Alexandria, LA: A new tax on cigarette papers that nearly doubles the cost of the product has been approved in Alexandria. The new tax funds anti-drug and youth programs, but according to The Courier some are hoping the new tax may dissuade marijuana users.
“That’s the subliminal reason for it,” City Councilman Chuck Fowler said. Alexandria police chief Daren Coutee conceded that profit margins are so high that sellers of marijuana won’t be deterred by the tax. “Especially…when you can sell a marijuana cigarette for $5,” he said. The chief estimated that as many as 4,000 packs of cigarette papers are sold each month in Alexandria. The law specifies that 50 cents of the proceeds from the tax go to the Sheriff’s D.A.R.E. program.
Allen St. Pierre, Executive Director of the NORML Foundation commented that “Alexandria’s elected officials attempts to raise needed tax revenue are far better served by actually taxing the sale of marijuana, rather than imposing a tax simply on rolling papers. Now that would raise some serious tax money for the public coffer!”
For more information, please contact NORML Foundation Executive Director Allen St. Pierre at (202) 483-5500.