Quora Answer: Why are Punishments for Drug Crimes More Severe Compared to Penalties for Other Crimes Such as Rape?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “Why are the punishments for drug crimes so severe compared to penalties for other crimes such as rape?  Is not raping someone worse than growing plants?”

Speaking strictly from a Singapore context, the penalties for all serious crimes are severe.  However, rape does not carry the death penalty.  The penalty for rape is a maximum of 20 years imprisonment per charge, with a fine and judicial caning.  Caning will not exceed 24 strokes.  There is a death penalty for the trafficking of Schedule A drugs.  Should a person be caught above a specific amount, depending on the drug, he is considered to be trafficking.

Within a societal context, a rapist may only rape one person at a time.  There is a limited impact.  However, a trafficker has the potential to affect thousands of lives, and affect the stability of society.  The former is a tragedy for the victim, whereas the latter may become an existential threat to the state.  The penalties must be commensurate to the impact on society.