Law enforcements in Louisiana don’t want to impose the drug tax law

A special drug tax is required in the state of Louisiana for sales of steroids. This drug tax exists in this state for the past 20 years. Thus, Todd Matherne, a distributor of steroids was enforced to pay 52 million dollars because he distributed a lot of steroids with the labels of the “Zencall Labs”. This steroid dealer was sentenced to 7 years in prison but he served 3 years of them.
In fact, Todd Matherne didn’t know the Louisiana’s drug stamp law. But when he was released from the jail, he learned this law. As a result, this man filed a lawsuit against the State of Louisiana, claiming that it was too cruel to enforce him to pay 52 million of dollars. This steroid dealer confirmed that it had been an unusual and even too cruel punishment. This distributor of steroids said that his rights were violated.
The Louisiana Department of Revenue didn’t fight against this person in the court. It was decided to reach agreement in this situation. Thus, the tax was reduced significantly. According to the new settlement, this steroid dealer had to pay only 2, 000 dollars instead of 52 million dollars. Nevertheless, this drug tax law has remained in Louisiana but its constitutionality is still discussed.
John Williams, an expert in drug prosecution for the Louisiana District Attorney Association, noticed that certain laws in different other states were ruled unconstitutionally. He added that it was the same with the drug tax law in Louisiana. But since certain laws try to criminal twice the same crime, they can be lifted.
Williams noted that this law couldn’t work well because it might give the possibility to defendants to escape from criminal prosecution. Williams noticed that the drug tax law was not being used because a criminal case could be lost in exchange just for taxes.
There is also another reason which may explain why law enforcements don’t agree to impose the drug tax law in Louisiana. Law enforcements do not support this law because the taxes don’t go to law enforcement; they go to state agencies.
According to drug tax law, the tax of 200 dollars is indicated per 1 g of anabolic steroids, if they are distributed by weight. If these medications are distributed by dose units, it is indicated to pay 400 dollars for 10 dose units.
As for Todd Matherne, he was a steroid dealer of the immense underground lab called “Zencall Labs”. The Louisiana State Police busted this lab in 2005. More than 10, 000 tablets and 300 capsules of Stanozolol, over 6, 000 tablets of Anadrol, 3,500 tablets and 1, 900 capsules of Cialis, 1, 5000 capsules of Tamoxifen, 2, 400 capsules of Clomid, 800 capsules of Anabol and 600 capsules of Dianabol were seized by the officials. Furthermore, more than 700 vials of injectable anabolic steroids and several pounds of raw steroid powder were also found there.