Copyright: 2004 The Tennessean
Contact: letters@tennessean.com
Website: http://www.tennessean.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/447

TAXING DRUG DEALERS

If someone's profiting from the drug trade in the state, Tennessee should
get in on the action.

As Sen. Randy McNally, sponsor of a bill that would tax drug and moonshine
profits in Tennessee, noted, the legislation shouldn't be opposed by anyone.
Sen. John Ford's silly objections notwithstanding, the General Assembly
should have no trouble approving the bill.

Ford tried to make a joke out of drug dealers telling enforcement they
wanted to pay their taxes, but the legislation is sound. The legislation
would raise $3.6 million for state coffers and give drug dealers one more
reason to go elsewhere.

The rate would be determined based on how drugs are sold. For example,
illegal prescription drugs would be taxed by dosage while cocaine and
marijuana would be based on grams. The tax would be assessed at the time
police or the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation takes in a dealer or
moonshiner, but it would not lessen any other penalty like jail or fines.

Needless to say, any revenue would go to good use. Methamphetamine
legislation was slowed this year due to lack of funding. The state needs
more prosecutors to deal with drug issues, too.

And the concept of such a tax is not as strange as Ford maintains. A similar
law has reaped $6 million for the state of North Carolina over the past few
years. Many criminal violations carry the punishment of jail time and a
fine. How is a tax based on the amount and type of drug markedly different?

Ford said, ''We're taxing illegal drugs because North Carolina does it -
they're not the smartest people in the world.'' But it's dumb not to demand
money from those who are wrecking society and costing state government a
fortune. Tennessee would be smart to pass this law.