Minnesota Lawmakers Looking to Tax Drug Makers to Help With Drug Epidemic

Lawmakers in Minnesota are currently looking at ways in which drug makers can be forced to contribute more to help deal with the state’s current opioid crisis. If proposed moves are successful, any large scale opioid manufacturer or wholesaler could be forced to pay a registration fee of up to $500,000 in order to be able to distribute their pharmaceutical drugs. The current fee is a paltry $235.At the end of January a bill was placed before the House health and human services committee aimed at forcing the industry to pay a fairer share of the money needed to help tackle an opioid problem that it helped to create. According to figures released by the Minnesota Department of Health at least 400 people in Minnesota died of opioid overdoses in 2017.

Bill Sponsored by Politicians Who’ve Lost Children in Opioid Related Deaths

Sponsors of the bill include Liz Olson, a Duluth Democrat; Rep. Dave Baker and Sen. Chris Eaton, a democrat from Brooklyn Park. Both Baker and Eaton have lost children to heroin overdoses – Baker, a 25-year-old son and Eaton a 23-year-old daughter.

Having been put under pressure, leading opioid manufacturers were initially reluctant to play ball with this potential new legislation, but in recent weeks seem to have warmed to the idea.

“They didn’t even come to my office last year, at all,” said Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Vernon Center, the leading lawmaker on the issue in the state Senate. “This year they’re coming to the office, bringing people from their home office and they explain they want to be a part of the process, to help. And I ask them what does that look like, and I have not received an answer. My plea to them is you can be part of the process, you can help us with this. Help us figure out how we are going to help the next family and child. They have not done this yet.”

Potential Law has Many Supporters, But Support isn’t Universal

The bill already has a huge amount of support from leading members of both parties in Minnesota, although not all are in favor. Rep. Greg Davids, R-Preston, said. “If this bill is so important, which I think it is, why aren’t we going just for general fund money? If (the) plan works, which I hope it does, and we eliminate or greatly reduce the problem, are we still going to be charging $20 million for something that’s been taken care of?”

Reach Out to Advanced Rapid Detox Today if You’re in Need of Help for Your Opioid Addiction

At Advanced Rapid Detox, we applaud lawmakers for thinking outside of the box when it comes to devoting more funding to the opioid crisis that’s ravaging our country. If you’ve been exposed to the pains of opioid addiction and are looking for help, remember that we’re here for you. Give us a call today at (800) 603-1813 to learn more about our 3 day opiate detox that can finally free you from the addiction you’ve been fighting for so long.