Overview

• Dr. Casey Means, a wellness influencer and Trump’s Surgeon General nominee, has advocated for psilocybin and MDMA therapies, both classified as Schedule I drugs under federal law.
• Means’ nomination has drawn bipartisan Senate scrutiny, with concerns about her incomplete medical residency and inactive medical license since January 2024.
• In her 2024 book, 'Good Energy,' Means described psilocybin as transformative, citing personal use to overcome limiting beliefs and prepare for life changes, including finding love.
• HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recommended Means for the role, aligning with the Make America Healthy Again platform’s focus on alternative medicine and lifestyle health.
• Critics highlight the tension between Means’ promotion of psychedelics and federal drug policy, as the FDA rejected MDMA for PTSD treatment in 2024 over safety and research concerns.