In a surprising move that’s already sparking heated debate, Donald Trump has tapped Dr. Casey Means, a Stanford-trained physician turned wellness influencer, as his pick for Surgeon General in 2025. Her nomination signals a potential revolution in American healthcare—one where holistic health, plant-based wellness, and functional medicine might finally step into the mainstream spotlight.
With a growing population seeking alternatives to pharmaceuticals, and more Americans exploring the benefits of CBD, cannabis, and mushroom supplements, Dr. Means’ approach may finally bring legitimacy and policy support to what has long been considered fringe medicine. As her nomination makes waves, one question echoes across the plant medicine community: Is this our moment?
Dr. Means is not your typical Surgeon General pick. She’s a functional medicine advocate who champions root-cause healing, personalized nutrition, and natural interventions like CBD, adaptogens, and psychedelic-assisted therapies. Her appointment could bridge the gap between government policy and plant medicine—potentially opening up new research opportunities, access to alternative treatments, and consumer protections in the natural health industry.
At StandardCBD.com, we’ve built our mission around holistic wellness—offering functional mushroom blends, Amanita Muscaria gummies, CBD topicals, and proprietary KO & TKO formulas that combine cannabinoids like CBD, THC, CBN, and Delta 8 with live cannabis-derived terpenes. Dr. Means’ philosophies align directly with our vision: empowering people through nature-based solutions.
Her nomination could bring national visibility to the very products we’ve been developing for years—and finally push forward legislation that supports safe access, clear labeling, and medical integration of CBD and functional mushrooms.
“The future of medicine lies not in more pills, but in empowering the body’s natural ability to heal.” — Dr. Mark Hyman, functional medicine pioneer.
Next, we’ll dive deeper into Dr. Casey Means’ background—and why her unconventional journey from surgery to plant-based wellness is gaining national attention.
Dr. Casey Means is not a name you’d expect to see on a White House shortlist. A graduate of Stanford University School of Medicine and former surgical resident, she began her career in traditional medicine. But disillusioned by a healthcare system focused on symptoms rather than root causes, she made a radical shift—trading her scalpel for a microphone and a mission.
In 2018, she left her surgical residency and became a leading voice in the functional medicine movement. Co-founding the health tech company Levels, Dr. Means focused on metabolic health, glucose monitoring, and preventative care. Her 2024 book, Good Energy, co-authored with her brother Calley Means, laid out her vision for a new kind of healthcare—one driven by lifestyle, food, and functional therapies.
Dr. Means has been outspoken about the failures of conventional medicine, pharmaceutical overreach, and the toxic relationship between food and disease. Her social platforms reach millions, where she promotes anti-inflammatory diets, CBD, plant-based medicine, and microdosing as tools for long-term healing. This shift has earned her a massive following—and made her a controversial figure in mainstream medical circles.
Despite her rising influence, critics point to her departure from traditional medicine and her lack of an active medical license. Still, her advocacy for natural health and preventive care strikes a chord with a population increasingly tired of side-effect-laden pharmaceuticals and impersonal treatment models.
“We don’t have a healthcare system. We have a disease management system.” — Dr. Casey Means
Next, we’ll explore how Dr. Means’ philosophies align with the principles of plant-based wellness, and why the CBD and mushroom supplement industries are watching her nomination closely.
Dr. Casey Means’ rise as a holistic health advocate isn’t just political—it’s philosophical. Her entire medical ideology aligns perfectly with the core values behind plant medicine, CBD therapy, and functional mushroom use. As more consumers reject the pharmaceutical-first model, her approach offers a refreshing, science-backed alternative rooted in nature and prevention.
At the heart of Dr. Means’ platform is a belief that the body can heal when given the right tools: clean food, movement, emotional regulation, and yes—plant-derived compounds. This mirrors the approach at StandardCBD.com, where we champion botanical therapies like CBD oils, THC-free topicals, Amanita Muscaria gummies, and adaptogenic mushroom blends.
Rather than masking pain with synthetic pills, her philosophy encourages patients to look deeper—often using functional mushrooms, hemp-derived cannabinoids, and targeted nutrition to support systemic wellness. This is the very framework behind our KO and TKO Blends, which combine CBD, CBN, Delta 8, and live terpenes to create synergistic wellness effects.
Dr. Means has publicly advocated for exploring plant-based alternatives and psychedelic-assisted therapy as part of mental health reform—placing her in direct alignment with the evolving science behind functional mushrooms and CBD. Whether it’s microdosing legal mushroom extracts, leveraging CBG for inflammation, or using CBD topicals for pain, her agenda supports the kind of innovation we practice daily.
Dr. Means’ willingness to blend traditional science with holistic innovation could bring mainstream recognition to these powerful remedies.
“The human body was designed to heal itself. Nature simply gives us the tools.” — Paul Stamets, mycologist and mushroom medicine pioneer
In the next section, we’ll explore how this nomination fits into a broader cultural and political trend—one that’s rapidly transforming how America views cannabis, mushrooms, and natural wellness.
