"As for the max sentences, these were to intimidate cooperation in convicting higher dealers in the food chain. Lazy police work." 

You have no knowledge of the reasoning behind the drugs laws --- you substitute surmise for knowledge --- and don;t know the realities of law enforcement.  

Forcing a low-level drug dealer to testify is not heartless.  What's heartless is letting high-level drug dealers ruin as many lives as they do.  If you were a DA, relatively few would be prosecuted, and law enforcement would be a joke.