Cannabis and Belize

The last I came across news on Belize and its cannabis legalization initiatives was in 2021 at the height of the fake pandemic Covid. In February 2021, Breaking News Belize reported that marijuana legalization discussions were heating in the first virtual town hall of the government, with plans to complete regulations in two months. The next I heard was that an amendment had been introduced in the House of Representatives in July 2021 by the Minister of New Growth Industries. The amendment sought to establish regulations for businesses in the cannabis industry. Licensing and registration with oversight from a Commission would allow persons to cultivate, process, distribute and deliver cannabis across the country for adult use.

Belize is a beautiful country, as I have heard, with tourism being one of its major industries. The tropical climate of Belize will surely produce good quality cannabis that as a sustainable renewable crop can spawn multiple sustainable industries through sustainable economics, provide vast benefits in combating climate change and bringing precious revenue to the country which I assume is under threat from global warming and rising sea levels, besides the threat of synthetic drugs and alcohol.

The fake pandemic Covid, created by the industries opposed to cannabis, may have put the pause button on the cannabis legalization initiatives of many nations, and may have taken humanity a few steps backwards in its battle against global warming, specifically with the flooding of the world with synthetic pharmaceutical drugs and non-biodegradable petrochemical based plastics used for packaging synthetic medicines, besides masks, sanitizers, PPE kits, and so on...Nations like Belize, who are directly in the line of impacts of climate change, must push for complete legalization of cannabis as it is one of the last hopes to save humanity from human induced climate catastrophe, especially the most vulnerable nations and peoples of the world, besides the millions of other life forms that suffer for the folly of the few.

Related articles

https://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2021/01/28/discussion-marijuana-legalization-heats-up-in-first-virtual-town-hall-ministry-to-complete-regulations-within-two-months/

'During the sitting of the House of Representatives last Friday, the Minister of New Growth Industries, Hon. Kareem Musa, introduced a historic amendment to provide for the legalization of marijuana in Belize.

The act amends the Misuse of Drug Act, 103, to establish provision for the licensing and registration of enterprises operating in the cannabis industry. These special licenses, which will be granted by an Industrial Hemp and Cannabis Control Commission, will allow persons to cultivate, process, distribute and deliver cannabis across the country for adult use.'

https://amandala.com.bz/news/bill-to-legalize-it-introduced/

Raju the Plastic Scrap Collector

One day as I was walking around my place in Kumbanad, I came across a laptop bag in a relatively good condition. I remembered seeing a man walking past my house, pushing his bicycle carrying plastic bottles and other plastic waste. I decided that I would ask him the next I ran into him if the bag could be of any use to him.

He usually set off at around 6.45am from his house on top of the hill. I never saw him riding his cycle down. He was usually walking, smoking a beedi, and pushing his cycle. He sometimes went back to his house in the afternoon for food and rest before getting back to work again. His workday ended around 8.00pm in the evening, when he returned smoking a beedi, again pushing his cycle uphill to his house rather than riding it. On his way back, he generally had a few pieces of plastic scrap on his cycle, hanging from a gunny sack or placed on the carrier. We had run into each other a few times in the past three four years and had started acknowledging each other.

The next time I saw him, I asked him if he wanted the discarded laptop bag, and he said that he would take it. I asked him if he wanted the plastic and glass bottles that I generally came across on my property, mostly drinking water bottles or empty alcohol bottles that people passing by on the street tossed over the wall into my compound. He said that he would take the plastic bottles but not the glass ones since there was no scrap value for glass bottles. I was surprised to hear that. I told him that in Bengaluru glass bottles fetched a decent price of at least a rupee or two per bottle at the scrap yard. He said that around our place in Kumbanad, nobody was interested in glass bottles. I started placing the plastic bottles that I came across on the compound wall and he would pick them up the next time he passed by.

Gradually, from people around the place I gathered that his name was Raju. He lived alone in a hut on top of the hill. His mother had died when he was quite young, after which some people who did not have children had taken him away to another place where they looked after him for a few years before he returned back to stay alone in his hut. He had a sister who was married and lived with her family elsewhere. Most people who spoke about him said that he was not completely normal. People said that some money had been deposited into his account by those who had looked after him after his mother's death and that his sister or uncle had got him to sign and taken away the money.

I started speaking to him whenever I came across him. If he was passing by when I was clearing the wild vegetation that had grown since the last monsoon, I usually waved to him, and he would acknowledge it. Slowly, we started exchanging the typical civilities like - did you have your morning tea?

Raju had a wild Jimi Hendrix kind of look about him. He had a mop of curly hair on his head and an unshaved beard that was not thick. He had a youthful appearance about him, and I judged him to be in his late thirties. He generally wore a half shirt or t-shirt with his mundu and sandals. He was quite often smoking his beedi. He usually had his cycle with him though there were times when he walked to work without it.

As we started speaking more often, I learnt from him that a kilo of plastic waste fetched about Rs. 50. He would collect plastic through the day and deposit it at a scrap yard in Eraviperoor which was about 6-7 km from my place. Old women sometimes gave him a meal and he told me the names of a few who I was not familiar with. He said that my grandmother also used to feed him sometimes when he was young. He used to repeat many of the same things every time we meet. He almost always told me how my grandfather used to go out to work on the farm with only a towel around his waist, about where the old cowshed used to be, and how my grandfather had caught him one day on top of a tree trying to steal bird's eggs and asked him to come down. He seemed to be completely naive when it came to numbers and anything outside his world. When I told him that Bengaluru was about 650km away and Kochi about 120km away, he asked me which was further. He then asked me if Tiruvalla which was about 10km away was further away than Kochi. I was astonished by these questions and wondered whether he was pretending to be naive about this or genuinely ignorant. I started sharing my beedis with him whenever we met and, sometimes, we sat near the gate and spoke. He would abruptly get up and leave in the course of a conversation without saying another word. My mother gave him some plum cake one Christmas and he really liked it. He started asking for plum cake during Christmas after that and my mother made it a point to pack some for him whenever we were there. If he saw me working outdoors on his way to work he sometimes imitated an old lady's voice asking 'Mone, did you have your tea?' and when I looked up he would be standing on the other side of the wall with a big grin on his face.

Raju was like the local obituary reporter. Every time we met, he would tell me who had died recently in the vicinity, where and how. He more or less knew every house in the area. I, on the other hand, was only familiar with a few families since I had spent most of my life in Bengaluru. He would stop by and sit near my gate in the evening on his way back home if he spotted me. In his conversations he would make fun of all the rich people around gathering so much money which they cannot even take with them when they die. His job was extremely unrewarding and painful. He would constantly move around in the blazing sun throughout the day, covering distances of 20-30km on foot or cycle collecting plastic from wherever he found it and I doubted whether he made even 50 rupees in a day. When I met him sometimes in the afternoon, he would be breathing rapidly from the heat of the day and his work.

Around my place - and this, I think, is the story in much of Kerala - there were no means of plastic waste disposal until very recently. Even as the amount of plastic usage increased exponentially, and the government tried all sorts of plastic bans, almost no local panchayat had a system in place to collect and dispose plastic waste from households and commercial establishments. People burnt their plastic waste or buried it on their property or dumped it wherever they could. The pristine greenery of the Kerala landscape has been slowly transformed into increasingly growing patches of plastic waste that now dot the landscape. It is only recently that the local panchayats have set up plastic waste collection systems but these too are selective with only certain plastic items being collected while others are rejected. It was common for medical waste to be found dumped on roadsides during the Covid fake pandemic. A few days back, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered that medical and plastic waste dumped illegally by the Regional Cancer Center (RCC), Thiruvananthapuram, in Thirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, be transported back to Kerala. In this scenario, people like Raju collecting plastic waste from door to door for years now had managed to keep the menace relatively in control until recently.

I slowly started giving him a little money when we met, generally a hundred or two hundred rupees, thinking it will ease his burden a bit. He used to eat all his meals outside and did not do any cooking at home. His meals were usually bought from roadside food stalls or small hotels. At other times, old ladies gave him a meal if he happened to be around at mealtimes. I saw him once walking down the hill at around 1pm. He said that he was going to a wedding in the church nearby to gorge on the food served there. It appears that he was well known around the place and people did not mind him turning up at weddings around lunch time. I asked him why he did not cook his own meals. I said that it was much healthier for him and more cost-effective to cook simple meals at home rather than eating food from the wayside hotels all the time. He said that he had problems with cats around his house and that they would eat anything he cooked before he came back from his work.

During my walks across the hill, I saw a path branching out from the road to a small house. The house was neat and had straw curtains on all sides. One day I had heard Malayalam film music being played on a radio from the house. I thought that this was Raju's house and that he seemed to be managing things well and enjoying himself. One day, however, I saw a stranger standing outside the house. I asked him if Raju lived there. He said no, and pointed me to a place on top of the hill. I then suddenly remembered seeing a house at the topmost part of the hill when I had been scouting a new route around the hill. This was a house that looked uninhabited, a little away from the other houses on the hill. The settlement on the hill mainly comprised of persons from the indigenous communities who had apparently been brought there by one of my grandfather's brothers to work on his plantation around 60-70 years back. Over the years the settlement had evolved from thatched huts to quaint little concrete houses and the generations that live there include the fourth or fifth since my grandfather's time. There are probably about 20 families staying in the settlement now. This house that stood a little away was, however, in sharp contrast to the others. It had no paint or plaster on the cement walls and almost looked dilapidated. There was absolutely no vegetation around the house, unlike the other houses that had small kitchen gardens and flowering plants around them. Instead of a garden, this house had a skirt of plastic bottles around it that may have been about five meters in radius with the house at the center. This, I realized then, was where Raju lived.

The last time I met him was about three months back. I had traveled alone on that trip to Kerala. Raju came on the first or second day of my visit and asked me if I had any food. I had just cut down a bunch of plantain, so I gave him some plantain and biscuits along with a packet of beedis. He came back a few days later and asked me for two hundred rupees. I did not have change so I gave him fifty and said that I will give him some more money later. The man who helped me with harvesting the few black pepper plants I had at my place had recently fallen ill and was starting to become old. I asked Raju if he would help with harvesting the pepper in case the other person was unable to do so in future. Raju agreed. In my mind, I pictured giving Raju small pieces of work on the land and paying him for it. I felt that this would help him to reduce the time he spent rummaging for plastic and trying to sell it in the adverse weather conditions. I hoped that one day he would be able to do regular farm work in the surrounding places and people would start employing him. I found an old two-in-one radio and tape player in the almirah in my house and asked him if he had any use for it. He said that he would take it. I asked him if he had an electricity connection in his house and he said no. He said that he lit candles to manage for light in the dark. I told him that the two-in-one would need six batteries which could prove expensive for him. I showed him how he needed to place batteries to make it work. It took him some time to digest that six batteries were required and how they needed to be arranged in their slots. He kept the two-in-one behind my house, saying that he would come after dark and take it. It appeared that he did not want people to see him taking it to his house in daylight. As we were sitting in my living room and talking, the old lady who generally helped my mother in the kitchen came to the porch to speak to me. On seeing Raju sitting on a chair in the living room with me and talking to me, she said to Raju, 'Ha, is it you? How come you have gone inside the house and sat there?' On hearing this, he promptly got up and sat down on the ground near the doorstep. I told him that there was no need to do that as it was my house but he remained seated at the doorstep for the rest of our conversation. He said that during this Onam people had not been as kindhearted to him as before in terms of giving him food and money. He was planning to go to his sister's house the next day after Onam to stay there for a day. He was going to catch a bus, or a couple of them, to get there. He looked like he was looking forward to the visit.

When I went to Kerala around two weeks ago in December, I was informed by people that Raju had died about a week back. He had apparently got drunk on alcohol and fallen over in his house. His head had landed on a broken bottle and a glass shard from the bottle had pierced his head above his left eye. He was found lying in a pool of blood. Somebody passing by close to his house had heard a groan of pain and found him. The neighbours said that he had lain there for three to four days in this condition and the wound itself had turned septic. He died within a short time of being discovered. It seems that he would go on alcohol binges and not be seen for three-four days so nobody had suspected anything wrong when he had not been sighted for the last few days. The neighbours said that the house was a mess with broken bottles, plastic and clothes scattered everywhere. Somebody piled up all his belongings and set fire to them. The neighbours then washed and cleaned the place. The laid his body out and gave him a proper funeral. At the funeral, one of the elders spoke about how Raju had helped everybody keep their own houses clean by taking away their plastic waste.

I did not know that Raju drank alcohol much. I had never seen him drunk or even got a whiff of alcohol from him, otherwise I would have avoided giving him money. On one occasion I thought I smelt ganja in the beedis that he was smoking. When I asked him if he smoked ganja, he said no. He said that only recently excise officials wearing ID cards had arrested a man for peddling ganja at one of the junctions and that he was afraid of police action. 

To me Raju was one of the most Christ-like persons that I ever met. Everybody had a good opinion of him, even though they said that he was eccentric and not completely normal. He lived in solitude and appeared to remain aloof from all the social life that went on around him. He wanted nothing to do with anybody or anything and seemed content with what he was doing, even though it meant vast hardship for him. He collected the sins of the world in the form of unwanted plastic and tried to dispose it, even as his own house was slowly being swallowed up by a mountain of plastic waste. In his death, where he suffered immeasurable pain for days before he eventually died, his life could be summed up. People said that his mother was a bad character, and so he had been adopted by another family without his mother even knowing about it. To me, this sounded particularly cruel to both him and his mother. He had studied up to the fourth standard in the school at the top of the hill. It was an old school where practically everybody in the surrounding area had done their schooling upto the fourth standard, including my father and his brothers before they joined higher secondary schools elsewhere. Raju did not study beyond the fourth standard. He once asked me what god's religion was. I told him that god did not have a religion and that religions had been created by humans. 

