Pompo

Drug Paraphernalia Tax Proposed
12/21/08|The Ledger| by Joe Follick & Lloyd Dunkelberger

Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, has an interesting idea for raising revenues during these tough times.

House Bill 99 would add a "surtax of 5 percent" on items described as "drug paraphernalia" in Florida statute.

That includes not only "bongs" and "hypodermic syringes," but also, according to state law, common items that can be fashioned into drug tools including "a balloon," a "2-liter-type soda bottle" and "duct tape."

Rouson said that if lawmakers are going to consider increasing the cigarette tax, store owners who claim to sell tobacco-related pipes and other accessories frequently used for illegal drugs should pay more taxes as well.

"Why should they be sacrosanct and not taxed?" he said Monday.

"You and I both know it's only marijuana and drugs being smoked out of the crack pipes and bongs It's another tool for law enforcement for those owners of stores who profit off of drug paraphernalia."

Rouson, who was a guest at Gov. Charlie Crist's wedding last week, has openly discussed his own past cocaine addiction.

He represents parts of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota counties. The bill as written would apparently extend the surtax to duct tape and two-liter bottles of soda.

Rouson said it was not his intent to punish, for example, a handyman relying on the wonders of duct tape and he would amend the bill to exclude drug-free use of common items.

Section 893.145 of state law does provide an interesting clash of legal wording and the world of Cheech and Chong. Included in the definition of "drug paraphernalia" is "Roach clips: meaning objects used to hold burning material, such as a cannabis cigarette, that has become too small or too short to be held in the hand."

CRIST'S BAG O' GOODIES

Guests of Gov. Charlie Crist's wedding last week who stayed at the St. Petersburg Renaissance Vinoy Resort, the site of the reception, got a gift bag when checking in.

The cream colored bag had a small script "C" with a pink border on the side. Inside was an invitation to breakfast the following morning.

For those who couldn't wait until then, the bag provided enough sustenance: Two bottles of Zephyrhills water, (a Florida product); a bag of Snyder's pretzel "nibblers," Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies, Welch's fat free fruit snacks, a Dove chocolate bar, Pringles potato crisps and a .5 ounce bag of "Sweet 'n Salty Mix" that claims to contain only 70 calories.

Thankfully for those lucky enough to get an invite, there was an open bar at the reception.

A can of Miller Lite cost $5.75 in the rooms' mini bars.

CRIST: EVERYBODY HURTS

How bad is the cratering of the economy? Even the state's optimist-in-chief could not avoid a tinge of the blues on Thursday.

Asked about the impact of yet another round of multi-billion dollar cuts to the state budget, Crist said,

"Everybody is going to hurt a little bit. That 's just reality. Every Florida family is feeling this economy."

Crist rebounded however, saying the state must still "protect the most vulnerable among us" and maintain classroom spending.

Given that education spending and health and human services make up most of the state's budget, it will be interesting to see how billions can be cut without those most dependant on state services fare.

kbc08

I read about this and think it is plainly ridiculous. I live in Florida and while this tax wouldn't affect me all that much the idea of it is ludicrous. They mideswell add extra tax on whip cream, aerosol cans, and nutmeg considering they all can get you high. Some people seem to just become more arrogant every day.

SoThrowd

lol at duct tape

Vicki

I swear to god, Florida has to be the most screwed up state of all 50.

So....I get charged a "drug paraphernalia tax" when I buy a balloon for my daughter, a 2-liter soda, and duct tape for household use? How assanin. All syringes now too? What about all the Diabetics?

Sometimes I think they try to find the dumbest people they can to run this state.

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Buzzby

Clerk at Home Depot: Thank you for shopping at Home Depot. Were you planning on using this roll of duct tape to tape ducts or to make drug paraphernalia?

Customer: Why do you ask?

Clerk at Home Depot: If you're planning on using it to make drug paraphernalia, I'll have to tack on the 5% drug paraphernalia tax.

Customer: I'll be using it to tape ducts. Of course!

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SpiralArchitect

May as well impose a tax on spoons, credit cards, and dollar bills too....

Seriously though..... is this bill for real? I'm sorry but that is just ridiculous.

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KWhite

This is the danger of the drug war- bad precedent and ever growing, insane powers.

What is next- tax air because a joint won't burn without it?

This- hey, Floridians, this sounds like taxation without representation. Why don't y'all mail these folks some letters of indignation- tekll them you don't feel represented?

The only thing I've seen worse so far was the Sheriff who wanted to bring back alcohol prohibition- somewhere on the East coast, it was.

Oh, and the one about a college kid who was against legalizing marijuana because his dad was a cop and got so much overtime through marijuana related court cases. That and the fact that he was studying to be a drug counsellor.

Can you say blatant greed??

Buzzby

Huh?

It looks to me that the people pushing this law are representatives, duly elected by the people of Florida through the democratic process.

Vicki

I didn't vote for this idiot.

SpiralArchitect

I just re-read this article and saw no mention of blunt wraps/joint-papers.... most of them are marketed for weed even if labeled as tobacco products.... what gives?