[420 Girl]

TALLAHASSEE -- This just in from the pipe-dream department: Claiming it could be a vehicle to fight drug abuse, St. Petersburg Democratic Rep. Darryl Rouson has filed a bill to raise the tax on "smoking devices" sold in gas stations and tobacco shops.

“We all know the head shops, gas stations, and novelty stores in Florida are selling drug paraphernalia under the charade of being “tobacco pipes,'" Rouson said in a press release for HB 187. "If these items are to be available to the citizens of Florida, then we should charge a surtax on these consumers who are obviously using the pipes to do drugs.”

Normally, the chance of passing a bill raising taxes -- much less allowing a Democrat in the minority party in Tallahassee pass a bill raising taxes -- would seem pretty far-flung in the Republican-dominated Florida Legislature. But since these same GOP lawmakers just passed $2 billion in higher taxes and fees -- and are staring at another $1.5 billion deficit next spring -- who knows these days?

Rouson's bill isn't intended to be a revenue-raiser, of course. but last spring's $1 billion tobacco tax "surcharge" was also pitched to cash-starved legislative budget-writers as a way to reduce smoking. So, why shouldn't Democrats try the same tactic?

According to press release:

This bill will introduce a 25% sales tax on smoking devices.

This bill will reduce the amount of drug paraphernalia used in Florida by making smoking devices more expensive to the consumer.

The revenue from the surtax will be used for treatment programs, which will also help reduce substance abuse.

With less paraphernalia and more treatment programs we can expect less drug offenses in the court system and less inmates in the Department of Corrections. This tax will reduce the cost of prosecuting and incarcerating drug offenders to save Florida taxpayers money.

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