CHAPTER XIII.
EFFECTS-MORAL: GENERAL SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS.
Social effects.
540. Hitherto
the effects of hemp drugs have been considered
principally
with reference to consumers
themselves. In turning
now to the discussion of their moral effects, we
shall practically consider
briefly their direct effects on society. Are consu-
mers offensive to their neighbours, and is there any connection
between hemp
drugs and crime? These are the questions which it is proposed now
to discuss.
A considerable mass of evidence has been collected on these
questions.
Are consumers offensive
to their
neighbours?
541. As to whether
moderate consumers are offensive to their neighbours the
evidence can leave little doubt on the mind of any
one who peruses it
carefully. About seven hundred
witnesses have thought it
worth while to speak on this point. It may be safely
presumed that of the remainder the great majority have no
experience of any-
thing offensive in consumers. Of those who have given their
opinions, over six
hundred say that moderate consumers are not offensive to their
neighbours. Of
the small minority, some object, not unnaturally, to the bad
example they think
their ganja smoking neighbour may be to their sons who are growing
up.
Some merely take offence at the smell of the ganja smoke, and some
at the
"coughing and expectorating." They are evidently not inclined to be
tolerant of
the indulgence which they do not care themselves to practise. On
the other
hand, some of the minority are clearly dealing not with moderate
consumption,
but with the worst type of excess. They speak vaguely of the
consumers as
committing the gravest crimes under the influence of these drugs.
Altogether it
is clear that the moderate consumer is as a rule perfectly
inoffensive. There
appear to be quite adequate grounds for accepting the statement of
those who
assert that as a rule he "cannot be distinguished from the total
abstainer."
Some witnesses have stated that they had difficulty in finding the
moderate con-
sumers, though they did find that the habit of moderate consumption
is common.
Indeed, there are not wanting those who say that no consumer of
bhang or ganja,
whether in moderation or in excess, is ever an offensive neighbour.
The contrast
in this respect between the excessive consumer of hemp drugs and
the excessive
consumer of alcohol is frequently emphasized. No doubt the
excessive consumer
of hemp drugs must sometimes be a disagreeable and perhaps even
dangerous
neighbour; but even among excessive consumers such cases seem to be
very rare
indeed.
Connection of hemp drugs
with
crime.
542. In discussing the
connection of hemp drugs with crime, it is necessary
to
discriminate between any
effect which they may be
supposed to produce on crime in general and the
unpremeditated crimes of violence to which intoxication may give
rise. Thus
there are those who allege that the habitual use of alcohol, at all
events if carried
to excess, degrades the mind and character of the consumer and
predisposes
him to crime in general, or to crimes of a particular character,
especially to
offences against property. Drink is thus set down sometimes as one
of the most
efficient agencies for increasing the criminal classes. On the
other hand, there
are well known cases in which intoxication from alcohol has led to
crimes of an
occasional and exceptional character, generally to unpremeditated
crimes of