Dr. Casey Means’ nomination didn’t emerge in a vacuum—it’s part of a much larger cultural realignment. Over the past decade, Americans have increasingly lost trust in conventional healthcare, turning instead to holistic therapies, cannabis products, functional mushrooms, and plant-based alternatives. This movement is no longer a fringe idea—it’s gone mainstream.
From yoga studios to TikTok wellness influencers, and from celebrity-endorsed mushroom supplements to federally funded psychedelic research, the American public is rapidly embracing the idea that nature knows best. Dr. Means, with her vocal rejection of pharmaceutical overreach and her embrace of root-cause healing, is tapping into this widespread demand for change.
When a presidential candidate selects a functional medicine influencer to serve as the nation’s top health official, it says a lot about where public opinion is headed. Americans are hungry for alternatives to the status quo. This nomination suggests that even political institutions are beginning to recognize the value of plant medicine, CBD regulation, and integrative healthcare.
It also signals new opportunities: more funding for natural medicine research, clearer guidance on mushroom legality, and stronger protections for companies offering legitimate wellness products like those found at StandardCBD.com.
In short, plant medicine is entering the political arena—and Dr. Means may be the bridge between culture and policy that the movement needs to flourish.
“People are waking up to the idea that wellness isn’t something prescribed—it’s something practiced.” — Aaron Rodgers, NFL quarterback & plant medicine advocate
In the next section, we’ll break down exactly how the CBD and mushroom supplement industry stands to benefit from a Surgeon General who supports integrative, natural, and preventative approaches to health.
For years, companies in the CBD and functional mushroom space have operated in a regulatory gray area—navigating vague FDA language, inconsistent state laws, and consumer skepticism. With Dr. Casey Means potentially stepping in as Surgeon General, the tide may finally be turning.
Her appointment could help normalize the use of botanical therapies, cannabinoids, and legal mushroom extracts as credible tools for wellness—driving both cultural legitimacy and policy change. For brands like StandardCBD.com, this represents more than validation—it’s an opportunity to lead.
One of the biggest barriers to industry growth is the lack of consistent regulation. Dr. Means’ influence could encourage federal agencies to create clearer guidelines for CBD, Delta 8, and Amanita-based products. That clarity would help responsible companies rise to the top—those who already invest in third-party lab testing, transparent labeling, and education.
Historically, natural compounds like cannabinoids and muscimol (from Amanita muscaria) have been overlooked in clinical research. Dr. Means’ appointment may encourage funding for studies on non-psychoactive cannabinoids, functional mushrooms, and terpene formulations—opening doors for validated health claims and broader consumer confidence.
Public endorsement from a national health figure will do more than shift policy—it will expand the market. With trust comes trial. More people will be open to exploring CBD topicals for joint pain, functional mushroom gummies for focus, or blends like our KO and TKO lines for daily balance.
Brands that already emphasize transparency, science, and sustainable sourcing—like StandardCBD—are uniquely positioned to lead the next wave of natural health. We’ve built our reputation around quality formulations and lab-verified products that deliver real results. Dr. Means’ approach rewards that exact mindset.
“Innovation in wellness will come from the intersection of nature, data, and transparency.” — Dr. Casey Means
As we prepare for a potential shift in national health priorities, forward-thinking companies in the plant medicine space have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help define what the future of wellness looks like.
Next, we’ll take a look at the potential challenges ahead—and how the CBD and mushroom community can stay grounded, compliant, and resilient if backlash or delays arise.
While Dr. Casey Means’ nomination has been met with excitement in the wellness community, it hasn’t been without pushback. Critics argue that her lack of an active medical license and her departure from conventional practice undermine the credibility of the Surgeon General role. Others raise concerns about her alignment with alternative health, suggesting it may blur the line between evidence-based medicine and lifestyle advocacy.
Still, it’s clear that her appointment represents a broader movement—one that has already taken root across mainstream culture. For those of us in the CBD, cannabis, and functional mushroom industries, the opportunity is real—but so is the responsibility.
At StandardCBD.com, we welcome this challenge. We’ve always operated ahead of the curve—prioritizing purity, innovation, and trust. Our KO and TKO blends featuring cannabinoids like CBD, CBN, and Delta 8, paired with functional mushrooms and live terpenes, are built for this exact moment in wellness evolution.
We’re not here to chase trends—we’re here to help define the future of natural health.
Whether Dr. Means is confirmed or not, her nomination marks a shift in public perception. Functional medicine is no longer a fringe movement. CBD is no longer taboo. Mushrooms are no longer misunderstood. We are entering a new chapter—where the lines between science and nature begin to blur in all the right ways.
“The next generation of healthcare won’t be found in a pharmacy—it’ll be grown, harvested, and blended with intention.” — StandardCBD Editorial Team
If you’re ready to explore the power of plant-based healing, browse our gummies, topicals, and vape blends—made with the same intention and innovation that this new era of wellness demands.
www.standardcbd.com use Thankyou20 at check out to get 20% off your entire order.
Table of Contents Casey Means Surgeon General Pick Signals a Shift Toward Plant Medicine In a surprising move that’s already sparking heated debate, Donald Trump has tapped Dr. Casey Means, a Stanford-trained physician turned wellness influencer, as his pick for Surgeon General in 2025. Her nomination signals a potential revolution
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