Raju probably suffered two great setbacks in life - one when he was separated from his mother at the age of 10, and another when he was removed from his teenage world among his guardians and relocated to his old house at the age of 17 after his mother had died. Nobody bothered to continue his education beyond the fourth standard. He isolated himself more or less from everybody around him, only interacting where it was absolutely necessary. His occupation, lifestyle and appearance ensured that his chances of finding a woman and settling down, in the traditional sense, never happened. I once saw him with his hair and moustache trimmed, and his beard shaven. He looked handsome. He was inquisitive, energetic, carefree, with a fierce kind of independence and strength about him. How much of his eccentricities were deliberate facades - his shield against the cruel world - is hard to tell...

Ours is a society where the innocent and the child-like cannot survive. They become outcasts and eke out their livelihoods in whatever ways they can. Their contentment with their destiny, and their joy and love despite their conditions, makes those who are constantly trying to become richer than the next person despise them. People like Raju are considered losers and failures because they do not make it rich. Raju chose what he thought was the best honest piece of work that was available for him. Nobody bothered to take him under their wings and develop his human nature so that he could find his way through this world because everybody was too busy trying to outdo the other. People like Raju do not exist in government records as Aadhar card or ration card or voter ID holders. They may have a birth certificate like Raju did, which enabled people to figure out his age.

The global summit on plastic regulation ended recently with no concrete steps being taken to curb the global plastic menace. The petrochemical nations and industries responsible for the global production of plastic said that they would not do anything to reduce plastic production since, according to them, it is not the production of non-biodegradable plastic that is the problem, it is the disposal. The impact that plastic has on the lives of the most vulnerable sections of society is not visible to these entities. Kerala is facing a plastic crisis like never before because it is increasingly using plastic without having the means to dispose it. Kerala boasts of its alcohol consumption capabalities. The state earns vast revenues from its alcohol sales. Most Malayalees brag about how many bottles of alcohol they typically consume. Even though a very high percentage of deaths in Kerala can be linked to alcohol, these deaths are linked to other causes such as road accidents, homicides, kidney and liver failures, etc. The state used to be one of the best cannabis producing areas in the country in the past, with indigenous tribes like the Kaniyars being renowned for their cannabis cultivation. Idukki boasts some of the best cannabis in India even today, comparable to the hashish one gets from Malana. For people like Raju, who form the lowest rungs of society, the availability of legal cannabis would have meant two things. One, it would have offered him a safer alternative to the dangerous alcohol as intoxicant. Two, the cannabis industry including the cultivation, processing, distribution and sale of ganja and charas, besides the use of cannabis for industrial and medical purposes would have opened up multiple sustainable opportunities for livelihood. The cannabis plant offers a way out from the non-biodegradable petrochemical plastics that choke the most vulnerable people and life forms on earth today. Cannabis can be used to make bio-degradable plastic and packaging material. 

Interestingly, the hill on which Raju's house was located near the highest point - Chelleyathu Para as it is called here - has been at the epicenter of a people's movement in the last two years. The movement even made the news in the state newspapers. The people staying in the settlement on top of the hill have been non-violently protesting and demonstrating against a rock-quarrying and bitumen manufacturing plant that has been set up near the top of the hill by one of the wealthy residents of the area. The stone and bitumen are supplied for construction and road works across the state even though the owner of the businesses did not possess a valid license but is closely associated with politicians of whichever party is in power at the moment. The fumes from the bitumen plant raised concerns about the respiratory health of people in the surrounding areas. A significant section of the hill has already been blasted and carried away in the last few years. The people of the Chellayathu Para successfully agitated and got the plants shut down despite the efforts of the politicians and businessmen to silence them. Chelleyathu Para was used to dry meat in the past before the settlement came. Close to it is an ancient temple of Siva as Mallaichan. There is also a temple dedicated to Duryodhana, a rarity in the country. People of all faiths - Hindus, Christians and the indigenous communities - as well of all social and economic classes got together to agitate against the quarrying and bitumen plants in their midst. In the middle of all this lived Raju, in a plastic filled lonely world of his own. He did not care much for either the protests or the businesses. When I met him the last time, he told me that he had forgiven his sister for using the money that had been put into an account in his name by his earlier guardians. He said that his sister had a family to raise and she was more in need for the money than he was. He said that he did not have much needs and so he did not feel bad if his sister had used the money for herself. He had made his peace with this world and was ready to move on...He was 46 when he died...

Cannabis and Bahrain

Bahrain is one the Middle East countries that has a US military base for the US Navy. This makes Bahrain a country where the sins of the flesh - alcohol, prostitution, and even hashish, are said to be relatively easier to access than most Middle Eastern countries with their strict Islamic laws as laid down by the religious orthodoxy who work hand in hand with the king and the rich businessmen who form the upper classes. It is for this reason that hordes of people are said to flow into Bahrain from surrounding countries over the weekend to put aside the orthodoxy and indulge in a bit of good times before returning back to their countries.

Bahrain typifies the hypocritical behavior of most Islamic countries. While the elites have every drug that they wish for, the poor and the working classes are likely to be imprisoned, deported or even put to death for their association with these drugs or sins of the flesh. In this way, the elites keep a tight grip on the working classes. Besides alcohol, prostitution and hashish, I am sure that heroin and cocaine does the circles among the upper classes. The Middle East is reported by the United Nations Office of Drug Control (UNODC) to be preferential to amphetamines as a stimulant. UNODC states that 'The type and form of amphetamines used vary considerably between regions and subregions. In North America, the non-medical use of pharmaceutical stimulants and methamphetamine is most prevalent; in East and South-East Asia and Oceania (Australia and New Zealand), it is methamphetamine; and in Western and Central Europe and the Near and Middle East, it is amphetamine. In the latter subregion, amphetamine is commonly known as “captagon”.' UNODC says 'In the Near and Middle East/South-West Asia, the quantities of methamphetamine seized increased markedly in 2018. However, the marked decline in the reported quantities of amphetamine seized in recent years (-37 per cent in 2017 and -80 per cent in 2018) seems to be largely a statistical artefact. Some of this decline may have been related to changes in the categorization of stimulants seized, for example, “prescription stimulants” instead of “amphetamine”. Even more important has been the hiatus in the reporting of seizures to UNODC by some countries known to be affected by major amphetamine trafficking activities. There is plenty of evidence that trafficking in amphetamine, in particular of “captagon” tablets, has also continued in the Near and Middle East in recent years. INCB, for example, in its most recent annual report noted the following: The manufacture and trafficking of counterfeit “captagon” continued to seriously affect the countries of the Middle East, which not only are destination markets for those drugs but are also increasingly becoming a source of counterfeit “captagon”…Political instability and unresolved conflicts, poverty and the lack of economic opportunities in some parts of the subregion have contributed to increased trafficking in…“captagon”' There is the likelihood that many persons seeking cocaine, and paying for cocaine, receive methamphetamine or at least cocaine laced with methamphetamine, is my guess.

It is likely that heroin, cannabis and methamphetamine flows in from Afghanistan on the one hand, and cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin flow in from Mexico through the US on the other. The presence of the US Navy in Bahrain facilitates the movement of all these drugs between Bahrain and other countries. In the Middle East, UNODC reports that 'Methamphetamine appears to have emerged in the Near and Middle East/South-West Asia as the main ATS used in the Islamic Republic of Iran (2009– 2018) as well as in Iraq (2016 and 2017), Lebanon (2014–2017), Bahrein (2016), Afghanistan (2015 and 2016), Israel (2014 and 2015) and Kuwait (2003, 2009, 2013)'. Regarding the Middle East, UNODC reports that 'In the past few years, the manufacture and use of methamphetamine have emerged in the Near and Middle East/South-West Asia, subregions that until recently were dominated by use of “captagon”. Methamphetamine manufacture and consumption used to be largely unknown in those subregions. Initially reported by only one country in the subregion (Israel), the number of countries reporting seizures of methamphetamine has increased in subsequent years. Overall, eight countries in the Near and Middle East/South-West Asia reported seizures of methamphetamine in the period 2000–2009, rising to 14 countries in the period 2010–2018. The bulk of the methamphetamine seized, however, continued to be seized by the Islamic Republic of Iran.'

Regarding the hypocritical behavior of the clerics who make the laws along with the king so as to suit the rich businessman and oppress the working classes, we see that there is a particular fear of cannabis in these countries. It is cannabis that the king-priest-businessman hierarchy fears the most since cannabis is the herb that is most likely to empower the working classes, making them speak about dangerous subjects like equality and democracy. Opium does not seem to be such a concern for the upper classes, most likely because it is mostly they who can afford the opium. This is also the case with amphetamines and other legal and illegal synthetic pharmaceutical drugs. Alcohol is most likely used only by the westerners, primarily because of the religious sanction against it in Islam. The religious sanctions prohibiting smoking ensures that cannabis is kept banned, while the drugs that one injects, snorts or pops as pills do not face much religious resistance. This perfectly suits the upper classes and castes. Also, the association of cannabis with Siva, the god of ganja, may be a factor that makes the clerics say that ganja is evil.

In general, the hypocrisy of the world's elites when they use religion to prohibit cannabis from the people who form the working classes and the poor is quite absurd. In the Islamic countries, cannabis is prohibited for the working classes possibly due to the fear that the Hindus use it for spiritual purposes. In India, cannabis is banned primarily due to the belief that Muslims are the key consumers. Many of the Indian Muslims from the poor and working classes, as well those belonging to the Sufi sects, are cannabis consumers. The note submitted to the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission of 1894-95 by Mr. J. M. Campbell, C.I.E., Collector of Land Revenue and Customs and Opium, Bombay, on the subject of the Religion of Hemp, says, 'In this devotion to bhang, with reverence, not with the worship, which is due to Allah alone, the North Indian Mussalman joins hymning the praises of bhang. To the follower of the later religion of Islam the holy spirit in bhang is not the spirit of the Almighty. It is the spirit of the great prophet Khizr or Elijah. That bhang should be sacred to Khizr is natural. Khizr is the patron saint of water. Still more Khizr means green, the revered colour of the cooling water of bhang. So the Urdu poet sings 'When I quaff fresh bhang I liken its colour to the fresh light down of thy youthful beard.' The prophet Khizr or the Green prophet cries 'May the drink be pleasing to thee.' Nasir, the great North Indian Urdu poet of the beginning of the present century, is loud in the praises of his beloved Sabzi, the Green one. 'Compared with bhang spirits are naught. Leave all things thou fool, drink bhang.' From its quickening the imagination Musalman poets honour bhang with the title Warak al Khiyall, Fancy's Leaf. And the Makhzan or great Arab-Greek drug book records many other fond names for the drug. Bhang is the Joy-giver, the Sky-flier, the Heavenlyguide, the Poor Man's Heaven, the Soother of Grief.'

The fact of the matter is that it is not the religious beliefs that determine cannabis policy in every country, it is what should be done to ensure that the poor and the working classes are subjugated that drives cannabis policy. In all places around the world, the fear of cannabis legalization by the ruling classes is a fear of losing their grip over the lower classes.

We can see Bahrain's hypocrisy during the vote to remove cannabis from the UN's Schedule IV in 2020. Morocco, another Islamic country, but one with some of the finest cannabis, and a much more liberal attitude towards cannabis voting in favor of removing cannabis from Schedule IV, but Bahrain, and all other Islamic nations in the Middle East and North Africa voted against it. Morocco World News reports that 'The statement does not provide further details on the bill. However, the announcement about the bill comes just a few months after Morocco voted in favor of removing cannabis from the list of the UN’s Schedule IV category of drugs that have limited or no therapeutic use. Morocco was the only member of the UN Commission on Narcotics Drugs (CND) in the Middle East and North Africa region to give a nod to the removal of cannabis from the list of toxic substances. Algeria, Bahrain, and Egypt have all voted against the move.'

One of the biggest problems for Bahrain, and the Middle East in general, is the presence of the US in this region though the US military, and the US association with petrochemicals, opioids, methamphetamine and synthetic pharmaceutical drugs. While the US claims to be in Bahrain for the protection of its allies, I think the fact of the matter is that it is there to protect its own interests, which include the trafficking of various drugs around the world using its military. For Bahrain, and the Middle East, in general, getting out of the influence of the US - the world's biggest opponent of cannabis legalization - and adopting the path of sustainability that cannabis legalization brings. This will make the nation stronger and move towards independence and maturity. The people of Bahrain need to understand that the king-priest-businessman hierarchy only want to suppress the majority and lead the nation down the path of economic, environmental and public health ruin...

Related articles

The following list of articles taken from various media speak about the above subject. Words in italics are the thoughts of yours truly at the time of reading the article.

'The statement does not provide further details on the bill. However, the announcement about the bill comes just a few months after Morocco voted in favor of removing cannabis from the list of the UN’s Schedule IV category of drugs that have limited or no therapeutic use.

Morocco was the only member of the UN Commission on Narcotics Drugs (CND) in the Middle East and North Africa region to give a nod to the removal of cannabis from the list of toxic substances.

Algeria, Bahrain, and Egypt have all voted against the move.'

https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2021/02/335770/moroccos-government-to-discuss-bill-on-legal-use-of-cannabis/

Cannabis and the Bahamas

In October 2020, The Tribune 242 reported that 'Speaking in the House of Assembly, Dr Minnis revealed several recommendations from the Economic Recovery Committee, adding the body was instructed to be bold and specific with its suggestions to combat the current economic crisis. The group’s recommendations include the full legalisation of marijuana for medicinal, religious, and recreational purposes coupled with a regulatory regime that oversees the production and manufacturing, sale, consumption and export of marijuana.' Since then, I did not come across much in terms of the progress made in this direction. The Economic Recovery Committee's recommendations for the full legalization of cannabis for medicinal, religious, and recreational purposes was in line with what I have said is most needed to make cannabis available to the people, especially the poorest sections of society, and for a nation to fully experience the full benefits of cannabis. Complete legalization enables farmers to grow cannabis as a valuable sustainable additional crop to boost their incomes. It provides sufficient cannabis for various businesses across the board to utilize cannabis for a range of applications - medicinal, recreational and industrial. Full legalization ensures that sufficient cannabis is available at the lowest prices, enabling the poorest sections of society who need cannabis the most to access the precious herb. Full legalization also makes it possible for a nation to export cannabis and earn valuable revenue. 

