First-time, non-violent drug offenders serve longer than for rape, child molestation, manslaughter

[justiceischeap]

6. I think the laws, when created, were probably just

They were probably put in place to capture legitimate, big-time drug dealers. However, those folks are often too smart to get caught because they have all these lower level people who get busted instead.

Then you end up with people with drug habits, no criminal past, possibly selling drugs to continue their personal habit and they end up serving the sentences that the higher level drug dealers should be serving. As it happens in prostitution, it's usually the prostitute that ends of in jail and the guy soliciting the service gets the fine.