Should mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders be abolished?

The mandatory minimum drug laws is the biggest factor for the increased incarceration rates in the US. This leads to significant economic cost to the states and significantly reduces the ability of these individuals to become productive members of the community once they exit the prison system.

One of the main arguments for these laws is that they deter people from committing crimes. When there is a cost to an action it is less likely that the action will be performed by the individual.