Illegal cigarette sales cost B.C. $120 million a year in lost taxes

that's the only reason it was illegal cause the feds didn't get their cut of the drug...u smoking racket...

If they're worried about lost revenue, why don't they start taxing the cigs on the indian reserves.

They've priced the black market into business. They just never learn.

Don't think they can. Anyway, they set it up as a job creation scheme for the Natives. Guess they figured for off reserve sales, the Natives would just charge the tax like they are supposed to.

Anyway, in BC it seems to be more about Asian knockoffs.

Don't think they can. Anyway, they set it up as a job creation scheme for the Natives. Guess they figured for off reserve sales, the Natives would just charge the tax like they are supposed to.

Anyway, in BC it seems to be more about Asian knockoffs.
Scheme is the correct word there. It's time for the "no tax for indians" crap to come to an end. Whatever happened 150 years ago is over. They have every advantage (plus hundreds more) that the white men do, and it's time to get rid of all the bullshit hand outs.

Yeah, I get the knockoff sales, but that's the least of the tax drain on this country.

Any time a tax scheme creates a black market it's because the taxes are too high. Lower the taxes somewhat and the revenues will increase as the profit for the black market declines.

I thought that if we legalized drugs that the black market disappeared?

In theory. But as Colorado and Washington are discovering if you legalize pot but then tax the snot out of it then you'll still have a black market.

Wow, someone gets it.

Lowering taxes won't solve it either. Black market will always find a way to do it cheaper or add something to it to make it more desirable than the store bought stuff.

Just like the cockroaches (which they are) the scumbags and gangs etc will always find a way to survive and thrive. Thinking we can put a hurtful dent in them by allowing ones addictions and lack of self control to be legalized is pure fantasy.

In theory, it never works. There will always be a 'black market' especially when it comes to drugs. We have large black markets for weed, booze, and just about anything else that you can buy legally.

If we legalize drugs for the sake of government revenue, whatever...let's just stop pretending like it's some cure-all for organized crime.

Sure, that's why Colorado expects to haul in 98 million in tax revenue on legal pot this year.

Make cigs/pot/booze illegal, all profits flow to crime. Make them legal and most profits flow to govt, much less to crime. But in black and white world, I guess that just doesn't compute, all illegal sales must end or it's not worth doing.

Then tax raw tobacco off the farm instead of the end product and no one gets away. You stupid greedy simpleton beancounting bureaucrats.

Hey. If I can buy cigs for 1/2 the price I pay when the feds bend me over the counter.... Turnabout is fair play! Still lookin for someplace I can buy gasoline for 1/2 what the feds are charging.

The old saying "Don't steal. The govt hates competion" comes to mind.

Reserve gas? Or "dyed gas"?

Neither are 1/2 price, but both are discounted compared to retail.

Government might not like you cruising around with dyed gas in your tank.