this story can't be true - TN people?

[webby]

Tennessee "Crack Tax" brings in nearly $2 million in first year

During its first year, Tennessee's "Crack Tax" has brought in nearly $2 million dollars in state revenue.

The illegal substances tax went into effect last January.

Basically, drug dealers are supposed to pay taxes on illegal drugs and alcohol.

They pay confidentially, and when they do, they get a stamp.

If they're caught without the stamp, they'll be prosecuted for not only selling drugs, but for not paying their taxes too.

All money made from the stamps goes to fighting drugs.

http://www.wbir.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=31556

---------------------------------------------------------


CRACK TAX?

[webby]

oh my- it is true

"If I purchase stamps, will I then be in legal possession of the drugs?

No, purchasing stamps only fulfills your civil tax obligation. You will still be subject to the criminal statutes of Tennessee for possessing the drugs."

all the rules - right off the state of TN website.

http://www.state.tn.us/revenue/misc/...aq.htm#unauth1


soooo, it's not cool to posses the drugs, but buying the stamps will at least keep you out of tax trouble.

[Silver8th]

That's the craziest sh!t I've ever heard.

[GalaxyGrayMark]

I agree.....that's some crazy s%^&. But if it brings revenue to help schools, environment, etc. then I'm all for it.

[jboogie183]

Yeah they were busting people at Bonaroo this year and charging them the "Drug Tax" on top of the criminal charges. I think they were saying that an ounce of weed had a tax of somthing like a hundred dollars but I'm not sure. Crazy!!!

To me, if something is taxed, that makes it legal.

[Mitch]

There has been a marijuana tax in place for decades.

[maximus20895]

wow that is crazy...yea there are alot of crack addicts here....

[918civic]

Wow...just wow. So now when they have to steal my stereo to pay for their habit, they are going to steal my car instead to pay for the tax as well? How do they expect people willing to commit felonies to support a drug habit / or sell drugs to other people, pay for a tax?

Obviously they are not and just wanting to fund programs. I like it and hate it at the same time.

[1.8L FG KiDd]

wow....is this our government's way of saying. It's not okay if you sell drugs but if you're gonna sell them anyways, give us some revenue while you at it??

[AbstraKt]

Tennessee, especially Memphis, is so farked up, I would not be surprised if it were.

[mattsbobo]

Originally Posted by 1.8L FG KiDd

wow....is this our government's way of saying. It's not okay if you sell drugs but if you're gonna sell them anyways, give us some revenue while you at it??

As long as Uncle Sam gets his cut, he'll let you use the corner

[GalaxyGreySi]

Robbing Peter to pay Paul.

[Jaranath]

I don't see why this is so surprising. It's my understanding that this has been the default rule for a very long time. Any income, no matter what its source, is generally considered taxable, whether it's legally gained or not. That's how Capone was nabbed, after all. I'm not 100% clear if this is supposed to be a sales tax or not, but either way, it's the same principle.

[cation]

It's basically a law that turns law enforcement into a drug kingpin... All the little crack dealers sell their crack, then Johnny Law comes around and says "you goin to jail, and BTW we are going to keep your money for a "crack tax"". It's basically government subsidized drug dealing. Cool!