Volume 7

Report of the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission, 1893-1894.

  • India. Hemp Drugs Commission.
Date:
2010
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: Report of the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission, 1893-1894. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    31/430 (page 11)
    smoker, but I do not know anything about his smoking on that particular oc- casion.”’ On the other hand, another witness, Mr, Dyer’s butler, said in evi- dence: “I have. known accused about four or five months,. I do not know any- thing about bis using: ganja.” There is no other reference to hemp drugs in all the evidence except in the statement of the Assistant Surgeon, who on 4th Novem- ber 1887, said: “1 know the accused Kun- jandas since the 9th ultimo, when he was lodged in the Alibag jal * * * . I found him on that occasion to be suffering from narcotism ; and from the subsequent observation, I am of opinion that this was produced by the excessive use of some pre- paration of hemp, probably ganja.” This Assistant Surgeon was not examined as to the grounds of this opinion, but generally remarked that “the whole of the symp=- toms were consistent with a severe bout of ganja-smoking, lasting up to 8th ultimo inclusive.” There is no mention anywhere of the prisoner asking for bhang ; but in a letter of the Assistant Surgeon (not in his evidence) it is stated that the man asked for ganja and tobacco. (11) The Panwell case.—The accused was a Brahman, said to have entered a temple and ‘found Parbatti’s idol therein so her down, breaking her into seven pieces.” He was then insane and incapable of mak- ing his defence, He was tried two months afterwards, and was discharged by the there is evidence enough to persuade me to put the accused on his defence,’ Mr. Sinclair is therefore mistaken as to the termination of the case. The man was not acquitted on the ground of insanity, but discharged for want of evidence. As to the cause of insanity, the papers show that the man was “insane for twelve years—an attack every year or two ;” that the attack was preceded by “dissolute were “ ganja-smoking, Dissipation. Being rejected and deceived by bis paramour,” It is also stated that his father was epileptic and his own health “ below par.’? Oral evidence, I have been 25 years in the Civil Service. I have served in every province in the presidency except North Canara. 1 bave little personal acquaint- ance with the subject and have already placed at the disposal of the Commission the information I was able to collect. Speaking generally, I think the hemp drugs have no effect to speak of on the health of the people of this presidency. I regard it as a negligible effect, I think it may fairly be so described and I so treat it in my own administration, I have known only three cases in my experience in which there was any apparent connection between hemp drugs and crime. The one is over twenty years old; and I have no details of any value about it. I did not try it. The other tio eases are the Kennery Island case and the Panwell ease. I have already brought these cases to the notice of the Commission and placed them (through their Secretary) in the way of obtaining full in- formation regarding them, These are the only cases in which I have traced any connection between hemp drugs and crime. The Medical Officer (Dr. Pereira) concerned in the Kennery Island and Panwell cases is still in the same sta- tion. I have no reason to think prohibition is called for. Had I thought 80, I should have had more to say. A thing which so little obtrudes itself does not require such a measure. I believe in restric- tion, Ican refuse and have refused new shops where not required. T can close any shop if it appears to be doing harm. I am not asked to I have complete power. Butthere are no appreciable effects. I find villagers object sometimes to a liquor shop, But 1 have never had any objection made to a bhang and ganja shop. I consider that there is a margin for increasing taxation, having regard to the price of other intoxi- cants, the fact that the drugs are mainly used by the poor, and the danger of smuggling, It is difficult to judge from my experience, as my farms are suburban, and have to be considered in view of the Bombay contracts. Sut I consider that there might be a margin, I may add that the poorest of the poor drink toddy and spirits and consumers are not always the poorest. My view of the general object of Government administration of the drugs is that it aims first of all at regulating their use and preventing intoxica- The making of revenue is a secondary object altogether, I have no suggestions to make in regard to the present system to improve it in view of these two objects. It might be different if I were serving in a country where the drugs were much used. In my district, as I bave said, their effects are practically a negligible quantity. In any case, if anything was done to raise the price of ganja materially, it might be necessary to have subservient legislation regarding dhatura. 1. By serving for 24 years in various districts in the various grades of the Civil Service, 2. In this district Bhang means powdered ganja. It is not known as subzi, ete. Charas is not used in Belgaum at all. ‘The definition of ganja ap- plies. Only flat ganja is sold in Belgaum. It is simply known as ganja. 3. The ganja plant grows wild, to a very small extent in this district. It is xo¢ cultivated in Bel- gaum atall. It is said to grow freely in Satara and Ahmednagar, but I have not been there, 4, Bombay hemp is called ¢ag iu Marathi, Ordinary hemp—amadi in Marathi, puxdiin Kanarese. Both grown for fibres in this district. Only used for fibres. Ganja hemp is the name applied solely to the variety of which the drug is formed. 5. This district is 2,000 feet above sea-level.