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Former Senator Details Psychedelics Conversations With Two Trump Cabinet Members

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3 months ago

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A former US senator says he has personally spoken with the heads of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) about the therapeutic potential of psychedelics such as ibogaine, and both members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet welcomed reform on the issue.

Former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), who was a Democrat for most of her career in Congress before becoming an independent, said there is a great opportunity under the Trump administration to free up access to psychedelics for therapeutic purposes, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. His “close” relationship with the HHS secretary and swinging around alternative political views.

In an interview with Politico, Sinema spoke about the country’s “magical and unique time” for psychedelic reform at a recent event hosted by Americans for Ibogaine, the advocacy organization co-founded by former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R).

“Is there an opportunity to do this in this administration? Hell, yes,” he said, adding that Kennedy “is disruptive and supports psychedelic medicine.”

“The opportunity is ripe in this administration, and we should strike while the iron is hot,” said the former lawmaker, who has publicized the therapeutic use of the psychedelic ibogaine.

In addition to Kennedy, Sinema said he advised VA Secretary Doug Collins about the potential of psychedelics to help veterans with serious mental health issues.

“He hadn’t heard of it. He hadn’t even heard of psychedelic medicine,” she said. “He was skeptical at first. He’s a conservative pastor in Georgia. Then he got together with some veterans and saw the science and as you’ve heard, he’s the most prominent proponent of psychedelic medicine in the administration.”

“Historically, I think you’ve seen psychedelics — not necessarily psychedelic medicine — but psychedelics, left-wing hippies dominated,” he said. say Political “Psychedelic medicine as a treatment for disorders is important to many people on the right. I want to be clear: the reason is not because they are psychedelics, but because nothing else works.”

The former senator said that “in a conservative’s brain, psychedelics are not a drug, they are a medicine.”

“In the old-school left-wing psychedelic movement, they’re seen as a drug. That drug has medicinal properties, but it also has other non-medicinal properties that they celebrate,” he said. “I think what you’re seeing from the mainstream blue community is a concern that if they accept psychedelics they’ll look like left-wing weirdos and hippies. It could also be a commitment to mainstream medicine. Politically speaking, it could also be skepticism if conservatives like it.”

As the Arizona legislature advanced an ibogaine research project earlier this year, the former senator—who also championed psychedelic legislation while serving in Congress—.he gathered support for the reformWhile pledging to personally raise $5 million in philanthropic donations to support psychedelic research, if it ultimately materializes.

Last year, a US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) official, who has since moved into an advisory role, praised Sinema. his “knowledge of psychedelic literature and all related subjects” while praising the agency’s work to advance research into novel therapies.

For his part, Kennedy, the health secretary, he is believed to still use psychedelics, although he is otherwise soberThe following book by a journalist who allegedly had a romantic relationship with her states.

Last month, Kennedy, Vice President JD Vance, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner and other Trump administration officials attended the “Make America Healthy Again” summit. it was a session dedicated to studying psychedelic medicine.

While Sinema noted that Collins was not particularly familiar with psychedelic therapy before joining the Trump administration, the secretary has become one of the most vocal advocates for advancing reform to ease access for veterans.

In July, for example, VA Secretary He proclaimed his mission to promote access to psychedelics for veterans with serious mental health conditions, it was possible to say that it “opened that door wider than most probably thought”.

“I’m the first secretary of the VA—actually, in a cabinet about a month and a half ago— really brought psychedelics to a Cabinet meeting” Collins said at the time. “I think what we need to look at is we need to put the alternatives on the map. The VA will do our job. We will do it within the law and we will do what we have to do.”

The secretary also said in the summer “very open” to expanding access to psychedelic therapy for veterans-he emphasized that he intends to find ways to “cure” people with serious mental illnesses and not just to treat superficial symptoms.

Collins noted that the VA is actively conducting a dozen or so clinical trials either internally or through private partnerships “on a number of different substances where we’re seeing really good results,” among others. One based at VA Bronx Health Care researching MDMA-assisted therapy “Actually, with very good results.”

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It’s Marijuana Moment tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelic and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters by pledging at least $25/month, you’ll get access to our interactive maps, charts, and audio calendars so you never miss a development.

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In June, Kennedy said that his agency “Fully committed” to expanding research into the benefits of psychedelic therapy. and, along with the head of the FDA, aims to give military veterans legal access to these substances “within 12 months.”

The secretary also said that in April He had a “wonderful experience” with LSD at the age of 15He took it because he thought they would be able to see dinosaurs, as depicted in a comic he was a fan of.

Last October, Kennedy specifically criticized the FDA under the previous administration for the agency’s “eradication of psychedelics” and a laundry list of other issues that he said was a “war on public health” that would end under the Trump administration.

Photo elements courtesy of the user carlosemmaskype and Apollo.

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Swiss company launches nationwide price comparison tool for cannabis

Published

15 hours ago

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March 2, 2026

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Evidena Care AG is one of the leading Swiss telemedicine platforms and specialized medical practices for medical cannabis. The company currently supports more than 2,000 patients across the country. Under the direction of Dr. Nicolai Berardi and two other specialist doctors, Evidena Care has focused on evidence-based, responsible and patient-centered treatment for the past two years.

Now, Evidena Care is launching a nationwide online comparison portal for medical cannabis products. The platform is designed for patients who already have a valid medical prescription and want a clear and reliable view of the market. For the first time in Switzerland, patients can directly compare products and prices from the country’s largest pharmacies in one place.

Medical cannabis plays an essential role in the treatment plans of many patients. At the same time, prices can vary significantly between pharmacies, even when the products contain the same levels of active ingredients. As these costs are often not covered by health insurance, or only partially covered, many patients have a heavy financial burden. The new portal addresses this issue by bringing transparency to a market that until now has been difficult to navigate.

