Marijuana Moment: Trump’s Surgeon General Pick Says She Doesn’t Recommend People Use Psychedelics Like She Has—But Will Follow ‘Exciting’ Research

[Tokeativity]

President Donald Trump’s pick to serve as U.S. surgeon general says that, while she wouldn’t recommend that Americans experiment with psychedelics like she has, there’s “exciting” 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.

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’s diagnosis with a terminal illness.

Collins said she was concerned about Means’s 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.

“This 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,” Means said.

“And when it comes to psychedelic therapy for mental health issues, I think the science is still emerging—and so it would certainly not be a recommendation to the American people to do that, under under no circumstances,” she said.

However, the nominee said she does “believe 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.”

.@SenatorCollins to Surgeon General nominee Dr. Casey Means: "In your book…you urge readers to consider psilocybin-assisted therapy…Do you stand by what you said?"

Means: "The science is still emerging…There is exciting work being done in this area that needs to continue." pic.twitter.com/1XyebRxSyV

— CSPAN (@cspan) February 25, 2026

“Some of the researchers who are doing this work have said it’s some of the most promising and exciting of their entire careers, so I look forward to following that,” she said. “But 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.”

In a follow-up, Collins asked Means what she meant in her book, “Good Energy,” when she described hearing an “internal voice” advising her to prepare for something, motivating her to take psilocybin just one week before the nominee learned about her mother’s diagnosis.

“In that passage of the book, I’m referring to my mother’s 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’s what that’s referring to,” Means said. “I think when I speak of spirituality—and I do believe Americans are ready to hear about spirituality as it pertains to medicine; 80 percent of Americans are spiritual or religious—there’s amazing evidence coming out…that spirituality has a large impact on health outcomes.”

“So certainly that’s a personal anecdote,” she said. “But, again, I’m committed to to sharing only the best solid science with Americans on how to be healthy.”

For context, here’s a passage of Means’s 2024 book that discusses psilocybin: 

“If 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.

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… 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.”

In several blog posts on her website, Means has also talked about “plant medicine,” specifically psilocybin, as one of “the modalities I’ve gone deepest in,” in addition to therapy, reading, writing, yoga and more.

The Wall Street Journal reported in 2024 that the nominee’s brother, Calley, “had a vision of dedicating his life to reforming healthcare after a high dose of the psychedelic drug psilocybin.”

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 “stop these completely.”

“They will hurt your mitochondria and vastly diminish your ability to make Good Energy,” she said.

In another blog post, she reiterated her position that marijuana is among the addictions she views as reflecting “our spiritual emptiness,” preventing people from “being able to go within, connect with God, and experience the bliss that come from this.”

Means apparently doesn’t view the cannabis plant as all bad, however, as she described hemp in her book as among the “best plant-based sources” of nutrition—including protein, omega-3, antioxidants and fiber. She also shared recipes featuring hemp seed, including a “Southwestern Tofu Scramble” and “Creamy Cauliflower and Celery Root Puree.”

If confirmed, Means wouldn’t be the only Trump administration official who’s embrace psychedelics medicine. She’d join several others—including 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—to that end.

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 before the first states started enacting cannabis legalization.

Image courtesy of CostaPPR.

The post Trump’s Surgeon General Pick Says She Doesn’t Recommend People Use Psychedelics Like She Has—But Will Follow ‘Exciting’ Research appeared first on Marijuana Moment.

View the live link on MarijuanaMoment.net