Somewhere along the way these recommendations by the Economic Recovery Committee appear to have been binned. We must not forget that by the end of 2020, the powers opposed to cannabis legalization had unleashed the fake pandemic Covid 19 on the world, resulting in a flooding of the world with synthetic pharmaceutical drugs and petrochemical-based medical equipment. The fake pandemic greatly increased the wealth of the industries opposed to cannabis legalization. It enabled autocratic governments to tighten their grip on the people. Cannabis legalization initiatives across the world were affected by all this. The additional wealth gained by the entities opposed to cannabis enabled them to mount fresh challenges against cannabis legalization and pay corrupt politicians and lawmakers greater sums of money to ensure that cannabis remained prohibited.

The next thing I heard about cannabis legalization in the Bahamas was that a judge had overturned a petition by a citizen to legalize cannabis. The citizen stated that its prohibition went against the citizen's rights to practice religion. Cannabis was, until it was prohibited, one of the foremost entheogens used by different communities across the world in their pursuit of spirituality. The king-priest-hierarchy of various religions including Christianity, Islam and Hinduism wish to suppress cannabis so that the communities that used cannabis for spirituality can be absorbed into the hierarchy as the lowest classes - the working classes - to toil for the upper classes in the hierarchy. The king-priest-businessman hierarchy also wished to replace cannabis with opium, alcohol, tobacco and synthetic pharmaceutical drugs, products from which the hierarchy could reap vast profits and further enslave the lower classes. All this is clearly evident in the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission's report of 1894-95. The Hemp Commission was set up by the British colonizers of India to justify cannabis prohibition and promote opium, tobacco and distilled alcohol. The British colonizers along with the Indian upper classes and castes who constituted the king-priest-businessman hierarchy in India wished to enslave and subjugate the indigenous communities that consumed cannabis and worshipped gods other than those that the British colonizers and Indian upper classes and castes worshiped. The indigenous communities who were considered as the lowest classes formed a majority of the people in India, and still do. They cultivated cannabis extensively and it was available to them at almost no cost. This was a hurdle for the ambitions of the elites to convert them to the harmful alcohol, tobacco and opium. The followers of the god, Siva, were among the largest cannabis using communities in India and it was this community that was the most affected by cannabis prohibition. Myths such as cannabis caused insanity, cannabis users were the lowest classes, cannabis users were criminals, and that cannabis was more harmful than alcohol or opium were propagated by the ruling classes to justify cannabis prohibition. These actions by the elites were replicated everywhere where communities used cannabis as entheogens. Only a few communities exist today where the law has permitted them to consume cannabis for religious purposes - the Rastafarian community in a few places being the most prominent one.

The Bahamas citizen who moved the court for cannabis legalization for religious purposes was a Rastafarian but the judge refused to grant him reprieve, citing that there was little evidence that cannabis was used for religious purposes. This is most absurd given the mountains of evidence available, including freely on the internet, on this matter. The judge passed the buck to parliament stating that it was for the parliament to decide. Most governments and judiciary the world over are in the pockets of the entities opposed to cannabis and will do everything possible to prevent cannabis legalization, despite all the harms that this has resulted in. EW News reported that 'Indian hemp is classified as a dangerous drug under the Dangerous Drugs Act 2000 with its possession being banned, except for very limited scientific and medical purposes by authorized personnel. Stubbs however contended that the drug is a ‘sacred herb’, used as a sacrament in manifesting his faith as a Rastafarian and that he has a constitutional right to possess and use it. Stubbs also contended that to the extent that the DDA does not contain an exemption for religious use, its blanket criminal sanctions on the possession of cannabis infringe on his right to practice his faith freely. In the 40-page decision, Justice Klein differentiated between Indian hemp and marijuana, stating that while they belong to the same cannabis genus, they are of different varieties of the hemp family. He also highlighted that hemp has been used lawfully for medicinal and other purposes in India and China for thousands of years until its international criminalization following the International Opium Conference in 1925. In his judgment, Klein said that he found nothing anti-democratic or anti-rights in Parliament’s decision not to make allowances for the religious or recreational use of marijuana....The judge accepted that the failure to make provision for the religious use of marijuana amounted to an interference with Stubbs’ rights to observe and manifest his religion. “I also find that there is sufficient evidence and other material before the court to establish that the impugned provisions of the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) are reasonably required to attain public policy objectives, whether for public health or safety. “Furthermore, in my judgment, the applicant has not provided any evidence or other material to satisfy the court that the failure to make an exemption for religious use is not justifiable in a democratic society, or that the legislative measures in the DDA are disproportionate to their objectives,” the judge noted. The move comes almost three years after the country’s Economic Recovery Committee called for the establishment of a regulatory body to oversee businesses engaged in the production, wholesale and retail of a potential cannabis industry. The Bahamas government said the “central component” of the 11 proposed measures is Cannabis Bill 2023, which would establish a legal framework for local marijuana cultivation to address medical demand and create economic opportunities for the country. The draft legislation’s primary goals are to decriminalize cannabis for medical and therapeutic use and to “bring relief to Bahamian patients facing various chronic and painful diseases and conditions,” according to the announcement.' 

There are a number of concerns that I have with the judge's statements. 

Differentiating Indian hemp - which I assume refers to cannabis indica - with marijuana - which I assume refers to cannabis sativa - is absurd, much like differentiating French wine with Chilean. The essential cannabis plant is the same though there may be variations in the proportions of compounds present. Over time we have seen that the main factors influencing the proportions of cannabinoids in a cannabis plant are related to the variety (there are possibly thousands of varieties in the world) which in turn are influenced by the soil, water and climatic conditions in which the cannabis plant grows. The cannabis indica/cannabis sativa division was created by Carl Linnaeus when he named the different plants but over time this classification has rapidly blurred given the scientific evidence from the discovery of cannabis plant varieties in many nations across the world.

When the judge states that cannabis was used as medicine and for other purposes in India and China before it was prohibited, he seems to miss out that the biggest use of cannabis in India was for spiritual purposes, after which came intoxication and then medicine. Regarding the use of cannabis for spiritual purposes, the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission of 1894-95 wrote that "It is chiefly in connection with the worship of Siva, the Mahadeo or great god of the Hindu trinity, that the hemp plant, and more especially perhaps ganja, is associated. The hemp plant is popularly believed to have been a great favourite of Siva, and there is a great deal of evidence before the Commission to show that the drug in some form or other is now extensively used in the exercise of the religious practices connected with this form of worship. Reference to the almost universal use of hemp drugs by fakirs, jogis, sanyasis, and ascetics of all classes, and more particularly of those devoted to the worship of Siva, will be found in the paragraphs of this report dealing with the classes of the people who consume the drugs. These religious ascetics, who are regarded with great veneration by the people at large, believe that the hemp plant is a special attribute of the god Siva, and this belief is largely shared by the people. Hence the origin of many fond epithets ascribing to ganja the significance of a divine property, and the common practice of invoking the deity in terms of adoration before placing the chillum or pipe of ganja to the lips." It is not just Shaivism, but most animistic and nature worshipping indigenous communities in India used cannabis for spiritual purposes, besides Sikhs, Muslims and high priests of the Hindu religions. Also, taking a strong stance against cannabis prohibition, the Hemp Commission recommended that cannabis not be prohibited, as it would interfere with the religious practices of the people. The Hemp Commission summarized as follows, "The Commission have little doubt that interference with the use of hemp in connection with the customs and observances above referred to would be regarded by the consumers as an interference with long established usage and as an encroachment upon their religious liberty." Despite the Hemp Commission's recommendations, the British Government prohibited cannabis, especially as ganja and charas. This was because cannabis prohibition had already been decided before hand itself, as the resolution that instituted the Hemp Commission states 'RESOLUTION.—In the despatch recited in the preamble, Her Majesty's Secretary of State informed the Government of India that, in answer to a question put in the House of Commons, he had expressed his willingness to request the Government of India to appoint a Commission to enquire into the cultivation of the hemp plant in Bengal, the preparation of drugs from it, the trade in those drugs, the effect of their consumption upon the social and moral condition of the people, and the desirability of prohibiting the growth of the plant and the sale of ganja and allied drugs. In accordance with the announcement thus made, Lord Kimberley requested the Government of India to appoint a Commission for the purposes stated, and to issue such instructions as would ensure that the enquiry should be thorough and complete. His Lordship is of opinion that the investigation can hardly be confined to Bengal, but should extend to the whole of India, and that the Commission should be instructed to ascertain to what extent the existence of the hemp plant all over India affects the practical difficulty of checking or stopping the consumption of ganja, as distinguished from other narcotic drugs prepared from the hemp plant, and whether there is ground for the statement that bhang is less injurious than ganja to consumers.'

Also, the 1925 International Opium Conference that the judge cites was, as its name itself shows, a conference in which the benefits of opium were greatly promoted, and the harms of cannabis was greatly amplified. Most of the attendees in the conference were significant stakeholders in the opium business, including the British government that had converted China and Burma to opium growing countries from where the produce was taken to Britain to be traded with the rest of the world. As stated earlier, the British wished to prohibit cannabis in India and replace it with opium since opium brought in far greater revenues for the state than cannabis. 

Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel Crombie who had served as head of the Dacca Lunatic Asylum for some time appeared before the Opium Commission around 1892. Mr. Crombie showed statistics from the Dacca Asylum that linked cannabis use with insanity and this became one of the primary drivers for justifying its prohibition. The Indian Hemp Drugs Commission of 1894-95 found that there was almost no association between cannabis usage and insanity when it studied the situation in Indian lunatic asylums. It was found that cannabis as the cause of insanity was entered primarily by police officers arresting the lunatic because the magistrate before whom the lunatic was produced demanded that cause of insanity be recorded. The police officers had absolutely no medical experience to do this assessment. Through laziness, this cause of insanity was copied into the asylum registers and ultimately used to beef up the argument that cannabis caused insanity and hence needed to be prohibited. The Hemp Commission states that this particular myth is what influenced most nations to subsequently prohibit cannabis, even though there was no scientific or medical truth behind it. At the time that the Indian Hemp Commission was conducting its work in 19th century India, Burma (now Myanmar) was the only place where cannabis insanity had been stated as the justification for cannabis prohibition, based on the statistics from the Dacca Asylum. These statistics were produced and quoted by the asylum superintendent, Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel Crombie, in numerous instances, including before the Opium Commission, to emphasize that cannabis was most deleterious. Burma (now Myanmar) was, and still is, a vital conduit for opium trade between China and Britain and there were more than a few Chinese and British who viewed cannabis as a threat. The Commission states that 'Although these [lunatic asylum] statistics have been discussed seriously from year to year, they have not been much used as the basis of measures of ganja administration except in the case of Burma. In this case the Commission found that the measures taken in Burma were ostensibly based on the lunatic asylum returns which were quoted by more than one Chief Commissioner, special reference being made to the figures for the Dacca Asylum. This special reference to this asylum and the fact that it is situated in the most important ganja-consuming tract in India were among the reasons why the Commission summoned Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel Crombie (Bengal witness No. 104) as a witness; for he had been seven years Superintendent of that asylum. Before the Opium Commission also, and in an interesting discussion on opium published as a Supplement to the Indian Medical Gazette of July 1892, Dr. Crombie had incidentally spoken strongly of the evil effects of hemp drugs as seen in his asylum experience. The Commission hoped therefore that Dr. Crombie might be found to have devoted special attention to his asylum work, and to be able to speak with exceptional authority. He informed the Commission in his written evidence that "nearly thirty per cent. of the inmates of lunatic asylums in Bengal are persons who have been ganja smokers, and in a very large proportion of these I believe ganja to be the actual and immediate cause of their insanity." On oral examination by the Commission of Dr. Crombie, who used the Dacca asylum statistics to justify cannabis as a cause for insanity, it was found that 9 of the 14 cases attributed to cannabis insanity were inaccurate, and the remaining 5 appeared doubtful. Even if one considered the 5 cases, it only constituted 9% of the total cases and not the 30% that Dr. Crombie stated in his written evidence to the Commission.'

The judge appears to have ignored the harms caused by alcohol, tobacco, dangerous synthetic drugs like heroin and methamphetamine, and the misuse and abuse of synthetic pharmaceutical drugs when he states that cannabis prohibition is required for public health and safety. The above-mentioned drugs kill tens of millions of people every year. He also ignores the fact that cannabis is non-addictive and has been used for thousands of years safely as intoxicant and medicine by cannabis communities without any adverse effect to public health. Cannabis is universal natural medicine that can be administered to all age groups, using different modes of administration, and for a variety of diseases. The Indian Hemp Drugs Commision stated, in its study of medical uses of cannabis in 19th century India, that "Cannabis indica must be looked upon as one of the most important drugs of Indian Materia Medica.' This was, especially, the case for the poorest sections of society who could not access or afford any other medicine, even if they trusted in that medicine. These factors alone should have been sufficient to legalize cannabis, let alone its religious use. 

