"You are faced with a stark contrast in philosophies," said state Attorney General Mark Bennett.

Honolulu City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle favors greater prosecution and incarceration of drug offenders. "In my mind, we have always, always focused on rehabilitation -- both legislatively, criminally and financially," he said. "Very little has been done in the arena, in my opinion, of pure prevention -- which is to keep the problem from ever happening in the first place."

On the other hand, Kat Brady, coordinator of the Community Alliance on Prisons, argued that mandatory minimum sentences are ineffective and costly. "Treatment is the best and most effective way to deal with nonviolent drug offenders," she said.

The legislature is considering a bill that would tweak a 2002 law that mandates that first-time drug offenders be sent to treatment instead of prison. But the governor wants to repeal the law and set up drug courts, instead.

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