remote ages. Bhang is used in the treatment of cattle disease.—see Second Inspector's answer.

41. Moderate use of ganja appears to be beneficial to cultivators, labourers, boatmen, fishermen and palki-bearers under (b), and also as a preventive of diseases causul by exposure and inclement weather. Ganja is supposed to be a febrifuge (c), but opium is more efficacious in this respect. Bhang is good as a food accessory and also as helping digestion. It is generally taken before food. It is used by the higher and middle classes. Moderate habitual use is referred to ; but in the case of bhang it is occasionally taken to relieve bowel complaints.
Ganja is bad for dysentery and bronchitis.

42. Yes ; no ill-effects are observable in moderate consumers. But with bhadro log and other idle people there is unfortunately a tendency towards excess.

43. Quite. I have seen many ganja-smokers, but none violent or offensive.

45. None of the ill-effects are observable in the case of hard-workingmen, such as labourers, fishermen, etc., who form the majority of moderate consumers. They are generally honest householders and live as long, as healthy, and as moral lives as their non-smoking neighbours do.

As in the case of alcohol, the worst offenders come from those who lead idle and dissolute lives, often going to excess, and undoubtedly suffering physically, mentally, and morally. These are the men who by their excesses bring into disrepute any stimulant they may affect.

47. It is not by any means hereditary, nor does it affect the children of the moderate consumers.

48. As above.

51. I am not aware that there is any connection between crime and the use of hemp drugs.

52. Occasional excessive use of ganja may lead to sudden outbursts of passion. Habitual excessive consumers have often irritable tempers.

53. I am not aware of any such case.

54. I am not aware.

55. Hemp drugs cannot be conveniently used for causing stupefaction, and their use for such a purpose is unknown.

56. I have information of one case in which a ganja-smoker mixed dhatura with his drug for greater intoxication.

58 to 64. See my official note.

65. The duty on charas is the same as on chur ganja, viz., it8 a seer; but the proportion of narcotic matter is evidently larger in charas, and the duty on it should be raised. The duty on all the three varieties of ganja has undergone considerable enhancement since the present duty on charm was fixed in 1880. The question of raising the duty on chur is under consideration. It is difficult to compare the taxation of hemp drugs with reference to alcoholic or other stimulants; but having regard to the cost of daily average allowance (3 to 6 pies) of ganja, I should say that the amount of taxation on it is capable of increase, which can be done by gradually raising the duty.

66. Yes, taxation is based on the amount of narcotic substance present in each kind.

67. No.

68. There is no prohibition against consumption on the premises of licensed shops ; but, as a matter of fact, the drugs are always bought and taken away.

69 and 70. See official note.

Oral evidence.

Question 3.—My statement in answer 5 is based on the statements of men whom I have examined, men who have had old experience in excise matters. Their evidence was unanimous that bhang grows in Purnea and Bhagalpur in the low and submerged lands. I am therefore pretty certain that this is true. As to the districts of Eastern Bengal I am not so sure. The submersion of the lands lasts from four to six weeks, I should say ; and the seed remains to reproduce the plant. It may be that the plants are not found on the very lowest land. Of course annual submersion is not necessary, for the plants are found in Champaran and elsewhere, where the land is low and moist, though not submerged. As to the seeds retaining vitality when thus submerged, I can say nothing. I have not enough of botanical knowledge. I am also uncertain as to the duration of the submersion. But my information was that it was on submerged lands that the plant is generally found. It is found also more on the north of the river in Monghyr and Bhagalpur. It is there that the land is lowest. It is in the cold weather that the plant grows generally. It is cut, I believe, in Bhagalpur and Purnea in May and June, or even later. I have not myself been to those parts ; nor have I seen the plant growing, except stray plants here and there. My information was obtained from people engaged in the business, and from the Deputy Collectors who look after this matter in these districts. I do not think the plants are ever collected in January or so early in the year. It is not so in Behar; nor, I think, in Bengal.

The supply of the market comes from Monghyr, Purnea and Bhagalpur only. The bhang is of superior quality in these districts ; and it is therefore used. The supply is practically unlimited, quite large enough to supply any possible demand.

I have never heard of the collection of bhang seeds. I believe that bhang is an annual; but I think I have known plants live for more than one year. I am not certain.

Question 32.—I cannot give any reason for the development of Trinath Puja accompanied with ganja-smoking. It is due to a belief in the efficacy of this worship for warding off illness. It is a thing which has developed within the memory of living men. I cannot give definite information regarding its origin. I believe it was first started by a man in the Dacca district. I shall endeavour to ascertain what its origin was.

Question 62.-1 think that the chief objection to the prohibition of the growth of bhang in cultivated lands is that it leads to so much harassment of the people, and it would require so large an establishment. As regards the unoccupied land (i,e., the untenanted land) it would be in my opinion hopeless. I do not think it would be very difficult to stop its growth in the absolutely occupied lands. But I am not sure how far that would avail to stop illicit practices. I am told that cultivators and planters would be glad to get rid of the weed as troublesome. But how far the extermination there would be of much value for excisepurposes, I am not sure. In Bengal, too, the stuff is used largely as a medicine for cattle and human beings, and I do not know how far it would be wise to stop the use. Even if we brought the bhang under the same regulation as ganja, I do not think we should get much revenue from it in Lower Bengal. I am not aware of any bhang being prepared from the cultivated plant in Rajshahi district. It is never brought into the golas; and I know nothing of its being made for private use.