Subsequently, I read an article in MJBizDaily that Bahamas was looking to establish a medical cannabis industry. This seemed to explain all that had happened up to this point. It seems to me that the ruling elites of the Bahamas and the industries opposed to cannabis were alarmed by the Economic Recovery Committee's recommendations to fully legalize cannabis as it would greatly affect the businesses of alcohol, tobacco, opioids, petrochemicals, synthetic pharmaceuticals, chemical fertilizers, construction, medical, non-biodegradable petrochemical based plastics, synthetic fibers, etc., and these industries had lobbied the government to put a hold on the initiative. Bahamas is a key tourist destination and I suspect that a significant part of its revenue comes from tourists belonging to the elite classes. The elite ruling classes probably fear that cannabis legalization will see dreadlocked Rastafarians smoking pot in all the tourist destination seducing their women. The decision by the judge appears to have been the judiciary doing its bit to ensure that the common man did not get his hands on the precious herb easily without the elites extracting a sufficient price.

Finally, the decision of the government to establish a medical cannabis industry shows that the elites realized that they could not keep cannabis at bay for much longer, especially given the harms to public health that its prohibition was causing. The elites decided that the best way to handle the situation was to control the cannabis industry by positioning the natural herb cannabis as another pharmaceutical drug i.e. medical cannabis, that could be priced and packaged in such a way that only the elites had access to it and both the pharmaceutical industry and the government profited from it. For the common man, this is as good as cannabis remaining prohibited. The common man will have to continue consuming alcohol, tobacco, opioids, synthetic pharmaceutical drugs and all the other poisons that made the elites rich, if he can access and afford these elite drugs, that is, while only the elites would benefit from cannabis as medicine. Thus, the existing class hierarchy can be maintained, with the common man not getting dangerous ideas about spirituality, equality, liberty, etc., and attaining the level of self-sufficiency resulting in his refusal to be slotted into the lowest class of the class hierarchy as the working class...

Cannabis legalization for all purposes in Bahamas, as recommended by the Economic Recovery Committee, would have boosted not just public health, industry, agriculture, spirituality and the environment in economically sustainable ways, it would have been a big incentive for tourism that the Bahamas is heavily dependent on. Amsterdam is one of the top tourist destinations in the world precisely because of its cannabis. Cannabis legalization would have enabled the Bahamas to walk down the path of sustainability in a world of increasing human-induced climate change. The inclusion of the natural herb cannabis in the Dangerous Drugs Act of the Bahamas is itself a travesty and not removing it based on all the evidence available shows that the persons responsible are still in charge...

As far as I know, this is where the story of cannabis legalization in the Bahamas currently stands...

Related articles

Listed below are articles taken from various media related to the above subject. Words in italics are the thoughts of your truly at the time of reading the article. 

https://mjbizdaily.com/bahamas-looks-to-establish-medical-cannabis-industry/

Indian hemp is classified as a dangerous drug under the Dangerous Drugs Act 2000 with its possession being banned, except for very limited scientific and medical purposes by authorized personnel.

Stubbs however contended that the drug is a ‘sacred herb’, used as a sacrament in manifesting his faith as a Rastafarian and that he has a constitutional right to possess and use it.

Stubbs also contended that to the extent that the DDA does not contain an exemption for religious use, its blanket criminal sanctions on the possession of cannabis infringe on his right to practice his faith freely.

In the 40-page decision, Justice Klein differentiated between Indian hemp and marijuana, stating that while they belong to the same cannabis genus, they are of different varieties of the hemp family. He also highlighted that hemp has been used lawfully for medicinal and other purposes in India and China for thousands of years until its international criminalization following the International Opium Conference in 1925.

In his judgment, Klein said that he found nothing anti-democratic or anti-rights in Parliament’s decision not to make allowances for the religious or recreational use of marijuana.

....

The judge accepted that the failure to make provision for the religious use of marijuana amounted to an interference with Stubbs’ rights to observe and manifest his religion.

“I also find that there is sufficient evidence and other material before the court to establish that the impugned provisions of the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) are reasonably required to attain public policy objectives, whether for public health or safety.

“Furthermore, in my judgment, the applicant has not provided any evidence or other material to satisfy the court that the failure to make an exemption for religious use is not justifiable in a democratic society, or that the legislative measures in the DDA are disproportionate to their objectives,” the judge noted.

https://ewnews.com/judge-marijuana-religious-exemption-for-parliament-to-decide

'Speaking in the House of Assembly, Dr Minnis revealed several recommendations from the Economic Recovery Committee, adding the body was instructed to be bold and specific with its suggestions to combat the current economic crisis.

The group’s recommendations include the full legalisation of marijuana for medicinal, religious, and recreational purposes coupled with a regulatory regime that oversees the production and manufacturing, sale, consumption and export of marijuana.'

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2020/oct/21/emergency-powers-continue-til-november-30/

Cannabis and Infectious Diseases

'Antimicrobial resistance threatens the viability of modern medicine, which is largely dependent on the successful prevention and treatment of bacterial infections. Unfortunately, there are few new therapeutics in the clinical pipeline, particularly for Gram-negative bacteria. We now present a detailed evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of cannabidiol, the main non-psychoactive component of cannabis. We confirm previous reports of Gram-positive activity and expand the breadth of pathogens tested, including highly resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Clostridioides difficile. Our results demonstrate that cannabidiol has excellent activity against biofilms, little propensity to induce resistance, and topical in vivo efficacy. Multiple mode-of-action studies point to membrane disruption as cannabidiol’s primary mechanism. More importantly, we now report for the first time that cannabidiol can selectively kill a subset of Gram-negative bacteria that includes the ‘urgent threat’ pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Structure-activity relationship studies demonstrate the potential to advance cannabidiol analogs as a much-needed new class of antibiotics.'

 

 - Nature

Bhang the cooler is a febrifuge. Bhang acts on the fever not directly or physically as an ordinary medicine, but indirectly or spiritually by soothing the angry influences to whom the heats of fever are due. According to one account in the Ayurveda, fever is possession by the hot angry breath of the great gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. According to another passage in the Ayurveda, Shankar or Shiva, enraged by a slight from his father-in-law Daksha, breathed from his nostrils the eight fevers that wither mankind. If the fever-stricken performs the Vijaya abhishek, or bhang-pouring on the Ling of Shankar, the god is pleased, his breath cools, and the portion of his breath in the body of the fever-stricken ceases to inflame. The Kashikhanda Purana tells how at Benares, a Brahman, sore-smitten with fever, dreamed that he had poured bhang over the self-sprung Ling and was well. On waking he went to the Ling, worshipped, poured bhang and recovered. The fame of this cure brings to Benares sufferers from fever which no ordinary medicine can cure. The sufferers are laid in the temple and pour bhang over the Ling whose virtue has gained it the name Jvareshwar, the Fever-Lord. In Bombay many people sick of fever vow on recovery to pour bhang over a Ling. Besides as a cure for fever bhang has many medicinal virtues. It cools the heated blood, soothes the over-wakeful to sleep, gives beauty, and secures length of days. It cures dysentery and sunstroke, clears phlegm, quickens digestion, sharpens appetite, makes the tongue of the lisper plain, freshens the intellect, and gives alertness to the body and gaiety to the mind. Such are the useful and needful ends for which in his goodness the Almighty made bhang. In this praise of the hemp the Makhzan or great Greek-Arab work on drugs joins. 

 - Note to the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission of 1894-95 by J. M. Campbell , C.I.E., Collector of Land Revenue and Customs and Opium, Bombay, on the Religion of Hemp

Infectious diseases, also known as communicable diseases, are typically spread by three agents - bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Infectious diseases have existed from as far back as these agents have existed. When we humans descended from the chimpanzees, we carried along with us a host of these agents as well as our relationships with them. Many agents are beneficial for us, while some are benign, and others are harmful. There are possibly thousands of types of these agents residing in our bodies. We also come into contact with trillions of them in the course of our lives from our environment. I suspect that only a small fraction of these agents has been discovered by humans. The majority of them are unknown to us. These agents exist in a microcosm that is as vast as the macrocosm with its stars and galaxies and other heavenly bodies. There are theories that humans and other animals and plants are just vehicles through which these microscopic organisms rule the world. 

Evolution has equipped the human body with various defensive mechanisms against harmful microbes that assail it. The skin, the white blood corpuscles, digestive enzymes, our mechanisms of sweating, mucus formation, sneezing and control of body temperature are some of the natural defensive mechanisms that protect us from harmful microbes. Just as we evolve to protect ourselves from the harmful microbes, they themselves evolve to penetrate our defense mechanisms and enter our systems. The microbes mutate not only in the external environment where conditions are conducive for their development, they also mutate inside the bodies of different species of living beings. When they have gained sufficient characteristics, they are able to jump from one species to another through suitable carriers that form the bridge between species. There is a perpetual game of cops and robbers being played out beyond our senses. When a new mutation of a microbe or a microbe that we are unfamiliar with penetrates our defenses, it often overrides us and spreads throughout the body, as well as from person to person, sometimes wiping out large numbers of humans and other living beings in the process. Over time, a relative level of stability is reached where, in a sort of give-and-take, a certain number of living beings perish to the harmful microbes till the immune system adapts to the microbe and renders it relatively harmless. As stated, there are numerous microbes that are beneficial to us. It is said that a certain virus was responsible for enabling mammals to internally fertilize the egg with the sperm and develop the embryo in utero. Our digestive systems house numerous beneficial bacteria which comprise the microbiome. These work closely with the enzymes and hormones in our bodies to ensure that we stay healthy.

Typically, we see higher concentrations of microbes and the tendency to mutate easily in warm, humid conditions, such as the tropical regions, and so a higher prevalence of infectious diseases in these places. We also see higher concentrations and mutations in places where the density and proximity of carriers, such as humans and other animals, are higher. Often, the presence of unhygienic conditions, such as unhealthy food, water and sewage facilities, further increase the risk of increase of infectious diseases. Populations that live in close contact with infectious diseases develop immunity to them over a period of time. The spread of infectious diseases quite often happens when infected carriers move to new locations and come in contact with populations that have not been exposed to the infection-causing microbes. A classic example is the spread of infectious diseases from Europe to the Americas, resulting in the wiping out of large numbers of Native Indians through disease - numbers much larger than those decimated by the colonizers through war.

Natural calamities like famines, floods, fires, etc., also contribute significantly to the spread of infectious diseases primarily through the resulting damage to food, water and sewage facilities, and the inability to dispose dead human, animal and plant matter in time. 

In recent times, the human contribution to the spread of infectious diseases has increased greatly. For one thing, humans now live in greater concentrations in smaller areas. People from multiple geographic locations settle together and intermingle. There is great stress on food, water and waste disposal facilities. We also have the ravages of human-induced climate change that increasingly create events that are conducive to the growth and spread of infection-causing microbes. As if all this was not bad enough, humans engage in pursuits that increase the likelihood of mutation and spread of infectious disease. Among these pursuits, some of the primary ones are war, use of synthetic pharmaceutical medicines and chemical fertilizers and pesticides. War destroys a habitat's food, water and waste disposal systems and creates an environment conducive to the mutation and spread of infectious disease-causing microbes. The misuse, overuse and abuse of synthetic pharmaceutical drugs and chemical pesticides and fertilizers create mutations and microbial resistance to these synthetic compounds, besides wiping out beneficial microbes and lowering the immunity levels of all living beings that come in contact with it. It is estimated that around 8 million humans will die from anti-microbial resistance (AMR) by 2050. The number of other living beings is unknown, with potentially millions of species going completely extinct. War, the use of synthetic pharmaceuticals and chemical fertilizers and pesticides are driven by powerful industries that wish to profit from the sale of their products. These industries proactively work to create conditions that promote the increased sale of their products. Just the process of manufacturing these products - with the disposal of byproducts into the environment - creates conditions conducive to mutation and spread of infectious disease.

In the past few decades, pharma companies posted huge profits and growth based on their antibiotic drug sales, and they milked the antibiotic cow extensively. Over time humans and animals stopped responding to antibiotics. Even when pharma companies brought out new variations of these drugs by basically tweaking their compositions, they worked for a while but eventually became ineffective. What was happening was that the antibiotic was killing all bacteria, both good and bad, leaving the body with a depleted microbiome or bacterial ecosystem. People were losing their body's innate ability through their immune systems to fight bacterial infections. A vastly depleted microbiome, subjected to repeated wipe outs from frequent doses of antibiotics, was unable to restore itself to its original diversity, resulting in the human falling ill more frequently. To make things worse, bacteria mutated repeatedly to get around a particular type of antibiotic. What has happened now is that manufacture of antibiotics has hit a blank wall, in terms of how to introduce new variations to keep up with bacterial mutations. Even worse, combinations of various antibiotics now fail to work. Recently, new antibiotic-resistant bacterial varieties, called 'super bugs', have emerged which do not respond to conventional antibiotics. Many of these are being discovered in hospitals from where they spread rapidly causing complications and death. MRSA and XDR-TB are two such examples. Pharma companies, physicians and hospitals keep these outbreaks out of the public eye, as they face loss of credibility and business due to this. The problem of antibiotic resistance has reached such levels today that MSN reports - 'The problem of antibiotic resistance is described by the World Health Organisation as “one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development today”. Such infections already claim more than 35,000 lives each year in the US alone, and the UN warns this annual death toll could rise to 10 million globally if no solution is found.'

The World Health Organization (WHO) says '8 of the top 10 causes of death in 2021 in low-income countries were communicable diseases.' Lancet says that 'In 2019, 13·7 million people worldwide died from infectious syndromes, 5·2 million of which co-occurred with non-communicable diseases. 3 million of these deaths occurred in children under the age of 5 years. Globally, respiratory infections and bloodstream infections are the deadliest.'

