The author of Tuesday’s letter titled “Be cautious about legalizing marijuana” defends marijuana prohibition based on the possibility it could be harmful.

I understand a liberal’s desire to protect citizens from cradle to grave against harm. But horseback riding will kill many more people this year than using marijuana. Should we make that illegal? Cigarettes kill a few people in Wisconsin every day. Should we make that illegal?

Speaking as a Michigan police officer, now retired, public safety is reduced as my profession spends tens of thousands of hours searching for and arresting adults using marijuana in their own homes. These police hours would be better spent arresting deadly drunken drivers and child molesters.

– Howard Wooldridge, Merrimac