‹‹‹ prev (7) [Page i][Page i]Questions framed by the Commission. Evidence before the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission, 1893-94

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it quite lose its effect in time? How long does
it keep good with ordinary care? What are the
causes of deterioration ? What special measures
can be taken to prevent deterioration ?                    

                             CHAPTER IV.

                                 TRADE.

(Statistics to be obtained from Government
offices.)

                        CHAPTER, V.

               CONSUMPTION OR USE.

NOTE.—It is very important, in answering the questions
framed under this chapter, to distinguish carefully between
ganja, charas, and bhang. The answer should deal only with
those forms of the drug known to the witness, and should clear-
ly specify in each case the form or forms to which his statements
apply.

19.  Are ganja and charas used only for smok-
ing ? If not, name any other uses to which either
is put, with particulars as to such uses, and the
places where they are prevalent.

20.  What classes and what proportion of the
people smoke ganja and charas respectively ? and
in what localities ?

21.  What kind of ganja (flat, round or "chur"")
is preferred for smoking? If different kinds are
used in different localities, give particulars.

22.   What charas, native or foreign, is chiefly
used ? If foreign, whence is it imported?

23.  Is bhang ever used for smoking? If so, in
what localities, by what classes of the people, and
to what extent?

24.   What classes and what proportions of the
people respectively (a) eat or (b) drink bhang, and
in what localities ?

25.  Is the use of ganja, charas, and bhang, or
of any of these drugs, on the increase or on the
decrease ?

Give any reasons you are able.

26.   State for each of these drugs what propor-
tion of the consumers are—

(a) Habitual moderate consumers,

(b) Habitual excessive consumers,

(c)   Occasional moderate consumers,

(d)   Occasional excessive consumers.

27.  What classes of the people are each of
these mainly taken from, and what in each case
are the habits of life or circumstances which
mainly lead to the practice?

28.  What is the average allowance and cost of
each of these drugs per diem to—

(a)   Habitual moderate consumers,

(b)   Habitual excessive consumers ?

29.   What ingredients are (a) ordinarily or (b)
exceptionally mixed with any of these drugs by
the different classes of consumers? Is dhatura so
used ? What is the object of these admixtures ?

Do you know of any preparation (such as" bhang
massala") which is sold for the purpose of being
mixed with any of these drugs ? Describe its
ingredients.

30.   (a) To what extent is the consumption of
each of these three drugs practised in solitude or
in company ?

(b) Is it mainly confined to the male sex or to
any time of life?

(e) Is it usual for children to consume any of
these drugs ?

31.   (a) Is the habit of consuming any of these
drugs easily formed ?

(b) Is it difficult to break off ?

(e) Is there a tendency in the case of any of
these drugs for the moderate habit to develop into
the excessive ?

32.   (a) Mention any customs, social or religious,
in regard to the consumption of any of these
drugs. Give an account of every such custom.

(b)   Is the use of the drug in connection with
such custom regarded as essential ?

(c)   Is it generally temperate or excessive ?

(d)   Is it likely to lead to the formation of the
habit, or otherwise injurious ?

33.   (a) How is the consumption of each of
these drugs generally regarded ?

(b) Can it be said that there is any public opi-
nion (social or religious) in regard to the practice ?
If so, what? If you think that the use of any
form of the narcotic is generally in disrepute, to
what do you attribute that sentiment?

(c) Is there any custom of worshipping the
hemp plant on certain occasions by certain sects of
the people ?                                                       

34.   Would it be a serious privation to any
class of consumers to forego the consumption of
the drug they use ? Give your reasons in each
case. Give some idea of the probable numbers
of each class.

35.   (a) Would it be feasible to prohibit the use
of any or all of these drugs ?

(b) Would the drug be consumed illicitly ?

(c) How could the prohibition be enforced ?

(d) Would the prohibition occasion serious dis-
content among the consumers?

(e) Would such discontent amount to a political
danger?

(f) Would the prohibition be followed by
recourse to (a) alcoholic stimulants or (b) other
drugs ?

36.  Is there any reason for thinking that al-
cohol is now being to a certain extent substituted
for any of these drugs? If so, to what causes
do you attribute this change, and what proof is
there of its reality ?

                               CHAPTER VI.

                                 EFFECTS.

NOTE.—It is very important, in answering the questions
framed under this chapter, to distinguish carefully between
ganja, charas, and bhang. The answer should deal only
with the form of hemp known to witness, and should
clearly specify in each case the form or forms ho which his
statements apply, and the particular experiences on which
they are based. Question 56 deals with the effect of
admixtures. This should also be referred to in answering
any question where any such admixture generally affects
the case. But the answer ought, in the first instance, to
deal with the effect of the hemp drug apart from any such
admixture.

37. Are the effects of charas smoking different
in any particular from those resulting from ganja
smoking ? If so, state the difference.

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