Interestingly, WHO ranks Covid-19 as 2nd in the leading causes of death in 2021 globally. Covid-19 was a fake pandemic created by the pharmaceutical and medical industry, in conjunction with the petrochemical industry and autocratic leaders from countries like the US, UK, China, Russia and India, to boost the sales of pharmaceutical drugs, including opioids, and the sale of petrochemical-based medical equipment. The deaths attributed to Covid-19 are, in reality, deaths caused by the misuse and overuse of synthetic pharmaceutical drugs, including the so-called vaccines, developed by these countries. The result of this deceit on the global population resulted in a significant widening of the gap between the rich and the poor, specifically the wealth of the pharmaceutical, medical and petrochemical industries, and enabled autocratic leaders to tighten their control over the people of the world. We saw a significant rise in anti-microbial resistance (AMR) in all three areas - antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals. The misuse of steroids lead to an epidemic of mucormycosis, a deadly fungal disease. The production and use of all Covid-19 related synthetic medicines and medical equipment resulted in significant contamination to the environment, and drop in human immunity levels, thus further increasing the ability of deadly microbes to mutate and gain significant ground on other living beings. Millions of persons suffering from infectious and other diseases were denied treatment during the phase of this fake pandemic resulting in their death. Diseases like tuberculosis and HIV, which was being reasonably controlled, increased dramatically due to the denial of treatment. To add to that, the wealth sucked up by the rich upper classes of the world from the fake pandemic enabled Russia to go to war with Ukraine, and Israel to wage war in the Middle East with the support of weapons provided by the US. These wars significantly increased the spread of new mutations of deadly microbes in a climate that was conducive for them.

The human immune system (and those of other living beings) is key to survival against the constant onslaught of the microbes. Some of the basic requirements for the human immune system to be in top condition are adequate nutrition, sleep, rest and evacuation of waste toxins from the body. It is in these areas that cannabis is a key aid to the prevention of spread of infectious diseases among humans and other animals such as elephants, horses, cattle, camels and even the birds that we domesticate as poultry. Cannabis keeps the digestive system in a healthy condition, increasing appetite, possibly working with the microbiome to digest food, and enabling the elimination of toxins through perspiration, micturition and feces. Cannabis relieves fatigue and pain. It enables a person to sleep well and rest. In reduces stress and anxiety.

In the recent past, the role that cannabis plays in the prevention of infectious diseases has not been focused on to a large extent. This is, obviously, due to maligning of cannabis as an evil, harmful drug and its global prohibition. In the past, large numbers of the cannabis using communities had a strong belief in the infectious disease preventing abilities of cannabis. This belief arose from thousands of years of cannabis usage and the perceptions that this fostered. Native physicians in cannabis consuming communities were firm believers in its properties to prevent infections and prescribed cannabis for a range of diseases including malaria, cholera, dysentery, tetanus, gonorrhea, influenza, leprosy and the common cold. Most patients who used cannabis for the prevention of infectious diseases were from the poorest classes of society who could not afford any other type of medicine other than the freely available cannabis. Over time, with the advent of western medicine that arrived with the colonizers from Europe, cannabis as medicine for infectious diseases started to decline. This decline was primarily driven by the western physicians who were unfamiliar with cannabis on the one hand, and their desire to promote their own medicine on the other. The upper classes and castes of society joined hands with these western physicians and promoted western medicine at the cost of cannabis. Most of these medicines were expensive and consisted of compounds that were not as easily available as cannabis.  The extent of cannabis usage as medicine in 19th century India led the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission of 1894-95 which was set up by the British government to study the feasibility of regulation and prohibition of cannabis in India to state that 'Cannabis indica must be looked upon as one of the most important drugs of Indian Materia Medica.'  In the summary of medical uses of cannabis in its report, the Hemp Commission stated that 'In the class of specific infectious diseases, hemp drugs are stated to be used in hydrophobia, ague, remittent fever, cholera,"to relieve burning symptoms in phthisis," dysentery, erysipelas, and gonorrhœa. O'Shaughnessy more than 50 years ago used hemp resin with more or less success in hydrophobia and cholera. In the treatment of dysentery the resin has been found of much value by many European doctors, and excellent results have been obtained with it. In addition to the medicinal use of the drug for the treatment of cholera during epidemics, hemp drugs appear occasionally to be used as prophylactics, and for a similar purpose the use of the drugs is recommended in malarial areas to counteract the effects of "bad air and water." In both cases hemp drugs probably act as indirect prophylactics, stimulating the nervous system and allaying depression, thus serving much the same purpose as the popular use of alcoholic beverages by the lower classes in European countries during the prevalence of epidemics.' The Commission further stated that cannabis was extensively used as a febrifuge or preventive of infectious diseases by large numbers of the working classes and poorer sections of society. It stated in its summary that 'Febrifuge. 471. There is also a large body of evidence showing that hemp drugs, both as smoked and as drunk, are used as a febrifuge or preventive of the diseases common in malarious tracts or arising from the use of bad water. This is the justification alleged for the habitual use of these drugs in certain localities. Here, of course, the experience of the witnesses is more limited; but the evidence is very considerable. Labourers in malarious tracts and cultivators of wet and marshy lands, jungle tribes, and those who have to work or reside in jungle tracts, are among those who are said to use the drugs for these purposes. It is impossible also to shut the eyes to the evidence which often comes up unexpectedly, showing that respectable and intelligent people going on duty to such tracts, and sepoys sent on foreign service or garrisoning comparatively unhealthy districts, often take to these drugs for these purposes.'

This summarization of the use of cannabis as a prophylactic or febrifuge in the prevention of infectious diseases by the Hemp Commission was primarily derived from the vast evidence provided by individual witnesses to the Commission's questions regarding the medical uses of cannabis. In many cases, we see that most of the witnesses themselves were not convinced of the benefits of cannabis to prevent infectious diseases. Most witnesses to the Commission belonged to the Indian upper classes or were British citizens employed in administration in India. Both these sections of society were largely unfamiliar with the usage of cannabis and mostly relied on hearsay regarding how Indian native physicians and the people used cannabis. Most of these witnesses were themselves familiar with western medicine more than cannabis. Many witnesses were biased towards cannabis as bhang and prejudiced against cannabis as ganja or charas. This bias arises from a completely irrational belief that bhang and ganja were two different drugs with bhang being medicinal and ganja being harmful when, in fact, bhang was cannabis drunk (with the addition of milk, spices, nuts and other ingredients) whereas ganja was the cannabis plant smoked. The upper classes and castes consumed cannabis as bhang, primarily because they could afford the additional ingredients that went into making it, their religious sanctions that prohibited smoking, and because they had created the propaganda that ganja was an evil drug that only the lowest classes and castes smoked. The lower classes and castes smoked cannabis as ganja primarily because they could not afford the luxury of the additional time and ingredients that went into making bhang. The word 'bhang' is also seen as used by the later migrants into India from Central Asia to describe the cannabis plant, whereas the original inhabitants of India appear to have used the word 'ganja' to describe the plant. In this sense, the separation of cannabis into two different drugs - bhang and ganja - is a sort of discrimination against the original inhabitants of India by the later arrivals.

