A Senate committee is being asked to consider making drug dealers pay for their crimes – if they don’t pay their taxes. The legislation sponsored by Senator Charlie Shields of St. Joseph would require all controlled substances – such as drugs – to have tax stamps affixed them. It’s not really intended to collect revenue fromthe sale and possession of illegal drugs, but to allow law enforcement to go after the drug dealers for non-payment of taxes. Shields says that would allow for the seizing of assets, with the money used to benefit local communities and schools. According to Shields, similar laws already exist in 23 other states.
