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

KOTAH STATE MEMORANDUM, Vol 3, Report of the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission, 1894-1895, https://digital.nls.uk/74464868

Letter No. 3772, dated 25th September 1893, of the Agent to the Governor-General in Rajputana, together with its enclosure, reached me. In reply to paragraph 2 it is stated that very little ganja and bhang are cultivated in this State and their consumption is very little, hence it would not be necessary to send anybody from here to appear before the Commission as witness. The questions of the Commission are answered as below:— There is no supervision of the State on the production of ganja and bhang. No ganja or bhang is made in this State; a very small quantity of bhang grows here, which is consumed locally. It is imported from other parts of the country. Ganja is imported from Jhallawar, Gwalior, and Tonk. No duty is levied on bhang which grows in this State; but when it is imported into the Kotah city a duty of Re. 1 per maund is levied like the articles imported from foreign country and the transit duty is charged 8 annas per maund. A duty of Re. 1 per maund, like bhang, is levied on ganja when imported from other country. The transit duty is the same as for bhang. If charas is imported the duty is charged at the rate of one anna per rupee on its price. No charas grows here, nor is it made. Ten years before charas used to be imported here, but since then no import is made. There are two kinds of bhang, viz., "Deshi" and "Ujjaini." The colour of deshi bhang is green and that of Ujjaini yellow and grey. It is more intoxicating than deshi bhang. There are two kinds of ganja, viz., "deshi" and "baluchar." As far as it has been ascertained the baluchar ganja is known here only by name. It is neither imported nor consumed here. These are the following answers to the questions asked for:— A very small quantity of ganja and bhang is consumed in this State, and on account of their less demand the State has only ordinary supervision in the district by nazims and in the city by the Revenue Superintendent. There is a ruling of 1881 about buying, selling, and possessing intoxicating drugs, but on account of the above reasons it is not in force. As far as it has been ascertained, no wild bhang grows here, nor is it used in medicines; consequently there is no supervision. There is no regular cultivation of ganja and bhang in this State on any piece of land. Some seeds only are thrown in the cultivation of poppy, where they grow up. Some "majum" is made out of that bhang, and there is no restriction about keeping this, because people here give preference to opium, which grows so freely and abundantly. Neither is there any permission nor prohibition to the cultivation of ganja and bhang: the cultivation is not made on any special piece of land, nor is there any special body who import these drugs; for this reason there is no rule to grant licenses for the same. Everybody can import and export ganja and bhang, but no one can sell them with the exception of the contractors. There is no necessity for wholesale seller in this State: the work is carried on by retail seller, who gets contract from the State annually on the highest bid. In the district nazims sanction these contracts on those places which have been authorized by the Revenue Superintendent. No tax other than the contract money is levied on these articles, No condition or terms are settled on the sale between the wholesale and retail sellers. In the district bhang is sold from 2 annas to 3 annas per seer and in the Kotah city at 4 annas per seer. There is no ruling up to what quantity of bhang the retail seller or consumer can keep with him. As when there is no ruling for any fixed quantity of bhang, the people do not therefore try to smuggle the drug but openly export and import the same. Until some new restrictions be put on its cultivation or possession, no amendment in the present state of affairs is necessary.
KOTAH; CHOBE RAGHUNATH DASS, The 25th November 1893. Revenue Superintendent, Kotah State

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Memorandum on Hemp Drugs in Kotah State 1894

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