Trump’s Surgeon General Pick Dr. Casey Means Praises ‘Illegal’ Psychedelic Therapy

Psychedelic therapy just landed at the center of the national health debate, thanks to Donald Trump’s latest pick for surgeon general. Dr. Casey Means, a Stanford-trained doctor with no active medical license, has openly praised psilocybin and other psychedelics as transformative. She even credits mushrooms with helping her open up to love.

In her 2024 book “Good Energy,” Dr. Means encourages readers to try guided psilocybin-assisted therapy. She calls it one of the most meaningful experiences of her life. The section, over 700 words long, stands out for a government health nominee praising a federally banned drug with few proven clinical uses.

Psychedelic therapy, she writes, helped her shed “limiting beliefs” and painful emotional patterns. She describes one mushroom experience in almost spiritual terms, saying it unlocked a sense of interconnection with all mothers throughout human history. This type of language is rare among top federal health officials.

Trump / IG / President Trump said he picked Means because Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now Health Secretary, strongly backed her.

That moment, she writes, marked a shift in her life path. Her book presents this as a turning point that made her more open and aware, personally and professionally.

She argues that psychedelics, including MDMA, are wrongly labeled as dangerous. Though she acknowledges legal limits, she believes public fear has held back honest discussion. Her writing frames these drugs as misunderstood tools rather than recreational risks, positioning her outside the medical mainstream.

 Dr. Casey Used Mushrooms to Help Find Love?

In an October 2024 newsletter, Means described using “plant medicine” to become emotionally ready for a relationship. She wrote that psychedelic therapy helped her make space to find love at age 35.

Throughout her public writings, Means uses soft language to talk about psychedelics. She avoids calling them drugs, instead using terms like “plant medicine” or “guided experience.”

In a May 2025 blog post, she wrote that researchers should spend more time on “non-patentable drugs” like psilocybin. She didn’t mention mushrooms by name in that post, but the message was clear. She believes big pharma and government research dollars often overlook low-cost natural treatments.

Casey / IG / Dr. Casey Means, 37, says she first tried mushrooms on New Year’s Day 2021 after hearing an “internal voice” telling her to get ready.

Trump admitted he hadn’t met her before the nomination. That kind of endorsement may play well with the Republican base, but it raises questions about qualifications and oversight.

Calley Means, Casey’s brother and co-author of her book, also serves as a health adviser in the Trump administration. He has been a vocal backer of psychedelic therapy, writing that mushrooms changed his life.

According to past blog posts, Calley Means sold his entire retirement fund to buy stock in psychedelic drug firms. He calls psilocybin the most meaningful experience of his life. His financial stake and political position add a new layer to Casey Means’ nomination, blurring personal and public agendas.

The FDA declined to approve MDMA for PTSD treatment in 2024, citing flawed research and safety concerns. Psychedelic therapy may show early promise in controlled studies, but there is still no broad consensus on safety. Casey Means’ views stand apart from most federal health policy experts.

President Trump nominated Casey Means after withdrawing Janette Nesheiwat, a former Fox News contributor, amid resume scrutiny. The quick swap highlights how Trump continues to favor public figures with cultural clout.

The Senate has not set a date for the confirmation hearing of Means. When it happens, her views on psychedelic therapy are sure to come up.