Ohio Sets New BOOZE Record

Ohioans are buying the hard stuff!  The Ohio Commerce Deptartment reported sales for whiskey and other hard liquors set a record of $729.9 million in fiscal year 2008.  This represents an increase of 4.61% and net profits rose to $11.2 million over the previous year.  Ohio benefited to the tune of $163 million which was transfered to the State’s general fund.

In addition to the general fund money $30.4 million was given to retire bonds for small business loans; $14.9 million to retire Clean Ohio Revitilazation Bonds; $9.9 million to the Public Safety Department; $4.1 million to the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Dept.; $1.2 million to the Health Department; $713,505 to the Ohio Liquor Control Commission; $35.8 million in state gallonage taxes deposited in the state treasury; and $5.1 million in additional gallonage taxes for the Cuyahoga County Gateway Stadium project.

I don’t use drugs and I don’t encourage anyone to do so.  However… imagine how much money Ohio could generate by the systematic taxing and regulation of marijuana