Let us look at a number of the witness statements to the Indian Hemp Drugs Commision of 1894-95. Mr. W. H. Grimley, Commissioner of Chota Nagpur, says, 'It is also taken as a medicine for the cure of diarrhœa, dysentery, asthma, and rheumatism in the form of a pill, the leaves being finely ground and mixed with a little water and black-pepper. Sometimes it is taken as a drink by diluting it with mere water. In a Sanskrit work ...Ganja in moderation is said to be a preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Mr. F. H. Barrow, Magistrate and Collector of Bankura, says, 'All parts of the plants, the roots, the stem, the large leaves, the flowering tops and resin are all either alone, or mixed with other things, largely used for various diseases —gonorrhœa, diarrhœa,...tetanus...cholera...I have also seen it largely used in malarious districts to counteract exposure to malarious influences and to evade attacks of fever or malarial rheumatism and neuralgia. During epidemic or endemic appearance of cholera it is not only used as an effective medicine mixed with other things, but also alone as a prophylactic by those who are accustomed to it.' Mr. J. Kennedy, Magistrate and Collector of Murshidabad, says, 'Many use it occasionally as a febrifuge.' Mr. T. L. Jenkins, Magistrate and Collector of Dacca, says, 'Both ganja and bhang, but specially the latter, is used as a prophylactic for cholera.' Babu Gopal Chunder Mookerjee, Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector, Diamond Harbour, says, 'Yes; in malarious places bhang is used by some respectable people, ganja always by the low classes—moderately by the former, excessively by the latter, who use it to give staying power under severe exertion or to alleviate fatigue...Moderate use of bhang beneficial in cases of diarrhœa.' Babu Pran Kumar Das, Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector and Personal Assistant to the Commissioner of Burdwan, says, 'Ganja is used with cocoanut oil as a medicine for itch and fresh sores. Ganja is smoked for gonorrhœa, asthma, and hydrocele... It is also considered efficacious to withstand malarial effects and damp climate and exposure. My ganja-smoking servants had less malarious fever, and they said it alleviated pain.' Babu Gobind Chandra Basak, Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector, Brahmanbaria, Tippera District, says, 'Ganja is used as a preventive of disease in malarious tracts.' Babu Dina Nath De, Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector, Nadia, says, 'It is said, however, that ganja smokers do not suffer much from fever...It is said malarious diseases do not so much approach him.' Babu Ganendra Nath Pal, Kayasth, Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector, Naogaon, says, 'Its use acts as febrifuge and preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts...Among the consumers whose ordinary pursuits make them liable to exposure, work in water or colliery, use it as preventive. Under advice of native doctors, some people are seen to get rid of chronic fever by smoking ganja.' Babu Bhairab Nath Palit, Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector, Birbhum, says, 'It proves a prevention of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Babu Jogendro Nath Bandyopadhya, Brahmin, Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector, Jalpaiguri, says, 'Preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Babu Manmohan Chakravarti, Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector, Jajpur, Cuttack, Orissa, says, 'In Puri and the adjoining saliferous tracts bhang is believed to prevent the formation of mucus and dysentery. ...moderate habitual use is believed to act as preventive of dysentery and diarrhœa. ..Taken with sugar or molasses; it removes stomachic spasms springing from acid-bile (amlapitta) humour, allays diarrhcea, puts a stop to cough and asthma, and prevents chronic dysentery rising from ambat. etc., etc., etc., etc., etc.' Babu Navakumar Chakravarti, Brahmin, Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector, Jangipur, Murshidabad, says, 'As a febrifuge or preventive of disease in malarious or unhealthy tracts;' Maulavi Abdus Samad, Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector, Purulia, Manbhum, says, 'Charas and ganja in moderation may serve as febrifuge or preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Babu Surendranath Mozoomdar, Brahmin, Special Excise Deputy Collector, Monghyr, says, 'Ganja.—There is no general opinion, but North Gangetic people living in damp and malarious tracts think so. The people of Purnea around the Kosi banks use ganja largely for this purpose. I got fever once in the interior. On the next occasion on taking ganja I did not get any fever. This may be accidental, because I have seen people getting fever who take ganja.' Babu A. K. Ray, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Bangaon, Jessore District, says, 'Ganja-smoking has been known to nip an attack of cholera in the bud. I have heard an old planter say that where no other medicine was available the moderate smoking of ganja cured no less than 60 per cent. of the men attacked with cholera.' Babu Kanti Bhushan Sen, Baidya, Special Excise Deputy Collector of Cuttack, says, 'As regards patti, its moderate habitual use is considered a febrifuge and antimalarious.' Babu Abhilas Chandra Mukerjee, Brahmin, Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector, on deputation as 2nd Inspector of Excise, Bengal, says, 'Ganja and bhang are prescribed on account of their medicinal properties by native doctors in the affections of ...diarrhœa...gonorrhœa (second stage), hysteria, and it is a household medicine for scabies. Ganja— (1) In scabies ganja is fried in mustard oil, and the oil is applied to the sores...Bhang— (1) In bowel-complaints and in strengthening and invigorating the system...In Mymensingh, where there are no karbirajes, wild bhang is used as a medicine for cholera by the people themselves. It is smashed and made into boluses. No other ingredients are mixed with it. A bolus of bhang weighs one to one and a half tolas....In the Dacca District people drink bhang as a preventive in the cholera season, or when cases of cholera appear. Bhang is smashed with water collected by washing atabchaul (rice)... In cholera seasons bhang is drunk in small quantities as a preventive against cholera.' Babu Roy Brahma Dutt, Kayasth, Excise Deputy Collector, Darbhanga, says, 'as a febrifuge and preventive of diseases in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Babu Gour Das Bysack, Retired Deputy Collector, Calcutta, says, 'In malarious diseases a native kabiraj of repute tells me bhang has been prescribed in fever cases with success.' Babu Sir Chunder Soor, Satgope, 1st Assistant Supervisor of Ganja Cultivation, Naogaon, Rajshahi, says, 'as a febrifuge or preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts;... Persons suffering from malarious fever use ganja or its extract as a febrifuge.' Mr. R. L. Ward, District Superintendent of Police, Rajshahi, says, 'I certainly think that it is beneficial as a febribuge or preventive of disease in malarious tracts. I saw it used with marked effect in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and in Naogaon. It is also said that, owing to cultivation of ganja, there is much less malaria than in adjoining places.' Babu Jadub Chandra Chukerbutty, Brahmin, Civil and Sessions Judge, Kuch Behar, says, 'also as a febrifuge in malarious, damp, and unhealthy tracts.' Babu Sreenath Chatterjee, Brahmin, Cashier, Public Works Department, Darjeeling Division, says, 'Yes; it (ganja) is preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts of Bengal.' Surgeon-Major R. Cobb, Civil Surgeon and Superintendent, Lunatic Asylum, Dacca, says, 'I have found the moderate use of Cannabis indica very useful in the prevention and treatment of attacks of chronic dysentery. ..I have allowed patients to take the drug when they have been suffering from dysentery. Medicinally I use the "extract" of the pharmacopœia, and sometimes prescribe it as a preventive to patients liable to dysentery, though they may not have the disease upon them.' Rai Bahadur Kanny Loll Dey, C.I.E., late Chemical Examiner to the Government of Bengal, Calcutta, says, 'Hemp is acknowledged in British Pharmacopœia as a good febrifuge, and is reputed to be prophylactic of malaria in the steamy swamps of Lower Bengal.' Assistant Surgeon Upendra Nath Sen, Officiating Civil Medical Officer, Malda, says, 'ganja boiled in mustard oil is used in certain form of skin diseases, such as scabies, pruritus, etc.' Assistant Surgeon Norendra Nath Gupta, Baidya, in Civil Medical charge, Rangpur, says, 'as a preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy districts;' Assistant Surgeon Chooney Lall Dass, Teacher of Medical Jurisprudence and Therapeutics, Medical School, Dacca, says, 'Many up-country people take ganja and bhang as a febrifuge.' Kailas Chundra Bose, Kayasth, Medical Practitioner, Calcutta, says, 'Extract of ganja sometimes acts as antiperiodic and febrifuge.' Kedareswar Acharjya, Brahmin, Medical Practitioner, Rampur Boalia, says, 'Ganja and bhang appear to exert some influence—a preventive of malarial fever. Ganja-smokers appear to be less liable to malarial attacks than other people. Sanyasis say that ganja-smoking protects them from the evil effects of bad water. This appears to be significant. As a febrifuge, I know one instance in which bhang stopped an attack of tertian ague which formerly resisted treatment.' Trailokya Nath Majumdar, Baidya, Medical Practitioner, Bankipur, says, 'but it is said that, in malarious districts, people using ganja are, comparatively speaking, more free from malarious poison.' Prasad Das Mallik, Subarnabanik, Medical Practitioner, Hughli, says, 'Ganja-smoking may act as a febrifuge in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Nocoor Chander Banerji, Brahmin, Medical Practitioner, Bhagalpur, says, 'It might be used as a febrifuge or preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy climates.' Guru Charan Ghosh, Medical Practitioner, Monghyr, says, 'Yes; as a febrifuge and preventive.' Annada Prasanna Ghatak, M.B., Private Medical Practitioner, Arrah, says, 'These drugs are not known to have any direct febrifuge or anti-malarious property, though Cannabis indica is sometimes used for its indirect effect in cases of chronic fever.' Rakhal Das Ghosh, Private Medical Practitioner, Calcutta, says, 'In countries like Bengal, Orissa and Assam, where poor inhabitants in their daily life are constantly exposed to all vicissitudes of temperature, now burning under a scorching sun, at the next moment being drenched by a heavy shower, it cannot be gainsaid that all sorts of tropical diseases are rampant. Malarious fevers, diarrhœa, dysentery, cholera, influenza, eruptive fevers, are all endemic, and it is a wonder how the people of such places could survive the dire ravages of these diseases. Though thousands of men succumb annually to these maladies, still a large percentage is left to prevent the countries being made deserts. How this large per cent. of people escape the jaws of death amidst such insanitary surroundings? The poor sufferers who cannot either afford to have medical help or medicines, or to travel miles to avail themselves of the benefit of the charitable dispensaries, are saved from their untimely deaths by the use of those drugs which are now the subjects of two Government Commissions. It is a fact beyond dispute, that those who moderately use ganja or opium can tide over or pull through an epidemic better than those who do not. Tetanus, rheumatism,  ague, diarrhœa, dysentery, cholera, dyspepsia and many painful disorders of the urinary or generative organs yield to the anodyne, soporific, antiperiodic, antispasmodic, and other properties of ganja or opium. Aided by these remedies the inhabitants combat for life and death.' Bijoya Ratna Sen, Kaviranjan, Kabiraj, Calcutta, says, 'I believe siddhi is preventive of disease in malarious or unhealthy tracts. Monks, peasants, cultivators, and native sailors, etc., use ganja and charas to obtain staying-power under exposure and to alleviate fatigue. This remark is applicable to moderate consumers only...The moderate use of siddhi is rather harmless. It increases the intellect of the man and does improve the health.' Gopeze Mohun Roy, Baidya, Kabiraj, Calcutta, says, 'In some malarious localities, bhang has been moderately and successfully used as a febrifuge or preventive of disease.' Binod Lal Sen, Baidya, Kaviraj, Calcutta, says, 'It is rather preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts, but not as a febrifuge.' Maharaja Girijanath Roy Bahadur, Kayasth, Zamindar, Dinajpur, says, 'An occasional consumer of ganja is found to become moderately habitual consumer when he goes to malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Rai Radha Govinda Rai, Sahib Bahadur, Kayasth, Zamindar, Dinajpur, says, 'It is, they say, febrifuge to prevent disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Babu Hari Krishna Mazumdar, Baidya, Zamindar, Islampur, District Murshidabad, says, 'as a febrifuge in malarious tracts;' Babu Raghunandan Prasad Sinha, Brahman, Zamindar, District Muzaffarpur, says, 'The use of bhang prevents and cures many diseases, such as piles, indigestion, and fever, and also has refreshing effect.' Babu Surendra Nath Pal Chowdhury, Zamindar, Ranaghat, District Nadia, says, 'It is said to be a preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Babu Rughu Nandan Prasadha, Zamindar, Patna, says, 'As a febrifuge or preventive of disease in malarious tract, it is well known that sometimes a draught of bhang taken a few hours before the "paroxysm in tertian quotidian" and other kinds of malarial fever cuts short the attack, and it is not uncommonly used for this purpose.' Babu Nundo Lal Gossain, Brahmin, Zamindar, Serampore, says, 'Moderate use of ganja and bhang is beneficial as giving staying power under severe exertion or exposure, as alleviating fatigue, and as febrifuge; they possess also medicinal virtues. Bhang is believed to be beneficial in cases of chronic diarrhœa.' M. Kazi Rayaz-ud-din Mahamed, Zamindar, Commilla, Tippera, says, 'Ganja is used as a preventive of disease in malarious tracts.' Mr. L. H. Mylne, Zamindar and Indigo-planter, Justice of the Peace, President of Independent Bench of Honorary Magistrates, Chairman of Jugdispur Municipality, District Shahabad, says, 'Occasionally used as a febrifuge.' Mr. John D. Gwilt, Tea Planter, Longview Company, Limited, Darjeeling, says, 'The people who consume them state they act as a food accessory; that they do give staying-powers and alleviate fatigue; that they are also of use in unhealthy tracts of country, and there is decidedly a certain amount of truth in these statements.' Babu Parameshwar Dan, Kshetrya, Pleader, Judge's Court, Vice- Chairman, District Board, Dinajpur, says, 'It is also used as a preventive in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Babu Beprodas Banerjee, Brahman, Pleader, Newspaper Editor, and Chairman, Baraset Municipality, says, 'It is a remarkable fact that ganja smokers were free from attacks of fever when malaria appeared in Baraset, etc. In cases of diarrhœa bhang is used by all classes of the people and with effect.' Babu Nobo Gopal Bose Rai Chowdhoory, Kayasth, Talukdar and Judge's Court Pleader (late Munsiff of Nator), Memari, Burdwan District, says, 'also low classes, Bagdi, Hari, and Chandáls, use ganja as preventive of fever.' Babu Abinas Chandra Dass, M. A., B. L., Pleader, Judge's Court, Bankura, says, 'as a preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Babu Anango Mohan Naha, Kayasth, Judge's Court Pleader, Comilla, Tippera District, says, 'In cholera epidemics I have seen lower classes of people use bhang as a preventive and also as medicine with success. Small number of low class people use bhang in epidemic cholera.' Babu Bhuvan Mohun Sanyal, Brahmin, Government Pleader, Purnea, says, 'I have often observed that ganja-smokers are generally free from malarious fever, From this I conclude that it is a febrifuge, but I don't think anybody uses it as such.' Babu Jadubans Sahai, Pleader and Vice-Chairman, Arrah Municipality, says, 'The use of these drugs is sometimes considered as a febrifuge in malarious or unhealthy districts, but I am not sure how far this belief is grounded on actual facts.' Babu Gowree Sunker Roy, Kayasth, Secretary, Cuttack Printing Company, Cuttack, says, 'Bhang is preserved by many as a household medicine for all sorts of bowel complaints and colic pain, and as a cooling beverage in the hot season. Indeed, some go so far as to say that the restriction of the sale of bhang by the Excise Department has deprived many of a ready cure in cases of bowel complaints and even cholera.' Babu Gurudayal Sinha, Kayasth, Honorary Magistrate, Municipal Commissioner and Secretary, Total Abstinence Society, Comilla, Tippera, says, 'Bhang is prescribed by native physicians as medicine in cases of dyspepsia, dysentery and diarrhœa, but the lower classes of people only use it.' Rai Bahadur Raj Kumar Sarvadhikari, Secretary, British Indian Association, Calcutta, says, 'Bhang is beneficial in cases of chronic diarrhœa;' Umagati Rat, Brahmin, Pleader, and Secretary to the Jalpaiguri Branch, Indian Association, says, 'I have seen many persons suffering from dysentery and bowel complaints using bhang under the directions of the kavirajes. Bhang is also used by the kavirajes in the preparation of medicines for dysentery, grihini (chronic dysentery) and diarrhoea. I had to use such medicines myself for some time for similar affections.' Babu Akshay Kumar Maitra, Secretary, Rajshahi Association, Pleader, Judge's Court, Member, Rajshahi District Board, Commissioner, Rampur Boalia Municipality, says, 'Sanyasis and mendicants of all denominations claim for ganja the peculiar virtue of preventing disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts, but I do not know how far this virtue actually resides in the drug. I have observed during my sojourn to the North-Western Provinces, Oudh and Rohilkhand that the people there daily take a small quantity of bhang as a cooling draught, and allege that such moderate daily consumption wards off an attack of diarrhœa which is induced by the excessive heat of summer.' Babu Nobin Chandra Sarkar, Kayasth, Wholesale and retail vendor of ganja and bhang, Barisal, says, 'A mixture of ganja with oil is used for itches and other skin diseases.' District Board, Monghyr (Sub-Committee), says, 'in instestinal disorders by native physicians; also very useful in dysentery. Ganja used as a preventive of the effects of damp and exposure to malaria and said to be very efficacious...Ganja is a good preventive of malarial disease.' Surgeon-Major H. C. Banerji, Civil Surgeon, Sylhet, says, 'It is said to be anti-malarial and antirheumatic; ..I am not prepared to say that ganja is anti-malarial, but as it is a nerve tonic I think it would be beneficial in cases of fever. I understood my informants to say that they took ganja when they got rheumatic pains and that it relieved them. I was told this by habitual smokers, and also by people who never smoked except to relieve pain. A native practitioner showed me two cases which he said had been dropsical, and had been under treatment by various remedies for some time. Finally he administered the tincture of Cannabis internally and ordered the patients to smoke ganja. When I saw the patients they were dried up and there were no dropsical appearances. On the contrary, they appeared atrophied. The practitioner was a failed student of the Medical College. He is a good practitioner, and has been working in Sylhet for some seventeen years, so that I place reliance on his statements. I did believe that the cure was due to this, and therefore put it down. I did not enquire what the dropsy was due to. I have heard that effusion into cavities does undergo spontaneous absorption, but I have no experience.' Prosunno Koomar Das, Baidya, Medical Practitioner, Silchar, Cachar, says, 'Are anti-malarious.' Colonel M. M. Bowie, Commissioner, Nerbudda Division, says, 'The belief is also very prevalent that it is of use to ward off malaria. The people tell me that they use it when they have to go to jungle tracts where the water is bad.' Mr. B. Robertson, Deputy Commissioner, Nimar, says, 'is useful as a febrifuge. ...The use of ganja as a febrifuge is distinctly believed in in this district.' Trimbak Rao Sathe, Extra Assistant Commissioner, and Diwan of the Sonepur State, says, 'The moderate, occasional consumers take it as a febrifuge or preventive of disease, when they go to malarious and unhealthy tracts, or when cholera epidemic or such other disease breaks out. In the latter case persons are persuaded to take the drug (ganja or bhang)...I have not tasted ganja myself; but I know the people think it prevents cholera. They say they use it ; but I do not know myself.' Batuk Bharthy, Superintendent of Kalahandi State, says, 'Ganja is considered as preventive of diseases in malarious and unhealthy climates.' Alam Chand, Superintendent, Bastar State, says, 'Yes, it is used in the treatment of dysentery. diarrhoea, etc.,' Chintamani Nand Vidhya Bhushana, Uria Brahmin, late Tahsildar, Sonepur, Sambalpur, says, 'It cures dysentery, and is to some extent preventive of cholera if used with some medicine. It has been observed that when cholera prevails in any place, many of the people residing therein generally take ganja with a view to puss off fear.' Anandi Pershad, Excise Daroga, Hoshangabad, says, 'Its use saves a man from falling sick when the climate is not good.' Munshi Mahomed Ghouse, Extra Assistant Conservator of Forests, Raipur, says, 'It is a common belief that ganja and bhang are beneficial in their effects. The former is said to be preventive of diseases in malarious and unhealthy places.' Surgeon-Major H. K. Mckay, Civil Surgeon, Nagpur, says, 'Bhang is used as a febrifuge pretty generally.' Surgeon-Major W. A. Quayle, Civil Surgeon, Nimar, says, 'I am also told that consumers working in or travelling through malarious jungles are less liable to attacks of fever.' Apothecary J. Prentie, Civil Surgeon, Bhandara, says, 'Both used during prevalence of cholera to some extent by nervous and timid people.' Gangadharrao Madho Chitnavis, Honorary Magistrate, Nagpur, says, 'It also acts as a febrifuge or preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts. Pilgrims and wanderers generally use it for these purposes.' Mir Imdad Ali, Honorary Magistrate, Damoh, says, 'Bhang is sometimes taken in fever before the expected return to prevent it returning.' Kapur Chand, Honorary Magistrate and Gumasta, Raipur, says, 'Both are useful as febrifuges. ..Bhang is a cure for cholera if given in time. It is used by waids of Marwad. I gave it to my child.' Hari Har Singh, Zamindar and Honorary Magistrate, Sambalpur District, says, 'We hear that in unhealthy tracts ganja is used in sufficient quantities.' Pandit Narayan Rao Gobind, Brahmin, Zamindar, Hurda, says, 