Drug Abuse

21. .Evidence of MR. T. L. JENKINS, Magistrate and Collector of Dacca

2. The definitions given may be accepted for this district with this modification, that the " round ganja" also includes ganja with small twigs which have no rounded shape. These pass as "round ganja" in this and several other districts.

3. In all the districts of the Rajshahi Division, in Murshidabad and Dacca the hemp plant grows spontaneously. In Manikganj sub-division of Dacca it is abundant.

4. By bhang and siddhi as distinguished from ganja. The bhang or siddhi plant and the ganja plant are easily distinguishable by their appearance. The leaves of the former are dark green and thick, while those of the latter are light green and thinner.

5. The plant grows abundantly in low, damp, and soft soil. Excessive rain injures the plants and causes their leaves to lose narcotic properties.
Magistrate and Collector of Dacca.

6. The growth of the wild hemp is ordinarily dense.

7. There is no cultivation of the hemp plant for production of ganja or charas in this district. Sometimes plants growing from the seeds of ganja purchased at the licensed shops are preserved and reared with care by some consumers, evidently with the object of obtaining ganja from them, or of using their leaves as intoxicants.

The dried leaves of wild bhang plants are sometimes stored for use as bhang or as a remedy for cattle disease. The plants are not used for their fibre or seeds.

8. The growth of wild bhang plants is being greatly restricted by the action of the excise and police officers.

9. When wild bhang plants are reared, cow-dung, oil cakes, ashes, and burnt earth are put on the soil as manure. Milk is poured upon the plant in the belief that it causes flowering.

10. No; the persons who thus cultivate the wild bhang do not form a special class.

11. It is believed that the plants cultivated for the production of ganja are never raised from the seed of the wild hemp.

12. See answer to question 7. Such cases are not common in this district, and are not confined to any particular locality. The dale plant is not extirpated in such cases, as the cultivator here cannot distinguish between male and female plants.

13. Babu Hem Chandra Kerr's report may be referred to for an answer to this question.

14. (a) Very seldom.
(b) Never.
(c) Bhang is generally prepared in this district from the wild hemp.

15. The bhang from the wild plant is usually prepared by letting the branches or leaves dry in the sun and then storing these up. A more costly method of preparation is boiling the leaves with milk and water. The leaves are afterwards dried in the sun and stored. This practice is resorted to by few only.
In rare instances the dried leaves are smoked when sometimes they are mixed with ganja. Ishang is commonly drunk. The drink is prepared by grinding the bliang leaves with bhang massala, a compound consisting of the following ingredients, and by making a dilution of the paste : —Coriander, black-pepper, salt, sugar, cucumber seed, kabu, kasni, gokkhur kinta, aniseed, poppy-seeds, rose petal, dhatura roots.
The latter is sometimes made into pills and eaten or swallowed with water. To add to its flavour, rose-water or attar, cocoanut, water, or the juice of its kernel are blended with the mixture.
Ganja is smoked with tobacco leaves. Ganja is sometimes added as a remedy against coughing.

16. (a) Bbang is generally prepared by the people in their houses.
(b) Yes.
(c) No. As far as is known here.

17. By all classes of people the preparation of bhang is made. The lower classes specially use it for medicinal purposes. The higher classes use it for intoxication and benefit of health. There is an adage that siddhi increases budhi (intelligence).

18. These drugs deteriorate by keeping, and lose their effect in time. Ganja keeps for 2 years ; chants for one year; and bliang cue year. The cause of deterioration of ganja and charas is the drying of the resinous substance. Bhang is liable to be eaten by worms. To prevent rapid deterioration, ganja should be packed with straws and kept in gunny bags in dry warehouses.

19. Yes; though in very rare cases ganja is eaten by chewing after stripping it of leaves. Majum is prepared both from genie or bhang, which is mixed with ghee (and sometimes milk) and sugar. The confection thus made is eaten as a sweetmeat. Charas is exclusively used for smoking.

20. About 60,000 of the total district population (2,420,394) smoke ganja. With but a very few exceptions, they are males, and belong to all classes of people. The majority of the consumers are tradesmen, labourers, fishermen, Baishnabs, Baul, sanyasis, or recluses. The Multamrnadans form a minor portion, say one-fourth of the total number of consumers.
About 10,000 people use bhang. They belong to all classes. Many take it as a medicine in bowel complaints and some as a prophylactic in cholera epidemic.
The use of charm is confined to a very limited section of the people in the town. The number of consumers is estimated to be only 100 persons.

