Thoughts from the void: Memorandum on Hemp Drugs in Jaisalmere State 1894

Memorandum on Hemp Drugs in Jaisalmere State, Vol 3, Report of the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission, 1894-1895, https://digital.nls.uk/74464868

In the Jaisalmere State the hemp plant does not grow spontaneously. There are only three parganas where it is cultivated. In about 3 hals( 6 1/5 acres) in Jaisalmere itself and about 1/3 of a hal each in Deva and Fatehgarh the cultivation is carried on every year. Thus, in the whole State, only about 8 acres of land is being cultivated; the average production is estimated to be 33 maunds of "bhang" and "ganja." The cause of its not being cultivated in other parganas is the want of water required for its irrigation. In some parganas there being salt water, its cultivation cannot be carried on at all. The cultivation not being prohibited by the Darbar, the plant is left altogether uncontrolled. It is generally cultivated with vegetables and irrigated with well water. It is never cultivated in a separate area preserved for its own cultivation, as in other provinces. 2. The hemp plant is called by two names, male and female (cultivated). "Bhang" is the name applied to the dry leaves of the hemp plant, whether male or female. But the female plant, having little intoxication as well as not giving flowers (used as ganja) is not cultivated in the country. "Ganja" is the name applied to the dry flowering-tops of cultivated male plant (not female as explained by Dr. Prain) which have become coated with resin in consequence of their inability to set seeds freely. "Charas" is not produced in this country, nor does any one consume it. The varieties of "ganja" explained by Dr. Prain in the introductory of the Commission's questions regarding hemp drugs are neither known nor sold in this country. It is never trodden nor rolled under foot here. The leaves and the seeds having been separated, the dried flowers are selected and sprinkled over with water. They are then broken by hands and smoked. But as the flower-tops of "ganja" are detached from the twigs, whether the detachment has been accidental or deliberate, it may not be improper to call it "chur" or "broken ganja." 3. The hemp drugs are not manufactured and sold in the State. The plants are purchased by the consumers from the malis who cultivate them, and the preparations are made by them in their own houses. Sometimes the shop-keepers purchase these plants, and prepare and sell them to the consumers. 4. Owing to the want of good administration of the Customs Department, no statistics are available from year 1872-73, but as the new reforms were introduced in 1884 in this department, the customs statistics have been obtained from that year. From the statistics, however, it appears that these drugs were never imported or exported even in a small quantity during the past ten years (from 1884 to 1893). This shows that only the amount produced in this country was consumed by the people, and they had no need of either importing or exporting the drug, either for personal consumption or for trade. 5. There are no special acts or rules in respect to the control of these drugs, nor is there any controlling officer. They are, however, controlled by the customs officer as far as import and export is concerned. 6. The Customs Department levies an import duty of Rs. 3 per maund and a transit duty of Re. 1-8-0 per maund on these drugs; the export duty being exempted by the Darbar. 7. Besides the customs duty there is no direct or indirect tax imposed on the preparation or cultivation of ganja and bhang. The malis pay the usual tax for the land they cultivate, but no special tax for the cultivation of hemp plant is levied. 8. No case of smuggling "bhang" and "ganja" has come to notice up to this time, but the customs officer is authorised to fine the persons smuggling drugs. 9. As a very small quantity of these drugs is produced, no modifications of the present system are under consideration.

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Wednesday, 3 June 2020

Memorandum on Hemp Drugs in Jaisalmere State 1894

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