May 4, 2010







Mr. Welby R. Deleon


Charleston, SC 29407-5707



Dear Mr. Deleon:



Thank you for contacting me in regard to marijuana. I understand your viewpoint that we should decriminalize marijuana. However, I believe that marijuana is a gateway drug -- one of the most commonly abused illicit drugs in our country - and I feel that legalizing marijuana would be harmful to our society, and that doing so would put more people at risk.



Marijuana use can result in significant health problems, and I do not agree with the viewpoint that marijuana users are not part of the problem. I also do not agree with the statement that our law enforcement should be targeting more serious crimes. Drug use, I believe, is a serious issue that we must address to prevent our future generations from ending up in jail on drug-related offenses. People that use this drug are breaking the law and they should be held accountable.



Again, I want to thank you for contacting me. While we do not agree on this issue, please know that I appreciate hearing from you and all of my constituents on matters that are important to them. To get regular updates from my office sent to you by e-mail, please visit Cong. Brown E-mail Update Sign-up.




Sincerely,