Simply put: the death penalty is a barbaric act of hypocrisy which leaves us trailing behind the developed worth in terms of human rights. Putting criminals to death is not justice. It gives them no opportunity to appeal the courts decision, the merits of the case or the sentence. Once the sentence is carried out. It gives the innocent no chance of exonerating themselves. At least people who get multiple-life sentences without parole have that chance.
Also, non-violent drug offenders do not belong in our prison system; if anything they belong in treatment but the bottom line is that they don't belong in prison. It costs the taxpayers too much money and prison only makes hardened criminals out of otherwise petty pseudo-criminals.