'As a febrifuge or preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Rao Sahib Balwantrao Govindrao Bhuskute, Brahmin, Jagirdar of Timborni, Barhanpar, Nimar District, says, 'It also acts as a febrifuge or preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Rev. I. Jacob, Church of England Missionary, Chairman, District Council, etc., Chanda, says, ' Ganja is used as a preventive of maladies arising from impure water in malarious and unhealthy districts. Hence its extensive use in the Zamindaris and Feudatory States.' Onkar Das, Agarwalla Bania, Mahajan, Seoni-Chapara, says, 'Also ganja certainly enables the Gond to live under conditions of bad water, and malarial exhalations, which would soon kill a non-smoker of ganja.' Husen Khan, Pathan, Abkari Contractor, Seoni-Chapara, says, 'The moderate consumption of ganja is certainly beneficial to the labouring classes and to those who are exposed to malaria...The Gonds and cultivating classes in malarial tracts and all weathers could not get on without ganja ; it enables them to live under conditions of water-supply and decaying vegetation which would kill others.' Mr. R. Sewell, Collector of Bellary, says, 'My own opinion is that it has a distinct effect as a febrifuge in feverish tracts, and that natives often use it for that purpose. For instance, the people in the Godavari district, which is feverish, are great consumers of tobacco. In the streets of Coconada the smell of tobacco-smoke is everywhere. Children are made to smoke, and the reason probably is that the natives believed smoking to be a good preventive against fever. I think they consume these drugs for the same reason, very often.' Mr. J. Thomson, Collector of Chingleput, says, 'As a febrifuge in ease of fevers arising from, cold.' Mr. G. S. Forbes, Collector of Tinnevelly, says, 'Ganja is prescribed by native physicians for ...tetanus, hydrophobia, cholera, diarrhœa, and dysentery.' Mr. L. C. Miller, Acting Collector of Trichinopoly, says, 'It is said to prevent illness due to change of water.' Mr. K. C. Manavedan Raja, Collector, Anantapur, says, 'It is said that these drugs are prepared as a stimulant for asthma, fever, dysentery, and externally for colic.' Mr. H. Campbell, Acting Sub-Collector, Guntoor, says, 'it is said of smoking ganja that it serves as a prophy-latic against diseases contracted in malarious climates.' Mr. J. H. Merriman, Deputy Commissioner of Salt and Abkari, Central Division, says, 'Majum is said to assist digestion, to give staying-power, and to act as febrifuge. In diarrhœa it is also said to be used. I refer to moderate use.' W. Venkatappiah Pantulu Garu, Brahmin, Deputy Collector, Chatrapur, Ganjam, says, 'in the prevention of cough and other complaints due to change of water and climate.' M. R. R. Dewan Bahadur S. Venkata Ramadas Naidu, Deputy Collector, Godavari, says, 'Ganja is considered a prophylactic, but bhang is a febrifuge and is used in cases of fever and ague. .. People in malarious places use the drugs in this manner.' Mr. W. E. Ganapathy, Retired Deputy Collector, Palamcottah, Tinnevelly, says, 'for preventing malarious diseases.' G. Jagannayakulu, Acting Tahsildar, Gooty, says, 'Bhang and ganja are used as a preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' A. Katchapeswara Iyer, Brahmin, Stationary Sub-Magistrate, Cuddapah Taluk, says, 'I have ascertained from ganja consumers as well as native doctors that the use of ganja acts as a prophylactic against fever.' K. Rama Kristna Bramham, Brahmin, Stationary Sub-Magistrate, Kudlighi, Bellary District, says, 'very moderate use will act as a prophylactic to certain diseases, especially fevers, cold, etc.' M. Seshachala Naidu, Baliya, Pensioned Tahsildar, Vellore, says, 'Purnathy is also used as a preventive of disease in malarious tracts. I refer to the moderate occasional use by people travelling in malarious tracts.' N. Soondramiah, Brahmin, Deputy Tahsildar, Ootacamund, says, 'Many of the Bairagis and fakirs use ganja moderately to alleviate fatigue or to subside hunger, and the hill tribes of various tracts use it as a preventive of disease.' P. Lakshminarayana, Brahmin, Manager of Court of Wards' Estate, Nuzvid, says, 'Smoking ganja prevents any change coming over the system of a man by frequent change of climate and water used for drinking.' Mr. R. W. Morgan, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Ootacamund, Nilgiris, says, 'The smoke of bhang is probably a germicide and disinfectant, and this may act as a preventive of disease.' Surgeon-Major John Lancaster, District Surgeon, North Arcot, says, 'in tetanus, in malarious dysentery.' Surgeon-Major K. C. Sanjana, Parsi, District Surgeon, Tinnevelly, says, 'Ganja is prescribed by native doctors in the form of halwa ...for ...tetanus...cholera, diarrhœa and dysentery.' Civil Apothecary T. M. Cheriyan, Manantoddy, says, 'Yes, it is used by some native doctors in diarrhœa, colic, cholera, etc.' Dr. Arthur Wells, Medical Officer, Chicacole, Ganjam District, says, 'A preparation of the hemp plant, called halwa, is used in the treatment of dysentery, chronic cough, colic, etc., by native doctors. ...Supposed to be preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts. It is generally used in these instances by the lower classes and by moderate habitual users.' K. Jagannadham Naidu, Medical Officer, Parlakimedi, Ganjam District, says, 'Those living in malarial places smoke ganja under the belief that it prevents malarial fever.' Assistant Surgeon Saldhana, Salem, says, 'is reputed to have the power of preventing disease in malarious and other unhealthy tracts; so that habituals can travel from place to place of different climatic and other conditions with impunity from such trivial complaints as are incidental to such a fugitive life.' Hospital Assistant T. Ranganaya Kulu Naidoo, Rajahmundry, Godavari District, says, 'Yes, native doctors prescribe for dysentery, chronic diarrhoœa, and cholera, mixing with poppies, pepper and sugar. Headaches, tetanus, and menorrhagia...Yes. It is considered as a preventive when travelled in malarious tracts.' Hospital Assistant I. Parthasarathy ChettyA, Penukonda, Anantapur District, says, 'Yes, as febrifuge against malaria.' Mirza Davood Beg, Pensioned Hospital Assistant, Trichinopoly, says, 'it acts as a prophylactic measure for some time in malarious tract.' H. S. A. M. Munjumiah, Native Medical Practitioner, Cuddapah, says, 'as a preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts. Several native sepoys who are tossed about from one place to another use ganja for smoking to prevent fevers, etc. ...On several occasions I have prescribed the use of ganja as a means of digesting food and with other medicines preventing malarious fevers, asthma, abdominal irregularities of some kind.' Sagi Rama Sastry, Brahmin, Inamdar and Native Doctor, Rajahmundry, Godavari District, says, 'By a moderate use of the drug, the consumer feels pleasant and gets rid of cough, if he has any.' Mr. W. Taylor, Chairman, Municipal Council, Parlakimedi, Ganjam District, says, 'The moderate use of these drugs is considered a prophylactic against malarial fevers, and other diseases incidental to life in the Indian jungles.' Rev. H. F. Laflamme, Canadian Baptist Mission, Yellamanchili, Vizagapatam, says, 'It is the fact that the drugs are more used in malarious tracts, and probably the users do believe in their protective effects against fever;' Rev. J. Heinrichs, Missionary, Vinukunda, Kistna District, says, 'In malarious and unhealthy places it is supposed to prevent disease. Most of the consumers are seen among invalid sepoys who practised ganja smoking when they were engaged on foreign expeditions.'  N. Kothundaramayya, Brahmin, Editor of "Suneeti" Rajahmundry, Godavari District, says, 'Bairagis and sanyasis use the drug with a belief that they will not be subject, in their wanderings from the Himalayas to Rameswaram (Cape Comorin), to the bad effects of different climates and waters.' Hon'ble A. Sabapathy Moodelliar, Rai Bahadur, Merchant, Bellary, says, 'Decidedly it is a preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Mirza Mehdy Ispahani, Merchant, Madras, says, 'It does prevent disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Appala Narassiah Chetty, Vaisya, Merchant, Berhampore, says, 'Ganja is used in pills as a febrifuge in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Mokhalingam Appanna, Ganja Vendor, Coconada, says, 'The moderate use of ganja is beneficial, as it removes the effects caused by a change of climate.' Mulagula Kondiah, Goldsmith, Rajahmundry, says, 'It serves as a preventive of malarious fevers, etc.' Samdasu Bavaji, Brahmin, Priest in the Matt of Sri Jagannadha Swamy, Rajahmundry, says, 'May serve as a febrifuge or preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Mr. E. J. Ebden, Collector, Ahmednagar, says, 'Popular opinion is that ganja smokers escape fever and many other complaints.' Mr. C. G. Dodgson, Assistant Magistrate and Collector, Khandesh, says, 'Ganja is sometimes used by native doctors as a febrifuge and sedative in cases of fever and asthma...It is also used by them to check diarrhœa.' Rao Bahadur Narayan Ganesh Deshpande, Brahmin, Deputy Collector, Belgaum, says, 'It is said that ganja smoking and bhang eating serve to prevent fever more or less.' Rao Bahadur Bhimbhai Kirpa Ram, Brahmin, Huzur Deputy Collector of Surat, says, 'it is a febrifuge in malarious districts.' Rao Bahadur Vyankatesh Bapuji Wadekar, Deputy Collector, Ahmednagar, says, 'It destroys the bad effects resulting from unwholesome water.' Khan Bahadur Dadabhai Deenshah, Parsi, Huzur Deputy Collector and Magistrate, 1st Class, Kaira, says, 'Bhang is drunk in fever cases by some persons, though not a large number, with a view to keep down the temperature of the body. ..To ward off the effects of bad water -supply, ganja is considered by all smokers to be a sovereign remedy. Travellers in tracts where the water-supply is not good use it, according to their opinion, with beneficial results, as far as the effects of bad water are concerned.' Rao Bahadur Sitaram Damodhar, Huzur Deputy Collector, Khandesh, says, 'By native doctors it is used as specific for dysentery...It is also used in cholera cases.' Khan Bhadur Ratanji Erdalji Kanga, Parsi, Deputy Collector and Magistrate, Dharwar, says, 'It is a popular belief here that the use of ganja in malarious and unhealthy tracts is a febrifuge and preventive of disease.' Rao Bahadur Rango Ramchandra Bhardi, Deputy Collector and Native Assistant to the Commissioner, Poona, Central Division, says, 'Persons who actually consume the drug say that the moderate use of it is beneficial in its effects as preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts;' Rao Bahadur Rajaram Mule, Deshastha Brahmin, Administrator of Jath, in Southern Mahratta Country, says, 'It is a popular belief that smoking of ganja is preventive of disease in, malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Balkrishna Narayan Vaidhya, Parbhu, State Karbhari of Sangli, says, 'acts as febrifuge or preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts. Most of the gosains, bairagis, and fakirs use ganja as a febrifuge or preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Dadabhai Burjorjee Guzder, Parsi, District Abkari Inspector, Ahmednagar, says, 'It destroys the bad effects resulting from bad water in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Yashvant Nilkanth, Patana Prabhu, Superintendent, Office of Survey Commissioner, and Director of Land Records and Agriculture, Bombay, says, 'It is sometimes used as an alleged preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts, ganja smoking for this purpose being not quite unknown in the lower ranks of survey subordinates, whose work causes much exposure to unaccustomed climate.' Mr. G. P. Millet, Divisional Forest Officer, West Thana, Thana, says, 'Would have a beneficial tendency in a malarious climate.' Mr. H. Kennedy, District Superintendent of Police, Ahmednagar, says, 'Both ganja and bhang are said to be recommended by native doctors for diarrhœa, dysentery, and piles.' Mr. J. E. Down, Districts Superintendent of Police, Satara, says, 'Is sometimes prescribed by native doctors as a febrifuge and for dysentery;' Mr. F. T. V. Austin, District Superintendent of Police, Surat, says, 'The moderate use of ganja is supposed to be beneficial in the prevention of fever and in reducing the ill-effects likely to follow the habitual use of bad water; while from bhang a cooling drink is prepared which is said to be very beneficial in intermittent fever. Bhang and ganja are so used by the poorer classes, both habitually as also occasionally.' Khan Bahadur Nanbhoy Cowasji, Parsi, City Police Inspector, Surat, says, 'Ganja is not used as a febrifuge, but bhang is sometimes used in cases of fever by some persons... Persons in well-to-do circumstances do not, except in some cases when travelling, smoke ganja to counteract the effects of bad water.' Surgeon-Major D. C. Davidson, Acting Civil Surgeon, and Superintendent of the Jail and Lunatic Asylum, Dharwar, says, 'It is used extensively by the people themselves in malarial fever...diarrhœa...' Surgeon-Major K. R. Kirtikar, Civil Surgeon, Thana, and Medical Officer, Thana Depot and District Jail, says, 'The old standard Sanskrit writers, who are generally studied by native doctors, recommend Cannabis indica, or the hemp plant and its products, for the following diseases :— ...diarrhœa...and quartan fevers. .. of ganja gives relief in chest complaints, such as asthma, by acting as an antispasmodic, and reduces the excessive discharge of phlegm (mucous and muco-purulent expectoration)....I know of no practical use of this drug in fevers, either as a preventive or curative agent ; but it is recommended by native writers for quartan fevers, as already stated in answer to question No. 40.' Rao Saheb Bhicajee Amroot Chobhe, Brahmin, Assistant Surgeon, Poona City, says, 'European doctors prescribe extract and tincture of ganja in cases of diarrhœa, dysentery,...tetanus, etc. Native Vaidyas prescribe ganja and its preparations in some of the above maladies.' Khan Bahadur Dossabroy Pestonjee, Parsi, Assistant Surgeon, Parakh Dispensary, Surat, and Honorary Assistant Surgeon to His Excellency the Viceroy, says, 'It is said to be a febrifuge in malarious districts.' Rao Bahadur Thakordas Kikabhai, Bania, Assistant Surgeon, Wadhwan Civil Station, Kathiawar, says, 'I have no personal experience of its beneficial effects as a preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthly tracts, but it is believed to be so.' Hospital Assistant Jamiatram Jeyashunker, Nagar Brahmin, West Hospital, Rajkot, Kattiawar, says, 'Bhang is also tried with more or less success in many diseases, as in tetanus,... and in cholera.' Uttamram Jeewanram, Itchapooria, Audesh, Brahmin, Native Doctor (Vaidya), Bombay and Surat, says, 'Ganja and bhang are used in malarious tracts to prevent the malarious attacks. I have experienced that the consumers of bhang and ganja very rarely suffer from malarious fever.' Keshowram Haridat, Chcepooria, Audesh Brahmin, Native Doctor (Vaidya) , Render, Surat and Bombay, says, 'In malarious and unhealthy tracts use of ganja protects the man from malarious attacks.' Mr. Purbhuram Jeewanram, Nagar Brahmin, Native Doctor (Vaidya), Bombay, says, 'It prevents disease, and is known to prevent fever. Brahmins and banias use bhang as a food accessory. People in the mufussal use it to prevent attacks of fever.' Ramchandra Krishna Kothavale, Brahmin, Inamdur, Taluka Wai, in Satara District, says, 'It is used as a febrifuge in some malarial countries, but the use is not so well marked.' Rao Bahadur Govindrao Ramchandra Garud, Pleader Dhulia, Khandesh, says, 'Yes ; according to native works on medicine bhang has febrituge properties and is used in malarious and unhealthy tracts with such object.' Rao Bahadur Huchrao Achut Harihar, Deshast Brahmin, Pleader, District Court, Belgaum, says, 'as preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts;' Naro Dhakadeo, Brahmin, Pleader, Jalgaon, District Khandesh, says, 'as a preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts ; (d) to prevent diseases from dirty water.' Gurappa Rachappa, Lengayet, Office of Shetti (Revenue and Police), Dharwar, says, 'As febrifuge or preventive of disease to a certain extent in malarious and unhealthy tracts when mixed with cloves, dried ginger, jagri, and pipli.' Laldas Laxmonji, Kshatriya, Solicitor's Clerk, Bombay, says, 'It acts as a preventive of disease in unwholesome climates and where unwholesome water is only obtainable.' Mr. C. E. S. Stafford Steele, Officiating Deputy Commissioner, Thar and Parkar District, says, 'to induce perspiration in ague fits, when dry leaves are placed on embers and the smoke inhaled.' Khan Bahadur Kadirdad Khan Gul Khan, C.I.E., Deputy Collector, Naushahro Sub-division, says, 'the use of hemp liquid is considered as a preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Muhammad Murid, Police Inspector, Naushahro, says, 'Bhang is prescribed by native doctors ...for stopping dysentery and diarrhœa.' Assistant Surgeon G. M. Dixon, Medical Officer and Superintendent, Nara Jail, says, 'acts as a febrifuge in malarious tracts....While this jail was in Thar and Parkar district in some malarious places, but very few of the surrounding free population came to be treated for fevers at this jail hospital, and among these men the moderate drinking of subzi was prevalent. In April and May last, when my camp was at Khadi, Barogoza Bund, a malarious and outof-the-way place in Shah Bunder subdivision of Karachi district, there were over a thousand free labourers working on the Bund, and among them there were but a few cases of fever, and no case of sunstroke, although they used to work in the sun under a temperature varying from 130º to 140ºF., the temperature in the shade being about 110ºF. Although I was not in direct medical charge of these free labourers, still, in order to pro tect the general health of my prisoners, I used to go about amongst the free labourers to find out if there was much sickness or epidemic among them, and good many of these free labourers used to take moderate quantity of subzi in the day time after finishing their work. Khadi is a small village containing about 60 fishermen, who have their temporary huts at the place during the fishing season. These people used to take subzi in moderate doses and all appeared to me to be heathy. Sunstroke and fever were almost unknown among them.' Pesumal Narumal, Farmer and Merchant, Hyderabad, says, 'Bhang is used as a febrifuge.' Waman Ganesh, Tahsildar, Wun, says, 'as a preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts;' Vimayak Appaji Kaur, Brahmin, Officiating Tahsildar, Darwa, Wun District, says, 'Moderate use of ganja or bhang is beneficial... is also effective as a medicine in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Laxman Gopal Deshpande, Brahmin, Naib Tahsildar, Mangrul Taluk, District Basim, says, 'as a febrifuge or preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Surgeon-Major C. L. Swaine, Officiating Sanitary Commissioner, and Inspector- General of Dispensaries, says, 'In the Melghat forest and malarial district ganja is much used as a preventative against malarial fevers;' Surgeon-Major R. B. Roe, Civil Surgeon, Amraoti, says, 'It (ganja) is also used as a febrifuge with good results.' Mr. Dinner Narayen, District Superintendent of Vaccination, Buldana, says, 'It is a preventive of diseases in malarious tracts.' G. V. Kot, Brahmin, Medical Practitioner, Amraoti, says, 'nearly 10 per cent, of the occasional moderate smokers use it as a febrifuge. I have been informed of cases in which attacks of intermittent fevers (ague) have disappeared by a single process of smoking ganja—cases I mean of jungle fevers, in which the administration of even large doses of quinine have failed to ward off the attacks or in districts in which quinine is not obtainable.' Yeshwant Vaman Dighe, Pleader, Basim, says, 'Ganja wards off the injurious effects of impure and unfiltered water (germicide).' Niamat Khan Bilan Khan, Merchant, Balapur, Akola District, says, 'I don't know about fever ; but I have heard from many sadhus that the use of bhang and ganja protects them against diseases in unhealthy tracts, by which I mean places where water is bad.' Lakshman Atmaram Mahajan, Merchant, Manjrul Pir, says, 'acts like a prevention of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Khab Bahadur Dr Sheikh Elahi Bux, Government Pensioner and Honorary Magistrate, Ajmere, says, 'Vaids, hakims and native doctors do prescribe the use of these drugs on account of their medicinal properties for dysentery, diarrhoea, cholera, ...tetanus...They serve as febrifuge or preventive of disease in malarious tracts.' Asghur Ali Khan, Hospital Assistant, Ajmere Dispensary, says, 'Moderate use of bhang is beneficial in its effects as ...preventing malarious diseases in unhealthy tracts.' Jati Amar Hansa, Baid, Ajmere, says, 'In cases of intermittent and other fevers, such as continued, quotidian, tertian, etc., it is very useful when given with cathartics.' Mr. A. Bopanna, Planter, Bepunaad, Green Hills, Coorg, says, 'I think it is preventive of disease in malarious and unhealthy tracts.' Lieutenant-Colonel C. B. Cooke, Commissioner of Pegu, says, 'Maung Lu Maung, Thugyi of Yindaw (Yamethin district), states :— Ganja is said to keep off cold and fever. It is still used medicinally by some suffering from long-standing dysentery and diarrhœa...Maung Gyi, Head Constable of Wundwin (Meiktila district), states: I was told that it was an antidote for fever...Maung Lat, Myook of Wundwin (Meiktila district), states :—Ganja I am told keeps away cold and fever. I have seen children suffering from dysentery cured by rubbing ganja pounded and mixed in water on the navel.' Surgeon-Major S. H. Dantra, Civil Surgeon, Mandalay, says, 'It has been also recommended as well as often used as a preventive against malaria and bowel complaints caused by change of climate or water or by marching through unhealthy districts.' Surgeon-Captain R. H. Castor, Civil Surgeon, Yemethin, says, 'Native doctors use it for diarrhœa and cholera'. Army Witness No. 83 says, 'The moderate use of these drugs is considered beneficial in the prevention of malaria and disease.' Army Witness No. 116 says, 'a regular consumer of bhang is said to be comparatively free from the diarrhœa and slight dysentery which non-consumers amongst natives are so liable to on the march or in a new station from drinking water with properties they are not accustomed to.' Army Witness No. 137 says, 'Indian hemp is of great value in cases of obstinate malarial fever, though not usually prescribed by English physicians.' Army Witness No. 162 says, 'If taken in moderation, the use of these drugs is supposed to be beneficial, inasmuch as it is said to promote digestion, create appetite and nullify the effects of bad water.' Army Witness No. 179 says, 'Ganja—Beneficial; taken in cases of men suffering from malarial fevers.'

