Dagga is the common South African term which describes the coarse leaf-powder (containing seeds) made from the flowering top of the Indian hemp plant, botanically known as Cannabis. The hemp plant originated in Central Europe, but it now grows in most parts of the world, wild or in cultivation, as an annual. Any part of it, when rubbed between the fingers, gives off a characteristic minty odour, the flowering tops being slightly sticky to the touch. The hemp seed (chenevis) is used in the manufac­ture of varnish and paint. It was formerly used for soap­making. In hot, dry countries (the plains of India) the plant is cultivated to produce textile fibres. ^l

The inebriating properties of hemp have long been known. Herodotus 2 wrote that the plant was cultivated in Scythia and Thrace, and the inhabitants not only made clothes from it, but also intoxicated themselves by roasting the seeds on hot stones and breathing the vapours. To-day an imposing number of narcotic preparations· is made from the hemp plant for consumption by addicts all over the world. Drugs may be prepared for smoking (chira, hashish, marihuana, dagga) or for drinking (assis, chats­raki). In Eastern countries much ingenuity is devoted to the making of sweet-meats which contain the Cannabis resin in mixtures of almond, chocolate or honey; these substances have a reputation as aphrodisiacs in Arab medicine.

Drugs which produce addiction generally have effects regarded as pleasurable. That hemp has these properties is evident from the serious problem created by its control and use in the United States. The recent imprisonment of a group of film actors focussed fresh public attention on Cannabis addiction and showed that it is not confined to the lowest economic groups of the population. The impression is that in South Africa dagga is used chiefly by Coloured persons and a small number of the more degenerate Europeans. There is a strong popular dis­approval directed against it.

At the Grahamstown Medical Congress, in 1935, a resolution was passed asking the Minister of the Interior to arrange for an investigation of the likelihood that dagga smoking could produce psychotic states and intellectual deterioration. As a result a study of dagga smoking 3 was made by the staff of the Pretoria Mental Hospital.

Afrikaans
Dagga is die algemeen bekende Suid-Afrikaanse term wat die growwe (saadbevattende) blaarpoeier beskryf wat van die blomtoppe van die lndiese hennep, in die plant­kunde bekend as Cannabis, gemaak word. Die hennep­plant het sy oorsprong in Sentraal-Europa maar dit groei nou wild of gekweek in die meeste dele van die wereld as ‘n jaarplant. Wanneer enige deel daarvan tussen die vingers gevryf word, het dit ‘d kenmerkende kruisement­agtige geur en die blomtoppe voel effens klewerig. Die hennepsaad (chenevis) word gebruik by die vervaardiging van vernis en verf. Dit is voorheen vir die maak van seep gebruik. In warm, droe lande (die vlaktes van Indic) word die plant vir tekstielvesels gekweek.^l

Die bedwelmende eienskappe van hennep is reeds lank bekend. Herodotus 2 het geskryf dat die plant in Skithie en Thracie gekweek is en die bewoners het nie slegs klere daarvan gemaak nie maar het hulle ook bedwelm deur die saad op warm klippe te braai en die dampe in te asem. Op die oomblik word ‘n indrukwekkende aantal narkotiese preparate van die hennepplant vir verbruik deur verslaafdes oor die wereld gemaak. Verdowings­middels om te rook kan gemaak word (chira, hasjish, marijuana, dagga) of om te drink (assis, sjats-raki). In die lande van die Ooste word met veel vernuf lekkers gemaak wat die Cannabis-harpuis in mengsels van amandel, sjokolade of helJning bevat; in Arabiese geneeskunde word hierdie stowwe beskou as geslags· prikkelmiddels.

Verdowingsrniddels wat. verslaafdheid veroorsaak, het gewoonlik ‘n uitwerking wat as aangenaam beskou word. Oat hennep hierdie eienskap besit, blyk duidelik uit die ernstige probleem wat deur die beheer en gebruik daarvan in die Verenigde State van Amerika geskep is. Die onlangse gevangesetting van ‘n groep filmakteurs het opnuut die aandag van die publiek op verslaafdheid aan Cannabis gevestig en het getoon dat dit nie tot die laagste ekonomiese groepe van die bevolking beperk is nie. Die indruk bestaan dat dagga in Suid-Afrika hoofsaaklik deur Kleurlin~e en ‘n klein aantal ontaarde blankes gebruik word. Sterk afkeur van die oubliek is daarteen l!:emik.

Op die Grahamstadse Mediese Kongres van 1935 is ‘n besluit aanl!:eneem waarin die Minister van Binnelandse Sake gevra is om ‘n ondersoek te reel na die moontlikheid dat die rook van dagga psigotiese toestande en verstande· like agteruitgang kan veroorsaak. As gevolg daarvan is ‘n ondersoek na die rook van ~!!a 3 deur die personeel van die hospitaal vir sielsiekes te Pretoria gedoen.

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