ST. PAUL — A Minnesota panel approved a plan Wednesday to ease penalties for drug possession and dealing, a move proponents said will help addicts get treatment instead of letting them languish in prison.

By a 7-3 vote, the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission approved the plan overhauling the state’s drug sentencing guidelines.

Under the plan, which has been years in the making, recommended prison sentences for first-time offenders convicted of first-degree drug possession would be reduced from seven to four years. Sentences for first-degree drug sale would be reduced from seven to five years.

Presumptive prison sentences in second-degree sale and possession cases were changed to probation by the commission.

Supporters of the idea said Minnesota’s drug laws have been too severe and have worsened racial disparities in the prison system.

Unless the Legislature intervenes, the changes will take effect in August.  Analysts said the changes could save 523 prison beds in Minnesota by 2028.

Echoing concerns of law enforcement officials, some commission members argued that reducing sentences for dangerous drug dealers is counterintuitive.