21. Flat ganja is preferred for smoking. It is said that it possesses more narcotic properties than the other two varieties.

22. Charas is imported from Calcutta.

23. The poorest consumers who cannot afford to pay for ganja regularly, occasionally smoke bhang.

24. See answer to question 20.

25. The use of ganja is on the increase in consequence of the enhanced price of country spirit. Several drinkers who cannot afford to pay for the liquor have taken to ganja. The allowance of each consumer has, however, been decreased owing to the increased price of the drug and of food-grains. The consumption of charm has been almost stationary, and that of bhang has decreased in consequence of the action taken in destroying the wild bhang plants.

26.

SO far as this district is concerned.

27. The habitual moderate consumers of ganja are the tradesmen, labourers, cultivators, fishermen, and the higher classes (bhadr a lokes). Byre-gis, Bauls, sanyasis are usually habitual excessive consumers. Occasional moderate and excessive consumers are taken from those classes. At festive gatherings, such as those at Trinath persons take ganja in moderate quantity. The habitual excessive consumers of bhang are generally up-countrymen. On the occasion of festivals, such as Daserah, Goraknath Puja, Madan Chaturdasi, bhang is consumed in moderate and excessive quantities among the Hindu communities.
The labouring classes generally resort to the smoking of ganja as a sedative after hard work—the hard labour they have to perform in the sun or water. The habit is also contracted by associating with the ganja smokers.

28. Ganja—

29. Ganja is ordinarily mixed with tobacco leaves and exceptionally mixed with bhang, ginger, opium, charas, dhatura seeds, sandalwood, chilly seeds, milk, curd, rosewater, and attar. The object of this admixture is to heighten the intoxicating power or to add flavour.

Charas is ordinarily used with the prepared tobacco to make it soft and easy of smoking.

As regards bhang massala, please refer to answer to question 15.

30. Ganja and charas are usually smoked in company. Bhang is taken both in solitude and in company. Habitual moderate consumers of the lhadra loke class and many cultivators take ganja in solitude. The consumption of ganja and charas is mainly confined to the male sex and not to any particular period of life. It is not usual for children to consume any of these drugs.
Bhang is used by both males and females. The latter take it mostly as a medicine.

31. The habit of consuming ganja and charas is easily formed. Once formed, it is difficult to break it off. In case of consumers frequently associating themselves with veteran consumers or obtaining ganja with little or no cost, the moderate habit has the tendency to develop into the excessive habit.
Bhang is much more harmless in this respect.

32. The only social ceremonies in which ganja is used by the people of this district are locally known as " Trinather may." and " Gorakyanather puja.." " Trinath " is a change for Trailakyanath or Mahadeb. The mêla is a social gathering in honour of the deity Mahadeb. Hence the name "Trinather mêla." The ceremony of worship is not gone through on such occasions, nor is there any specific time for it. It is held after nightfall in the houses of Hindus of all classes. It has now almost fallen into disuse among the higher classes of the community. A few of the bhadra lokes now allow the ceremony to be performed at the special request of their dependants of the lower class. There is no idol made on this occasion, as is generally done for other pujas. The people congregate in an open space of the house or in an outer room, where, in front of the assembled men, a pice worth of ganja, of oil, and of betels and nuts are kept ready. With the oil a lamp is lit and with the ganja three kalkis or chillums are prepared and placed before the lamp. The people then begin to sing Baulak songs in a chorus, and, while so singnig, the persons, three at a time, smoke the three chillums. The ceremony is over with the extinction of the lamp, and the persons then disperse to their own houses. No Brahmin is required for this ceremony, nor do the females take part in the proceedings.
Siddhi or bhang is used on the occasions of Gorakyanather puja and Nowami Dasserah. G oraknath signifies the deity that protects the bovine species. When a cow brings forth its first calf, the deity is invoked for her well being, and also for oblations offered for the blessings thus conferred on the family. Accordingly, on the 20th day after the birth of the calf, a ceremony is held for the worship of the god. On this occasion pills or balls are made of bhang powder or paste mixed with the milk of the cow and sugar. Ihe pills are then distributed among the cowherds and others, who chant a legend of Goraknath. The pills or balls are eaten after the chanting ceases.
On the third day of the Durga puja festival (Nowami), bhang or siddhi is drunk by persons of all classes and ages in the Hindu community, and the same custom is repeated on the following day, Bijaya Dosami, after the ceremony of the immersion of the idol. The custom is not now universally observed. The use of the drug in connection with these customs is regarded essential and is temperate. It is not likely to lead to the formation of the habit of indulging in the drugs, nor is it otherwise injurious.

