theories on penalties for drug offenses

[robtex]

I noticed an influx of non-american posters and I been meaning to put this thread up for a while. Various countries have different pentalties and theories on drug seller punishment. I wanted to get a gish for the posters theories and why. For this post if you could indulge me and assume the following:

1) The person with the drugs had the intent to sell
2) The drugs in question are illegal in the country where he/she is selling it
3) The person may or maynot (so factor in both ways) have a prior history of distribution


Factoring in age, amount, type of narcotic, and prior history what is an appropiate punishment for the following: (and why).

1) Pot
2) Cocaine (and derivatives including crack, crank and coca leaves in tea)
3) Heroine
4) Opium
5) lsd
6) other (name drug)

If you didn't know some eastern countries have the death penatly for drug sales footnotes:
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Thailand
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Pakistan

 

[spacemonkey]

Why should any of those carry a punishment when alcohol, many stimulants, and a WIDE variety of pharmicuticals (many of which mimic the affects of the listed substances) are OK?

 

[ChrisP]

I noticed an influx of non-american posters and I been meaning to put this thread up for a while. Various countries have different pentalties and theories on drug seller punishment. I wanted to get a gish for the posters theories and why. For this post if you could indulge me and assume the following:

1) The person with the drugs had the intent to sell
2) The drugs in question are illegal in the country where he/she is selling it
3) The person may or maynot (so factor in both ways) have a prior history of distribution

Factoring in age, amount, type of narcotic, and prior history what is an appropiate punishment for the following: (and why).

1) Pot - early/first offences with no prior convictions of ANY kind:
Diversion (ie you are convicted technically but your record is left clean and the arrest is "forgotten" about you might get this 3 or 4 times.

Case example for larger quantites: 40 pounds 3 years parole in 9 months.

2) Cocaine (and derivatives including crack, crank and coca leaves in tea) Class A, personal use/first offence... fines usually plus conviction on your record unless really you're really small fry.

Possesion of large quantities

3) Heroine Same as cocaine
4) Opium About the same as cocaine less depending on the circumstances

Opium and heroin down here is mostly "Home-baked" with products "procured" from pharmacies and hospitals. If you were caught importing a large amount you would probably be Chinese and triad connected (not to mention the fall guy). 6 or 7 years parole in 3 or 4

5) lsd Large amounts with intent to supply - same as cocaine.
Personal use - the officer arresting you will probably forget about it if you're polite.
6) MDMA same as cocaine.

If you didn't know some eastern countries have the death penatly for drug sales footnotes:
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Thailand
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Pakistan