{"id":85483,"date":"2026-02-25T10:57:28","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T18:57:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2026\/02\/25\/trumps-surgeon-general-pick-says-she-doesnt-recommend-people-use-psychedelics-like-she-has-but-will-follow-exciting-research\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T19:46:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T03:46:00","slug":"trumps-surgeon-general-pick-says-she-doesnt-recommend-people-use-psychedelics-like-she-has-but-will-follow-exciting-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2026\/02\/25\/trumps-surgeon-general-pick-says-she-doesnt-recommend-people-use-psychedelics-like-she-has-but-will-follow-exciting-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump\u2019s Surgeon General Pick Says She Doesn\u2019t Recommend People Use Psychedelics Like She Has\u2014But Will Follow \u2018Exciting\u2019 Research"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

President Donald Trump\u2019s pick to serve as U.S. surgeon general says that, while she wouldn\u2019t recommend that Americans experiment with psychedelics like she has<\/a>, there\u2019s \u201cexciting\u201d research indicating that substances such as psilocybin can effectively treat serious mental health conditions that she would continue to follow if confirmed for the job.<\/p>\n

During a confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee on Wednesday, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) pressed the nominee for surgeon general, Casey Means, on a section of a book she wrote that described an experience using psilocybin and how that helped her emotionally process news of her mother\u2019s diagnosis with a terminal illness.<\/p>\n

Collins said she was concerned about Means\u2019s suggestion that other people may benefit from using the federally illicit substances, and the senator asked whether she stood by that message and how she would communicate with the American people about the use of controlled substances if confirmed as surgeon general.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a very important question, and I would start by just saying that I believe what I would say as a private citizen is, in many cases, different than what I would say as a public health official joining a team where the purpose of this role is to communicate absolutely the best evidence-based science to the American people to keep them safe, thriving and healthy,\u201d Means said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd when it comes to psychedelic therapy for mental health issues, I think the science is still emerging\u2014and so it would certainly not be a recommendation to the American people to do that, under under no circumstances,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

However, the nominee said she does \u201cbelieve that there is exciting work being done in this area that needs to continue on psychedelic therapies for PTSD and veterans for mental health issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
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.@SenatorCollins<\/a> to Surgeon General nominee Dr. Casey Means: “In your book\u2026you urge readers to consider psilocybin-assisted therapy\u2026Do you stand by what you said?”<\/p>\n

Means: “The science is still emerging\u2026There is exciting work being done in this area that needs to continue.” pic.twitter.com\/1XyebRxSyV<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 CSPAN (@cspan) February 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/div>\n

\u201cSome of the researchers who are doing this work have said it\u2019s some of the most promising and exciting of their entire careers, so I look forward to following that,\u201d she said<\/a>. \u201cBut to be very clear: Under no circumstances would I recommend that to the American people in this role. Our illicit drug use problem in our country is monumental and severe, and I I look forward to working with you on on these issues that are so important.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a follow-up, Collins asked Means what she meant in her book, \u201cGood Energy,\u201d when she described hearing an \u201cinternal voice\u201d advising her to prepare for something, motivating her to take psilocybin just one week before the nominee learned about her mother\u2019s diagnosis.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn that passage of the book, I\u2019m referring to my mother\u2019s passing, which happened. She got a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer about a week after after that experience, and in my meditations and prayers at that time, I was having a deep sense that something ominous was coming, so that\u2019s what that\u2019s referring to,\u201d Means said. \u201cI think when I speak of spirituality\u2014and I do believe Americans are ready to hear about spirituality as it pertains to medicine; 80 percent of Americans are spiritual or religious\u2014there\u2019s amazing evidence coming out\u2026that spirituality has a large impact on health outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo certainly that\u2019s a personal anecdote,\u201d she said. \u201cBut, again, I\u2019m committed to to sharing only the best solid science with Americans on how to be healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n

For context, here\u2019s a passage of Means\u2019s 2024 book that discusses psilocybin:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you feel called, I also encourage you to explore intentional, guided psilocybin therapy. Strong scientific evidence suggests that this psychedelic therapy can be one of the most meaningful experiences of life for some people, as they have been for me.<\/p>\n

If the word psychedelics makes you cringe, I used to be in your position. I spent my childhood and young adult life being extremely judgmental about the use of any type of drug. But I became interested in plant medicine and psychedelics after learning more about their extensive traditional use, analyzing the groundbreaking research\u2026 Our brains are profoundly suffering in modern society right now, and I believe that anything that can safely increase neuroplasticity and ground us in more gratitude, awe, connection, and a sense of cosmic safety should be taken very seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n

In several blog posts on her website, Means has also talked about \u201cplant medicine,\u201d specifically psilocybin, as one of \u201cthe modalities I\u2019ve gone deepest in,\u201d in addition to therapy, reading, writing, yoga and more.<\/p>\n

The Wall Street Journal reported in 2024 that the nominee\u2019s brother, Calley, \u201chad a vision of dedicating his life to reforming healthcare after a high dose of the psychedelic drug psilocybin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite her advocacy for psychedelic medicine, however, the prospective surgeon general has expressed opposition to marijuana, saying in her book that people who use cannabis, as well as tobacco products, should \u201cstop these completely.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey will hurt your mitochondria and vastly diminish your ability to make Good Energy,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

In another blog post, she reiterated her position that marijuana is among the addictions she views as reflecting \u201cour spiritual emptiness,\u201d preventing people from \u201cbeing able to go within, connect with God, and experience the bliss that come from this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Means apparently doesn\u2019t view the cannabis plant as all bad, however, as she described hemp in her book as among the \u201cbest plant-based sources\u201d of nutrition\u2014including protein, omega-3, antioxidants and fiber. She also shared recipes featuring hemp seed, including a \u201cSouthwestern Tofu Scramble\u201d and \u201cCreamy Cauliflower and Celery Root Puree.\u201d<\/p>\n

If confirmed, Means wouldn\u2019t be the only Trump administration official who\u2019s embrace psychedelics medicine. She\u2019d join several others\u2014including U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary\u2014to that end.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, support for legalizing the use of psychedelics might relatively low today, according to a new survey from the RAND Corporation, but public opinion on the issue seems be closely following in the footsteps of the marijuana reform movement<\/a> before the first states started enacting cannabis legalization.<\/p>\n

Image courtesy of CostaPPR<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

The post Trump\u2019s Surgeon General Pick Says She Doesn\u2019t Recommend People Use Psychedelics Like She Has\u2014But Will Follow \u2018Exciting\u2019 Research<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n


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\nRead More: Trump\u2019s Surgeon General Pick Says She Doesn\u2019t Recommend People Use Psychedelics Like She Has\u2014But Will Follow \u2018Exciting\u2019 Research<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

President Donald Trump\u2019s pick to serve as U.S. surgeon general says that, while she wouldn\u2019t recommend that Americans experiment with psychedelics like she has, there\u2019s \u201cexciting\u201d research indicating that substances such as psilocybin can effectively treat serious mental health conditions that she would continue to follow if confirmed for theContinue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":458,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18,81,126],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85483"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/458"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=85483"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85483\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":85484,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85483\/revisions\/85484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=85483"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=85483"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=85483"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}