33. The consumption of ganja and charas is not favourably regarded by the people, and, in the case of excessive consumers, the general feeling is one of aversion. They are called ganja-khors from the fact of their always having a peevish and irritable temper. The Hindus are a peace-loving nation, and anything that tends to disturb their peace of mind is disliked by them. There is no such feeling in regard to the drinking of
bhang.
To the Muhammadans, the use of any narcotic is forbidden by their religion, and they look with abhorrence on those that are addicted to it.
The custom of worshipping the hemp plant is not prevalent in this district.

34. It would be a serious privation to the habitual excessive consumers as also to the labouring classes habituated to a moderate use of the drug to forego its consumption. The habitual excessive consumers will be driven to the necessity of resorting to some other kind of narcotic more deleterious and expensive, say dhatura and opium. The moderate consumers of the labouring classes will he deprived of a stimulant in which they find soothing relief from the bodily pains caused by hard labour. For example, the Jaulahs, or fishermen, who, by the very nature of their calling, are required to remain in water for the most part of the day, smoke ganja to invigorate their system, and to deprive them of the drug would be to interfere with their means of livelihood.

35. No; it would not be feasible to prohibit the use of any or all of these drugs. The drug would be consumed illicitly. It is hopeless to attempt prohibition by legal enactments. The prohibition would occasion serious discontent among the consumers, particularly among the excessive and moderate consumers of ganja and of bhang, in certain localities, where it is used as medicine or in connection with the social or religious ceremonies, such as have been described above. The prohibition would lead to rioting. The suppression of the trade in ganja would be followed by recourse to dhatura and opium.

36. No.

37. Yes ; ganja-smoking acts more instantaneously on the brain than charas-smoking.

38. No.

39. The smoking of ganja and eharas is certainly a less injurious form of consumption than eating or drinking the same. Very few resort to the latter practice when smoking failed to produce sufficient intoxication.

40. Yes; the use of bhang is prescribed on account of its medicinal qualities by the kabirajes. Gan ja is used in the preparation of oil by a certain class of native doctors. In cattle diseases bhang is used.

41. The moderate use of ganja or bhang may be beneficial in its effects of one or the other kind as described in (a), (b), and (c)    Bhang is used
as a food accessory or digestive by the bhadra lokes and up-country men, and also for the preservation of health. The labouring classes smoke ganja to obtain staying-power under severe exertion or exposure, or to alleviate fatigue.
Both ganja and bhang, but specially the latter, is used as a prophylactic for cholera.

43. Yes.

44. Yes; it is refreshing and produces intoxication, though its intensity varies with persons of different constitutions. Bhang creates appetite. The effect lasts in the case of hhang ten or twelve hours and in the case of ganja and charas two or three hours. The after-effects of the use of ganja are dullness, languor, and debility. The want of subsequent gratification produces intense desire and uneasiness.

45. If milk and other nutritious food is taken, the moderate consumers of ganja keep very good health. They can work very hard, and are seen in no way deficient, either mentally or morally. The habitual moderate use does not produce any of the noxious effects mentioned in this question.
Bhang is perfectly innocuous.

46. The habitual excessive use of all these drugs produces all these noxious effects.

47. No. 49. No.

51 and 52. No; I do not think the excessive or moderate use of ganja has any connection with the commission of crime in general or with crime of any special character, or with the preparation to commit such crime.

53 to 55. No.

56. Bhang used even in moderation with milk or sugar causes more, and when drunk with salt and black-pepper produces less, intoxication. Ganja smoked with tobacco leaves produces ordinary intoxication. In a very few cases dbatura is used with ganja for personal consumption with the object of obtaining the highest inebriation.

