330 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. XVI.
bhang, which operates to
prevent the imports from passing a very limited figure.
The taxation of this bhang is excessive, and its sale is affected
by the fact that
only the wholesale dealers are allowed to sell it by
retail.
Recommendations for its
control
and taxation.
677. The Commission are
in favour of taking such measures as are possible
for controlling and taxing
bhang. For the present
they consider that in the belt of growth above re-
ferred to nothing more can be done than to auction the monopoly of
retail
vend. In other parts they are of opinion that cultivation should be
prohi-
bited, except under licenses, and arrangements made for the
transfer of the
whole crop produced from licensed cultivation to the authorised
vendors. In
these tracts they are of opinion that some attempt may be made to
extir-
pate the spontaneous growth by rendering the occupiers of land
responsible
that it shall not be found on their lands. Legislation may be
necessary
for the purpose. They would like to see Mr. Westmacott's circular
which was
cancelled by the Bengal Government revived, and they would suggest
a
modification of the Assam circular permitting the use of green or
dry hemp
for the use of cattle. Now that the habitat of the spontaneous
growth has been
clearly defined, Local Governments will have no difficulty in
deciding where, for
the present at least, the existing system must be allowed to
continue. The
Commission think that it may be impossible to treat the bhang which
is pro-
duced in ganja-growing tracts in a different manner from ganja. To
do so would
probably be to imperil the ganja administration. But if this
opinion is found to
be mistaken, they would be glad to see this bhang more leniently
treated than
ganja. The Commission find that in the Central Provinces bhang is
only per-
mitted to be sold by the wholesale vendors, and the duty is the
same as in the
case of ganja. The reason for this is not apparent. As judged by
the stand-
ard of other provinces, the incidence of taxation is high compared
to ganja.
Distribution of the hemp
drugs to
retail vendors.
678. As regards the
distribution of the drugs to retail vendors, the Commis-
sion think that when adequate arrangements have
been made for their taxation, not much interference is
required. The evidence contains various suggestions
on this subject. Some witnesses point to the large profits reaped
by whole-
sale vendors, and suggest that these middlemen should be abolished,
and that
the functions discharged by them should be assumed by the
Government in order
that these profits may be secured for the public revenues. The
Commission are
not in favour of this proposal. It is open to some of the
objections against a
Government monopoly which have been previously stated. If the
profits reaped
by the wholesale vendors are found to be excessive, this fact would
point to a
rise in the duty. If the latter is sufficient, the Government need
not concern
itself with the dealers' profits. Private enterprise is, moreover,
better suited for
the distribution of the taxed drugs than Government agency. The aim
of Gov-
ernment should be to dissociate itself, as far as possible,
consistently with efficient
control and adequate taxation from the supply of the drugs. This
general
policy may admit of special exceptions. The Bengal Government has
made pro-
vision for such exceptions, while affirming the general principle,
in the following
rule*:—" Except in districts where minimum prices have been
prescribed by the
Board, no attempt should be made to regulate the price at which
spirits, liquor,
* Bengal Excise Manual, page 105, Rule 14.