cannabinol resin exudes in abundance in dry, hot weather, 
which is so typical of this area before the rains arrive. The 
practice of collecting the resinous secretion before the rains is 
common throughout the entire area. 
Some of the other common uses of Cannabis in the 
Himalayan area are: oil extracted from the seeds is used for 
rheumatism; leaves boiled in milk and used for stomach upset; 
seeds mixed with barley are eaten by the common folks of these 
hills, perhaps an unconscious following of the hymn of 
Atharva-Veda; Cannabis mixed with Datura Stramonium 
seeds for intoxication. | 
During field investigations, | met several curious, helpful 
inhabitants of the hamlets. Practically everybody suggested a 
strong correlation between strong odour and narcotic potency 
of Cannabis. A biochemical analysis of various populations is 
planned to determine the validity of this folklore belief. 
Finally, the uses of Cannabis drugs in the Indian sub-conti- 
nent can be described under the following categories (Chopra 
& Chopra, 1957): 1) medical and quasi-medical use; 2) use in 
connection with religious and social customs; 3) euphoric pur- 
poses. Unfortunately, it is the use or abuse for euphoric pur- 
poses which causes public commotion, fear and indignation in 
the minds of many, sometimes obscuring the medicinal and 
religious significance of Cannabis in India. General belief holds 
that Cannabis is a means of escape from the realities of life. 
Dutt (1900) rightly summarizes the euphoric effect of Cannabis 
observed in Indian surroundings: 
Almost invariably the inebriation is of the most cheerful 
kind, causing the person to sing and dance, to eat food 
with great relish, and to seek aphrodisiac enjoyments. In 
persons of a quarrelsome disposition, it induces, as might 
be expected, an exasperation of their natural tendency. 
There is some truth to this statement, as evident in the 
Himalayan areas and other parts of the world. However, cau- 
tion and discretion must be exercised while trying to write a 
complete story of Cannabis, since its folklore may reveal new 
medicinal potentialities (as has been the case in the past with 
this and many other plants in the Himalayas). I hope, therefore, 
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