In Lower Bengal bhang is not much used as a stimulant or intoxicant. In Behar it is a very favourite drink. The consumption of bhang in Calcutta in 1892-93 was 460 maunds. There is there a large up-country population. The statistics will show that in Lower Bengal the consumption is not great. Of course in Calcutta there is control, and the bhang is not grown in the neighbourhood. So that consumption is more accurately known there. But the presence of the up-country population in Calcutta vitiates any deduction as to Bengal generally from the figures for that city. I remember myself as a boy partaking in the use of bhang at festivals such as the Durga Puja ; but (as said in my answer No. 24) this habit is going out. I have said in paragraph 60 of my memorandum that the consumption of bhang is general. That is, however, more in Behar and also occasionally and not habitually. It is true (as there said) that what has paid duty is only a small fraction of what is used. I think an attempt at control might be made by prohibiting growth in occupied land, i.e., by making occupiers responsible for the presence of the plant on their lands. I would do this experimentally. If this succeeded, however, there would be this loss that the people would be deprived of it altogether in some places where there are not unoccupied lands for the plant to grow on and not a sufficient demand to lead to a shop being established. Of course, I should like to see the Calcutta system of having the stuff taxed extended, if it were feasible.

Question 65.—In paragraph 64 of my memorandum I have shown that prima facie it would be best in my to reduce all ganja to chur. I think that the main objection at present is that the people sometimes seem to prefer the stuff with the stick. Perhaps the flat gauja is preserved better on the stick ; but I doubt this. Chur is becoming very popular. I see no objection myself to having one tax fixed for all, i. e., to taking what is regarded as a proper tax on chur and making people pay the same for flat or round ganja if they prefer it.

I have often had to destroy ganja in warehouses. I cannot, without looking at statistics, tell of which kind most had to be destroyed.

Question 59.—But for the probability of Government being attacked, as indicated in paragraph 63 of my memorandum, I should certainly recommend the adoption for ganja of the monopoly system at present in force for opium. I do not see the possibility of working a public gola system without such a monopoly. The difficulties in the way of baying a central godown without Government monopoly are (1) the turning of the ganja every now and again ; this would be a great diffi culty in letting the cultivators have access to it ; and (2) having separate parcels.

If this were got over by the cultivators having to part with the stuff to purchasers at an early date, it would place the cultivators at the mercy of purchasers, and make the cultivation unpopular. If such sales take place, as a fact, early in Rajsbahi, at present, this objection loses much of its force. But even if the other system could be worked without Government monopoly, I prefer the monopoly. All risk would be compensated by the profits. I do not consider the present system at all satisfactory in respect to want of control over storage and manufacture ; therefore I recommend the monopoly system or (failing that) the public gola system. There is another great objection to the present system, that the price of supply to retail vendors varies so much. In some districts, owing to the action of wholesale vendors, the prices vary immensely in neigh-bowling districts. Thus in Rangpur the wholesale vendors charge the retail vendors Rs. 2-s. In the adjoiaing district of Divajpur it is Re. 1 or even less. This is not because Dinaj pur is a producing district, because similarly in the sudder sub-division of Balasore it is Rs. 3 to Rs. 4. In the Bhadrak subdivision, which is further off, it is only Rs. 2. This is due to monopoly and our want of control. I could give other instances of this. The Bhadrak subdivision is not more exposed to smuggling than the other subdivision. The Bhadrak subdivision is south of the Budder. As a rule, the price paid by retail vendors at head-quarters is, I find, less than in the interior ; because, as a rule, there is more competition among goladars. Some wholesale vendors also reap undue profits. The Balasore man reaps a profit of about Rs 2 a seer, which is more than two hundred per cent.

I think the Central Provinces system is a good one to meet both these difficulties; that is, to fix the price of supply to retail vendors. I do not see how the evils of monopoly can be met otherwise. Of coarse, the Central Provinces system would reduce the number of wholesale vendors. This would not be an evil. The system is really one of auctioning the right of wholesale vend over certain areas.

In my table appended to my memorandum, column 41 does not include brokers' fees, which are paid in court-fee stamps. There are no storage fees in our system at present, as there is no Government store. Nor does column 41 include "import pass fees" and " Gola rent," which are shown under "Excise—Miscellaneous."

Column 42 shows the amount of ganja on which duty is realised. It therefore includes the ganja sent to the North-Western Provinces and Nepal (470 maunds in 1892-93). It does not include what is sent to Assam, for duty on it is not realised here. It does include that sent to Kuch Behar, for which there is, I understand, no special arrangement. Therefore columns 32, 37 and 12 include figures relating to consumption in the North-Western Previnces, Nepal and Kuch Behar.

The column about wholesale vendors is blank ; because there is no payment made by them, except the fee on passes and (in certain cases) gola rent. They receive licenses without fee on application to the Collector. In some districte the number of goladars is more than is required. In some there are fewer than is required; and we have to break up monopolies. The subject receives departmental attention from this point of view.

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