Federal Health Programs Will Cover Up To $500 Worth Of CBD For Certain Patients By April, Trump Official Dr. Oz Says

OG article by Kyle Jaeger

December 30, 2025

Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced that federal health programs will launch a pilot by April 2026 to cover up to $500 worth of hemp-derived CBD annually for eligible Medicare and Medicaid patients, with no charge if recommended by doctors. The initiative, directed by President Donald Trump and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., aims to provide access to non-addictive CBD for managing conditions like chronic pain, cancer symptoms, and other issues affecting seniors and veterans. Oz stated at a White House event that Trump frequently discussed CBD benefits after hearing from friends who found relief, leading CMS to create a new model for cannabinoid access. Eligible patients, primarily those 65 and older on Medicare, must use products meeting state quality and safety standards from legitimate sources. CMS will collect data on patient outcomes and make it public, with potential expansion if promising. Medicare Advantage insurers will consider CBD for 34 million covered Americans. Charlotte’s Web, a participating company, highlighted its focus on therapeutic CBD for conditions like epilepsy and cancer, estimating 8,000-12,000 participants and up to $64 billion in annual savings through improved symptom management. Oz emphasized this is not about marijuana legalization but research, noting CBD's clinical evidence for relief and FDA-approved cannabis drugs for epilepsy. He clarified the policy addresses Schedule I classification issues by moving toward Schedule III, enabling better study without promoting intoxication.