Illegal Substance tax

There is an article in the Tennessean this morning about a fellow that got busted for bringing in marijuana rice krispie treats to distribute at Bonnaroo. The man has since been charged over $11,000 in taxes for his possession of the drug, an estimate that was obtained by weighing the entire "treat." The actual amount of pot that was used is far less than the total amount and has since given the man an unfair debt to be expected to pay. Unfortunately this is not the first misuse of this law, which requires drug users to pay taxes on their illegal substances.

The law expects drug users to show up anonymously to pay their drug tax to the Tennessee Department of Revenue. Are they serious? Do they honestly think that drug users are going to pay an extra tax to make sure the DOR doesn’t charge them excessively? Come on people!! This law is ill thought out and utterly useless. What are the courts for? Did you know that people charged with possession of controlled substances are charged these high taxes REGARDLESS of whether they are even found guilty by the courts? To put it lightly, this is a realm of the courts not of the DOR.

I would be surprised if this law has contributed to one single person choosing not to do drugs b/c of a high tax. Drugs are illegal...right. Prosecuting users is the job of the courts and should be maintained by the courts. If a judge thinks that a person charged with possession should be required to pay a high fee, they have the authority to require that fee. Bringing the Dept. of Revenue into this only makes it far more difficult for people that have gotten caught. Drug users are people too. I know there is an overlying prejudice against these people, but no one deserves this kind of treatment. This is just a way the Tennessee government can make a little extra mullah. Does it deter drug use? NO.

And another thing.... one of the main motivations for selling drugs in the first place is a financial need. So charging excessive taxes not only doesn't deter drug dealing, but it might even encourage it. If a drug dealer has no other source of income and is faced with a $10,000 fine, will he quit selling drugs? Probably not. He might even feel the need to start pushing more and more weight until he has paid off his fines. Possibly making it a higher possibility he will catch his second or third or fourth drug charge and wind up in prison.

This is just another example of the "man's" backward war on drugs. Drug deterrence can only be accomplished through education and giving people alternatives to drug use, which is much more common in the lower class anyway. So why not add more people to the lower class through criminalization and excessive fines, that is sure to relieve the problem. So now a person is faced with overwhelming financial odds with $20 in his pocket. Wow, that quick fix suddenly got a little more attractive.

Until next time....Cheers