Siva, the god of ganja, is also known as the god of fever.  According to the Note to the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission of 1894-95 by J. M. Campbell , C.I.E., Collector of Land Revenue and Customs and Opium, Bombay, on the Religion of Hemp, 'The Kashikhanda Purana tells how at Benares, a Brahman, sore-smitten with fever, dreamed that he had poured bhang over the self-sprung Ling and was well. On waking he went to the Ling, worshipped, poured bhang and recovered. The fame of this cure brings to Benares sufferers from fever which no ordinary medicine can cure. The sufferers are laid in the temple and pour bhang over the Ling whose virtue has gained it the name Jvareshwar, the Fever-Lord.'

Today, the world faces a situation where all the actions of the ruling upper classes of the world only further enhance the climate conducive for the thriving and proliferation of infectious diseases that are mutating to even more deadlier versions. The world faces a dead-end in terms of antibiotics, and a rapidly losing battle in the field of antivirals and antifungals. Increasing contamination of air, water, food and the soil threaten to unleash newer forms of deadly microbes, even as human and animal immunity levels drop. The stress caused by the actions of the world's elites is a major factor for the spread of infectious diseases worldwide. As if all this was not bad enough, rising global temperatures thaw and melt the icesheets that cover large areas of the Arctic and Antarctic, releasing prehistoric microbes that are frozen in the earth into a world that has forgotten how to deal with them.

We saw in the reports from 19th century India regarding the use of cannabis as prophylactic, febrifuge and antibiotic for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. The people who used cannabis as medicine against infectious diseases were the poorest sections of society, who formed the majority and who could afford nothing else as medicine. The global legalization of cannabis will enable the poorest people in the world, who form possibly 70% of the world's population, to use it as a means to combat infectious diseases. But this step is continuously blocked by the synthetic pharmaceutical, medical, chemical fertilizer and petrochemical industries that are today responsible for the heightened state of danger to all life. The products of these cannabis-opposing industries only benefit the top 10% of the world's people - the elites. But the power over decision-making that these elites hold prevents cannabis from reaching the people who need it the most. Opium may be an effective medicine in the treatment of infectious disease - primarily as a painkiller - but it is highly addictive and harmful. This is clearly evident from the increasing number of deaths from opioid overdoses worldwide. But this has not prevented the world's elites from positioning opium as the preferred medicine at the cost of cannabis. This is primarily because the global elites are addicted to opium and profit greatly from its use and sale. It does not matter to the elites that opium is difficult to procure for most of the people of the world, or that it is expensive and deadly. I believe that the Covid-19 fake pandemic was also created to boost the flagging opioid sales as global awareness increased regarding opium's harms, and global efforts to legalize cannabis as a replacement for opium increased. Today, to make matters worse, we see that the same culprits who were responsible for the fake pandemic Covid-19 are still in charge of world affairs - Xi, Narendra Modi, Vladmir Putin, the recently reinstated Donald Trump (only Boris Johnson has been decommissioned) - resolutely working to keep cannabis prohibited.

Recent scientific studies have started to show the potential of cannabis as an antibiotic. Cannabis legalization will have far-reaching benefits in the treatment and control of infectious diseases. Cannabis is universal medicine that addresses a wide range of health issues. Cannabis can be grown in almost all the countries of the world, unlike opium, thus enabling it to reach the poorest people in the remotest parts of the world. Cannabis legalization will have far-reaching benefits in the treatment and control of infectious diseases. It will even address the man-made sources of infectious diseases i.e. the contamination of the planet through wars, petrochemical-based products, synthetic pharmaceuticals, chemical pesticides, etc. It will enable humans and other living beings to boost their immunity levels through addressing stress, anxiety, nutrition, sleep, digestion, pain, etc. It will enable humans to raise their levels of thinking to creatively and inclusively address the problem of infectious diseases. It will enable humanity to be more alert to dangerous life-threatening endeavors like Covid-19 that the charlatans among the elites deploy to keep the world in chains and increase their own wealth and power - two most useless possessions that can be rendered meaningless by the smallest organisms that nature has created, organisms that exist all around us and within us, organisms that make a mockery of human intelligence and the delusions that come with it...

We live in a time when all life on earth, not just human, is at threat by the foolish actions of humans in their blind and relentless pursuit of wealth and power...We must deploy all possible defensive mechanisms against this threat, the likes of which the planet as we know it has never witnessed in living memory...Cannabis is one of the most potent defense mechanisms that nature has provided for the benefit of numerous life forms, not just humans...The longer we ignore cannabis and place our trust on the delusion that human intelligence - and the synthetic products that it creates - is far superior to nature, the closer we get to our collective demise...