Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is warning that a growing shift from alcohol to marijuana and hemp-derived products could carry unintended health consequences—even as his agency prepares to expand federal coverage of cannabidiol.
Speaking in a recent interview with Katie Miller, wife of senior Trump adviser Stephen Miller, Oz was asked whether Americans increasingly choosing cannabis over alcohol presents risks. He responded that it does.
“Anything that’s strong enough to help you is strong enough to hurt you. So yes, there are going to be consequences,” Oz said. “We already know that some of the high-dose hemp and CBD is a problem.”
The comments come at a pivotal moment for cannabis policy under Donald Trump. In December, Trump signed an executive order directing the attorney general to expedite the process of moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. At the same time, CMS has been working on a pilot program that would allow certain Medicare beneficiaries to receive coverage for hemp-derived CBD.
Oz has publicly championed that initiative, crediting Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, for “relentlessly” pursuing research-driven reforms. The proposed pilot, expected to launch as early as April, would enable eligible patients to access cannabidiol under federal health insurance plans.
Yet Oz’s cautionary tone reflects broader regulatory tensions. Hemp and its derivatives were federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill signed during Trump’s first term. However, subsequent legislation tightened rules around intoxicating hemp-derived THC products, prompting industry concerns about market instability.
Complicating matters further, CMS previously finalized a rule last April specifying that marijuana and hemp-derived CBD were not eligible for coverage under Medicare Advantage and certain other programs. The agency is now revisiting aspects of that policy as part of broader rulemaking affecting drug coverage and enrollment processes.
Oz’s remarks also contrast with his earlier statements. In past interviews and columns, he has described cannabis as “one of the most underused tools in America,” citing research on cannabinoids’ potential to reduce seizures, ease chemotherapy-related nausea and manage chronic pain—particularly among seniors.
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