57. See answer to question 39.

58. The present system of excise administration in respect of hemp drugs is working fairly well, but not quite satisfactorily. Various experiments were made in this district for regulatiug the taxation of ganja, chiefly by means of license fees. With a view to obtain the highest amount of revenue, the farming or monopoly system was gradually introduced till nearly three-fourths of the total number of shops passed into the hands of the monopolists, who offered very large increase of fees. This tended to force up the selling price to an abnormally high rate, and to restrict seriously the consumption, to the great hardship of the consumers, who formed the bulk of the poorer classes. Illicit sales sprang up. The practice of storing up wild bliang became prevalent, and there were many convictions for illicit possession of bhang. Thus, what was gained in license fee was lost in duty. To remedy the abuse, the monopoly was broken up and the licenses were settled with independent purchasers at less fees. The prices went down to the level of the adjoining district, and the sales received an expansion. The consumers felt great relief, and illicit sales gradually disappeared. The decrease in license fees was more than counterbalanced by the increase in duty. From last year, however, the upset prices have been fixed at very high rates, without regard to local conditions.

This has been aggravated by the steady enhancement of duty. The independent vendors being unable to pay increasei fees have been driven out by a body of monopolists. The old state of things has again been revived. Ganja is being sold at prohibitive prices in the town-1132 to 40 a seer. The consumption has again been greatly reduced.

I would break up the monopoly again by reducing the license fees, which should be fixed according to the circumstances peculiar to each locality. The upset prices fixed by the Collector should not be raised by the higher authorities without adequate reasons and without consulting him. The checking of consumption should be secured by the raising of duty and not by increasing the license fees. lhe present mode of fixing the fees by auction may be continued. People can never be made sober by compulsion. Ganja is taken by a large number of poor people as a palliative for pain induced by hard physical labour. It is also taken for the power it gives to the consumers to bear hardship, privation, and exposure in all sorts of weather. Some also take the drug for its medicinal properties. The number of excessive consumers is certainly not large. To deprive a large body of consumers who do not misuse the drug is not a sound and good policy.

59. Except on the lines indicated above, the present system does not, in my opinion, admit of improvement.

60. I am told that ganja is frequently smuggled from the producing tracts. This is possible, because the stock of the cultivators is not properly taken. It should he actually weighed. Mere numbering the bundles is not sufficient, as a dishonest cultivator can pick out sticks of ganja from several packets and make them into a separate bundle for sale. Ganja is also, I believe, picked out in the fields and sold by travellers. It should be placed on the same footing as opium and declared contraband when duty on it has not been paid

61. Charas is not produced, I think, in Bengal.

62. I do not think any such control feasible. The plant grows wild all Over the province, more or less, and to make the owners of land on which it grows destroy it on pain of penalty might be oppressive. Recently such a measure was taken ; but it was given up as being almost impracticable.

63. None.

64. No.

65. Yes.

66. Yes ; according to the proportion of flowers each variety of ganja contains.

67. None ; except to some minor points noticed in answer to question 58 above.

68. Yes ; the practice of smoking ganja on the premises of the shop is not very common ; but I think it is least objectionable, as it does not lead to any social or moral vice.

69. This is being done in recent years. The excise officers inspecting shops always listen to complaints whenever made. As a matter of fact, the people have not the same prejudice against these shops as they have against the liquor shops, unless they are roused by interested persons. Any complaint or objection on the part of the public is always considered.

70. Not in this district. I believe untaxed siddhi obtained from the wild bbang plants is in use at some places. No case of smuggling in ganja has yet come to notice.

Oral evidence.
Question 1.--I have been sixteen years in the service working in Behar and Eastern and Northern Bengal. The greater portion of my service has been passed in Behar.

Question 46.—My written answer is based partly on experience, such as seeing cases in the lunatic asylum, and cases coming before me in my capacity as Magistrate. But the cases of the litter sort are so few that I should not be justified in generalizing upon them. Other sources of my information are opinions furnished in answer to my enquiries and hearsay. My impressions are general. I have not made a study of the subject.

Question 59.-1 certainly do not think that there is any case for total prohibition of the hemp drugs. The principles by which the restrictions are at present regulated are sound. There may be defects in detail, which, however, are capable of correction without interfering with the system. I should say that the taxation of ganja has nearly reached the practical limit. The retail vendor makes very little profit, and the consumer will not be prepared to pay highei prices than he does now, for he belongs to the poorest classes of the population. This opinion is based on the facts I have given in answer to question 58.

< Prev		Next >