Mehmet Oz, the Republican Senate candidate in Pennsylvania, said he supports President Joe Biden's decision to pardon thousands of Americans convicted of simple marijuana possession under federal law.
Oz's comments came Thursday in an interview with NBC News. He also announced that he opposes federal mandatory minimum prison sentences.
The network news said his remarks represent a slight nudge to the center in the final weeks in his race against Democrat John Fetterman.
Biden's pardons announced Oct. 6 affect about 6,500 people convicted of cannabis possession at the federal level, according to Reuters.
Oz called the pardons a "rational move."
"Going to jail for marijuana is not a wise move for the country," he said. "I think folks who have used marijuana, and that's the only reason they're in jail, should not have those criminal — those rulings — held against them," Oz said.
His announced opposition to federal mandatory minimum prison sentences came just days after Fetterman voiced support for applying them in more cases involving fentanyl dealers, according to NBC News.
"I really think judges should be empowered to make the difficult decisions, and they generally do it well," Oz said. "When we tie their hands by making laws at the federal level, it hinders their ability to do what needs to be done."
Meanwhile, the RealClear Politics average of polls shows Fetterman, the state's lieutenant governor, leading Oz in the race, 46.2% to 42.8%.
Regarding Fetterman, who is recovering from a stroke, Oz said: "The campaign has been difficult for both teams. I accepted responsibility, and I deal with issues as they come up. But he has his own set of issues.
"I think we need to look, again, eye to eye and say, Here's what we're going to do going forward. We should have had a debate already."
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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