Pubdate: Wed, 23 May 2007 Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin (HI) Copyright: 2007 Honolulu Star-Bulletin Contact: http://www.starbulletin.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/196 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n631/a03.html Author: Krister Svensson SWEDEN'S APPROACH MIGHT HELP DRUG USERS Last summer my family and I visited Hawaii and since then I have read the Star-Bulletin on the Web. It is very interesting to compare your articles with what happens here in Sweden and Europe. Robert Sharpe wrote a letter, "Criminalizing drugs is the wrong approach" (Star-Bulletin, May 21), and I have a comment because we talk about the same here in Sweden. In Sweden, the use of marijuana and other drugs is criminalized and the use of it is lower than in most other European Union countries. But we are talking about decriminalizing it, mostly because it will be easier to help the people who use drugs if they do not risk prison. But selling drugs will still be forbidden. Krister Svensson Hawaii visitor Vasteras, Sweden - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake