Bengaluru: Ganja (marijuana) remains the narcotic of choice for a majority of users, and peddlers have been keeping the police on their toes. Out of the 269 kilograms of drugs seized in 2016, ganja accounted for 254 kilograms.
Ganja constituted a major portion of the narcotics seized in previous years too ( see info graph ).
“A large number of people arrested in possession or sale of ganja are Indians,” informed a senior police officer.
One of the reasons for its popularity is the fact that it is considered harmless and less addictive as compared to cocaine or heroin. However, there is a growing problem of the drug being sold near schools and educational institutions. “Teenagers are being lured into trying it. It is easily available and cheaper when compared to other narcotics,” said a senior police officer.
“The other major problem is the abuse of pharmaceutical drugs,” added the officer.