Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Dec 24:

Ganja is what gives Odisha a high! A national survey , between July 2011 and June 2012, has found that Odisha has the highest takers of Ganja or a type of cannabis in India. Although cannabis in all forms is banned in India, the substance is widely used since 2000 BC.
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Ganja cultivation is a lucrative business in Odisha, as thousands of landowners in the state make more than Rs 1000 crore illegally in a year from the trade.

The state government constantly runs drives to destroy these illegal plantations. Yet, there are many lovers of the weed, says the survey. The state spends Rs 0.17 per head every month on consumption of Ganja.

Bihar comes second with average of Rs 0.17 per head on Ganja, despite having a higher population than Odisha. The third largest state in India is going to ban local alcohol from April 1 and limiting sales of beer, wine and liquor to state-run stores.

While, Haryana spends Rs 0.15 per head, which is equal to what all India spends on Ganja in a month.

Odisha spend is higher than the national average of 0.15 rupees, according to the National Sample Survey, conducted by the Union government, between July 2011 and June 2012.

The highest spending on intoxicants by Odisha is on paan of all types at Rs 20.31 a month, which is higher than the national average of Rs 10.31.

There have been demands for prohibition in Odisha after Bihar,while India spends the most Rs 20.26 on all kinds alcoholic beverages, Odisha spends in a month Rs 18. 48 on alcohol.

An average Odia spends Rs 14.03 on all types of tobacco, while Mizoram spends Rs 36.34 per month. Mizoram despite raising cigarette tax in 2014 has the tops the list of the highest per capita money spend on buying fags with Rs 103.62 per head on an average in a span of 30 days. While, Odisha spends per month Rs 4.12 on cigarettes.

(Source: Wall Street Journal )