Sessions avoids commitment

With Nevada now a marijuana merchandising state, Nevadans have more of a stake in what U.S. attorney general nominee Jeff Sessions is saying in his confirmation hearings.

Known as a vociferous opponent of marijuana, Sessions’ testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee has been cagey, allowing him to do what he wants if he is confirmed.

On the one hand: “I won’t commit to never enforcing federal law.”

On the other hand: “But absolutely it’s a problem of resources for the federal government.”

The Obama administration has mostly kept hands off states which have made the plant legal for medical or recreational use. But it remains illegal under federal law, a sort of Sword of Damocles hanging over local officials and merchants that can be wielded at any time. Sessions will not commit to honoring state laws.

On the one hand: “It is not so much the attorney general’s job to decide what laws to enforce.”

On the other hand: “We should do our job and enforce laws effectively as we are able.”