The illegal drug excise tax, patterned after measures adopted in nearly half the country, would set up a state system to distribute tax stamps for illegal drugs and alcohol.

Dealers busted with drugs or moonshine not bearing the stamps would be assessed the specific tax rates in addition to any criminal fees — ranging from $3.50 per gram of marijuana to $200 for each gram of cocaine.

"It's just our little way of saying 'Thank you' for bringing some money into the state, even though you do it the wrong way, said the measure's sponsor, Rep. Tom Campbell, R-Roy.

"It's my little way of righting a wrong, I guess."

The more controversial part of Campbell's plan, however, may be how the taxes are spent: he hopes the proceeds can pay for a new statewide detective agency carved from the Washington State Patrol.

That measure, which essentially would restrict the state's bowtied top cops to traffic duty, is drawing lukewarm reaction from the politically respected agency.

Patrol officials haven't yet taken a public position on the measure, but the agency's leaders do believe the state needs more police investigators, said Capt. Jeff DeVere, the patrol's top spokesman.

"We're in the top 10 for identity theft, auto theft, as well as methamphetamines. And we're 50th in the nation with regard to police officers per population," DeVere said.

Campbell said his plan would tap into the patrol's existing crime expertise, likely transferring its roster of investigators and specialists to the new Washington Bureau of Investigation.

The bureau would operate on a par with the State Patrol and a new fire protection office, which also would be split from the patrol's oversight.

A new appointed public safety director would be in charge of all three agencies.

The statewide detective agency would focus on drugs, organized crime, identity theft and public corruption cases. It also would assist local police, operate a forensics lab and maintain the state criminal information system.

Campbell hopes the agency could reap large rewards from the proposed drug tax, which sends three quarters of its proceeds to police agencies that bust dealers.

Both measures are due for their initial public hearings this week.

"It really bothers me when I see how much it costs to put somebody in jail, and we have to pay for their attorney and all this," Campbell said.

Activists for drug policy reform say the plan is foolhardy, and won't generate much money for the state.

Roger Goodman, director of the drug policy project for the King County Bar Association, said drug taxes are mainly a "a nice symbolic gesture — 'We're going to make the drug dealers pay.'

"But we're beyond the rhetoric now. We can't afford this tough talk. We need to have more smart strategy."

Allen St. Pierre, executive director of marijuana-legalization group NORML, said seeing the proposal surface in Washington is surprising — the state is one of a handful that allow doctors to prescribe marijuana, and Seattle voters have instructed police to make pot possession their lowest priority.

"It may be well-intentioned," St. Pierre said. "In fact, when the grist is examined in the millstone, it is just bad public policy."

Complete Title: Taxes on Drug Dealers? Lawmaker Wants The Money for Cops
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The drug tax bill is HB2448. The state patrol bill is HB2472.

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On the Net:

NORML: http://www.norml.org/

Legislature: http://www.leg.wa.gov

State patrol: http://www.wsp.wa.gov

Drug Policy Project: http://www.kcba.org/druglaw/

Source: Associated Press (Wire)
Author: Curt Woodward, Associated Press
Published: January 17, 2006
Copyright: 2006 The Associated Press

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Ah, and now we get to the heart of the matter, using the drug war to expand the police state.

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Sure, it makes the economy work but, we make wake up some day to see that we all work for either the government.....or organized crime.

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The Reverend Bud Green

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The Reverend Bud Green

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4616902.stm

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OT ... she's so frakin" skinny!!!!!!!!!!

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The "Motherland" as some people have called our country since 9/11, is cruel and harsh to her children.

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Anyway, I think they think that when they arrest and confiscate someone property, they'll then figure out how many grams there where (before the cops took their share) and come up with a tax figure so some of the loot get earmarked to go to the state cops. Blantantly pointing out that the marijuana prohibition is there to make a class of people (25 million here in the us)on which to prey upon and support the police industrial complex in one way or another. It's the cops that can't let go...this certainly gives cops a reason not to go after cannabis users. doesn't it?

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If you'll recall, Hastert was the jerk who called Soros a drug dealer. Go get him ethics committee.

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Mac

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Tunes: Anybody ever listen to the Mighty “Groundhogs”

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Would not just purchasing the stamps be an admission of guilt?

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