TAX ON ILLEGAL DRUGS QUESTIONED

Dear Editor:

It is this reader's opinion that our state legislature has lost its
collective mind when it comes to law enforcement of illegal drugs. A
law was passed in '04 with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2005, that
cuts the ability of drug control officers in half when dealing with
drug pushers. It is legal now to have any and all drugs you can afford
in your possession if someone has purchased a state tax stamp for each
particular package.

Going even further, the law allows an ``immediate purchase'' of a tax
stamp if a carrier has an unstamped package for whatever reason. All
this means is that anyone carrying stamped illegal drugs is
untouchable to law enforcement. Rest assured drug dealers and their
lawyers have memorized the fine print of this debacle and are ready
for interception.

To the casual observer there are only two ways to interdict the
rampant use of drugs; possession and the act of selling. This law
leaves law enforcement with the job of controlling drugs by catching a
dealer performing a midnight drive - by delivery that takes a few
seconds. Drug officers are not allowed to know about the state tax
stamp sales or the buyers...once again one government department not
allowed to talk to another.

Readers should now ask what is the role of drug-sniffing dogs; paid
snitches that tell on dealers; or surveillance of drug houses? The
stated purpose for tax stamps is to provide more money for law
enforcement...a poor excuse while legislators are considering a new
entitlement program for pre-schoolers that would be nothing more than
a gussied-up day care for constituents using lottery profits and
costing millions. We have just shot ourselves in the foot.

ROBERT A. BENNETT

Maryville, TN.