In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, he said, “If you don’t want us prosecuting [marijuana users] in your state, then get your regulatory act together.”

Here’s the problem. In 1996, Californians passed Proposition 215, which legalized medical marijuana. My late colleague Alan Bock’s editorials in the Orange County Register helped pass it. And he wrote a book on medical marijuana, “Waiting to Inhale: The Politics of Medical Marijuana.”

Prop. 215’s language stipulated:

“(C) To encourage the federal and state governments to implement a plan to provide for the safe and affordable distribution of marijuana to all patients in medical need of marijuana.”

But the Legislature has done next to nothing to implement that language, leaving cities to enact a patch-quilt of contradictory laws. For example, Anaheim has shut down its dispensaries — in violation of Prop. 215.

By contrast, in San Francisco, medical pot is welcome. But the city just said “no to a medical marijuana green-light district.”

That’s 18 years of neglect by the Legislature over an important issue. Maybe they’re out back toking.

Our great friend Alan Bock is remembered today in The Orange County Register’s commentary section. Many friends wrote heartfelt short article about this good man’s kindness, wisdom and contributions to liberty.

Two of the pieces are by my colleague Steven Greenhut and myself. The three of us wrote the editorials at the Register for many years.

Read the tributes here.

May 29, 2011

Our wonderful friend Jocelyne Leger produced a beautiful video on Alan Bock, who died two weeks ago. Alan was a great fighter for liberty and the colleague of Steven Greenhut, Jocelyn and me at The Orange County Register.

Rest in Peace, Alan.

Click here for the short video.

May 27, 2011

Our great colleague Alan Bock died last week. Scott Horton conducted three interviews about him that now are online, with Steven Greenhut, Riverside bookstore owner and libertarian Gene Berkman, and myself.

Alan was a principled and charitable person and a great defender of liberty. All of us in California enjoy more freedom because he wrote editorials at the Orange County Register for 30 years.

Listen to the interviews here.

May 22, 2011