Gov. Sonny Perdue has suspended collection of taxes on free samples of prescription drugs, saying it conflicts with the tax exemption on prescription sales. The move comes in the wake of a 2001 court decision that contact lenses, available only with a valid prescription, are taxable to the manufacturer or distributor when distributed by them as free samples. Perdue's order also covers drug samples provided for clinical trials. He said taxing those puts the state at a disadvantage in attracting research and development activities to Georgia.