The platform provides an overview of available products and dosages, clearly lists the active ingredient content, such as THC and CBD levels, and displays the current prices of leading Swiss pharmacies. Patients can directly compare options and make informed decisions that help optimize their therapy costs, without compromising medical guidance.

“Patients should not be victims of non-transparent pricing structures,” says Dr. Nicolai Berardi, CEO of Evidena Care AG. “We are creating transparency with our comparison portal, strengthening the self-responsibility of those affected and promoting fair competition in the interests of patients.”

The portal is only for people with a valid prescription. It serves as a true information tool and supports cost optimization in an existing therapy supervised by a physician.

For more information:
Evidena Care AG
Email: (email protected)
https://evidena.care/










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Virginia Lawmakers Advance Marijuana Resentencing Bills As Push To Legalize Commercial Sales Also Nears Finish Line

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16 hours ago

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March 2, 2026

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Virginia’s House and Senate lawmakers have advanced a pair of bills with amendments that would allow people with prior marijuana convictions to be sentenced.

Members of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees on Monday approved alternate versions of the reform bill in opposite chambers, setting the stage for bicameral negotiations as the measures move through the legislative process.

Broadly, the legislation introduced in both chambers would create a process to consider changing the sentences for people incarcerated or on community supervision for certain crimes involving the possession, manufacture, sale or distribution of marijuana.

The Senate panel approved it HB 26 In a 9-6 vote by Del. Rozia Henson (D), with revisions largely consistent with the House bill, SB 62that is being backed by Senate President Pro Tem Louise Lucas (D). passed on the floor last month before going Home.

Senators have now referred the House measure to the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee for further consideration.

There are some differences between the sizes of the chambers. The House-passed legislation includes minors who would be eligible for relief from marijuana-related convictions, clarifies that judges would only consider convictions for cannabis offenses and specifies that the reform would include people with marijuana-related probation violations.

Both proposed bills apply to people with convictions or convictions for conduct that occurred before July 1, 2021, when a state law legalizing personal possession and home cultivation of marijuana went into effect.




As for the Senate bill, which clean up The House committee’s 15-7 vote Monday would have eliminated more categories of people who could be eligible for the sentence as an alternative, and would add a longer list of violent crimes that make people with cannabis convictions ineligible for relief.

Against the background of these recent developments, Virginia bills to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana have moved forward in the way of implementing laws. Last week, members of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate modified and advanced the proposals of the opposite chambers on the subject.

Members of the Virginia Legislature Last month, he took action on multiple marijuana bills during a major deadline—advance proposals to legalize the sale of cannabis, provide a way to punish previous marijuana convictions, as well as other laws to allow access to medical cannabis for seriously ill patients in hospitals.

Despite their stark differences, the two chambers’ trade sales bills have largely aligned with recommendations released by the legislature in December. Joint Committee to Oversee the Transition to the Commonwealth Retail Cannabis Market.

Meanwhile, some members of the GOP have aligned ideologically with their Democratic colleagues throughout this legislative process, breaking with the majority of their caucus. in favor of creating a regulated market for adults to buy cannabis.

Since legalizing cannabis ownership and home cultivation in 2021, Virginia lawmakers have been working to establish a commercial marijuana market– Only for those efforts to stall under former Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), who twice vetoed measures sent to his desk by the Legislature.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D), on the other hand, supports legalizing the sale of marijuana to adults.

Separately last month, the Virginia House patients passed a bill to allow the use of medical marijuana in hospitals. It would require health care facilities to implement policies “to address the situation in which an eligible patient is authorized to use medical cannabis.”

The Senate passed various pieces of legislation use of medical cannabis in healthcare facilities last month

—
It’s Marijuana Time tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelic and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters by pledging at least $25/month, you’ll get access to our interactive maps, charts, and audio calendars so you never miss a development.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracking and become a Patreon supporter to gain access
—

Meanwhile, the Virginia House passed the bill earlier this month Protecting the rights of parents who use marijuana by complying with state laws.

Del. According to the proposal by Nadarius Clark (D), a parent or guardian’s own use of cannabis “shall not serve as a basis for a finding of abuse or neglect of a child unless other facts establish that its possession or consumption causes or produces physical or mental injury to the child.”

“A person’s legal possession or consumption of substances permitted (under state marijuana law) shall not serve as a basis for limiting custody or visitation unless other facts establish that such possession or consumption is not in the best interest of the child,” reads the text of HB 942.

Separately, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry has published a new defining workplace protections for cannabis users.

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State counties could tax medical marijuana sales under a new House bill

Published

2 days ago

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March 1, 2026

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A bill that would allow Oklahoma counties to impose a tax on retail marijuana sales has passed a committee in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Under the Oklahoma Legislature, House Bill 3314, authored by Rep. Ryan Eaves, R-Atoka, would allow counties to impose a tax of 15 percent of the impact of public utilities within county boundaries. The bill is similar to Senate Bill 1125, introduced by state Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, in the Oklahoma Senate during the 2025 legislative session. SB 1125 would allow counties and municipalities to levy an excise tax on medical marijuana.

HB3314 passed the House County and Municipal Government Committee on a 6-0 vote, and now moves to the Government Oversight Committee for further consideration. The invoice does not automatically generate tax. If a county chooses to join, it must first be approved by a majority of the county’s voters in a special election. The bill also exempts marijuana grown on private property by individuals and not sold.

“Countries are the ones dealing with the daily impact of marijuana sales,” Eaves said. “This allows local communities to decide for themselves whether they want to allocate a portion of that revenue to law enforcement, first responders and improving problem properties.”

Read more at News 9










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