Connecticut Lawmaker Looks To Expand Tax Collection From Illegal Drugs
HARTFORD, CT (CBSNewYork) - In Connecticut, drug dealers, by law, are meant to pay taxes on the cocaine, marijuana, and other drugs they sell illegally.
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They're supposed to pay the taxes directly to the state Department of Revenue Services, which can't share the information with the local police.
But, says State Representative Arthur O'Neill, to no one's surprise, the tax revenue collected is minimal.
He says if towns were to share in the proceeds, he believes police would be more aggressive since they know who is dealing drugs locally.
"That tax is already on the books. This is just a way to encourage local law enforcement to do more to try to help collect that tax," he told WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau. "The purpose of this bill is to provide a share of the money that would be collected to local governments and thereby provide local police with an incentive since they conduct most of the investigations."
O'Neill notes only $38,000 was collected there last year. He says it should be more like $1 million.
Connecticut lawmakers are currently revisiting the idea of marijuana legalization.
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