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

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

(1) The hemp plant is grown here only for use as bhang. Its cultivation is not in any way controlled by the Raj. (2) Ganja and charas are not manufactured here from the products of the hemp (bhang) plants. Both these drugs are imported from Hoshiarpur and the Punjab. Bhang of a quality superior to what is locally produced is also imported here to some extent. The sale of bhang, charas, and ganja is not in any way controlled by the Raj. Anybody can, at any place, open shops for the sale of these drugs. (3) Customs duty only is levied by the Raj on bhang, charas, and ganja. The customs duty on the export and import of bhang as well as on its import into the capital city from the districts is Re. 1 per maund. The "mapa" or inland customs duty on bhang is 4 annas per maund. The customs duty on the import of charas is at Rs. 20 per maund and on that of ganja is at the rate of Rs. 4 per maund. (a) No particular system is in existence here regarding the growth of the hemp plant or the sale of its products. (b) Wild hemp is not found in abundance anywhere in the Jeypore territory. The hemp plant, whether wild or cultivated, is only used as bhang and not made to yield either charas or ganja. About 10,000 maunds of bhang is produced in the Jeypore territory. No attempt is made here to control the possession or sale of this drug. (c) The hemp plant is not at all cultivated here for the production of ganja or charas, but only for use as bhang. The cultivation of bhang plants in this part of the country is neither prohibited nor restricted to any particular locality. (d) Charas is imported here by the Afghans and the Kabulis and ganja and bhang by native traders. All imports into and exports from the British territory of bhang, charas, and ganja are covered under Government license, and when exported from other Native States, under the customs pass (rawana) of that State. All goods allowed to pass into the territory after being examined by the customs chaukies, which are located at places where traffic is generally carried on. Bhang is exported from here to other neighbouring Native States, but before allowing it to pass in any quantity, the Customs Department requires the intending exporter to give security that the drug will not be smuggled into any other place. (e) The wholesale and retail vendors of bhang, charas, and ganja are not under any control, nor are they required to obtain license from the Raj. (f) Besides the customs duty as mentioned in paragraph No. 3, no other tax is levied by the Raj on bhang, charas, or ganja. (g) The number and sites of the retail shops of any of these drugs are neither fixed here by the Raj nor put to auction sale. The vendors are quite free to open shops anywhere they like in the territory. (h) The Raj does not fix any rate at which the drug must be supplied by wholesale to retail vendors. The average retail price (to consumers) of bhang is Rs. 13 per maund, of ganja Rs. 25 per maund, and of charas of the first quality Rs. 160 per maund and of the second quality Rs. 100 per maund. These prices of the drugs do not differ much in different districts. (i) Neither any maximum amount is fixed for retail sales to, or possession by, the ordinary consumer, nor any minimum price is fixed for the drugs. (j) There is no reason to believe that smuggling of bhang, charas or ganja from other provinces or other Native States prevails here to any extent; and to prevent smuggling of all articles on which customs duty is due to the Raj, it is provided in the rules of the Customs Department that the smuggler, when detected, forfeits the goods smuggled. The cultivation, possession, or sale of these drugs, however, is not in any way restricted by the Raj. (k)No excise system in respect to hemp drugs exists in the Jeypore territory. (l) It has been already stated that the hemp plant is grown here only for use as bhang; and as it is not cultivated here as a separate crop, but grown along with other crops, the extent of its cultivation cannot therefore be ascertained. About 27 maunds of bhang is exported from the Jeypore territory and about 50 maunds of bhang is carried from one district to another within the Jeypore territory, and about 300 maunds are imported into the city from the districts and about 64 maunds are imported from abroad. Thus about 364 maunds of bhang is consumed in the city. The amount of consumption in the districts and the holdings of jagirdars and others cannot be ascertained. About 54 maunds of ganja and about 129 maunds of charas are imported into this place; but as no further duty is levied on any of these drugs, if they are taken from one district to another, it cannot be said how much of the quantity imported is consumed in the city and how much of it is taken into the districts. Besides the Customs duty, no land revenue is derived by the Raj from the cultivation of the hemp (bhang) plant. (m) There are no other points to be added to make the system complete and intelligible.

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Memorandum on Hemp Drugs in Jeypore State 1894

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