Trump shared a video urging Medicare coverage of hemp-derived CBD, casting it as a senior health breakthrough and sparking cannabis debate.
TL;DR
- Trump posted a video on Truth Social pushing Medicare coverage for hemp-derived CBD.
- The video, produced by The Commonwealth Project, frames CBD as the “most important senior health initiative of the century.”
- The group is funded by Howard Kessler, a Mar-a-Lago friend of Trump.
- With rescheduling stalled and GOP lawmakers divided, Medicare CBD could be Trump’s politically safer move.
On Sunday night, President Donald Trump posted a video on Truth Social that could mark a turning point in cannabis politics. The nearly three-minute clip, produced by The Commonwealth Project, urges the federal government to cover hemp-derived CBD under Medicare, calling it “the most important senior health initiative of the century.”
The spot plays like a polished pitch. Over swelling music, the narrator declares, “You can revolutionize senior healthcare” and later, “You will deliver the most important senior health initiative of the century, cementing your legacy.” It also reminds viewers of Trump’s role in the 2018 Farm Bill, which removed hemp with up to 0.3% THC from the federal list of controlled substances and cleared the way for today’s hemp-derived cannabinoids market. The message positions CBD as both a medical breakthrough and a political milestone.
The video highlights the endocannabinoid system, describing it as the body’s hidden conductor that keeps everything working in harmony, warning that it weakens with age. Hemp-derived CBD, it claims, can help bring that system back into balance, easing pain, reducing stress, improving sleep, and even slowing disease progression. A quick cut to Fox News adds a financial hook, citing a PricewaterhouseCoopers estimate that fully integrating cannabis into healthcare could save the U.S. $64 billion annually.
Industry Reactions: Policy Meets Markets
The post was quickly dissected across cannabis and finance circles. Stocks spiked Monday morning as cannabis companies and ETFs saw double-digit gains, highlighting how closely investors are watching Trump’s feed for signals.
In his Cannabis Confidential newsletter, Todd Harrison noted that Trump’s repost immediately put stakeholders on alert. The Commonwealth Project has been a visible presence in rescheduling hearings, and seeing its message amplified from the top raised the stakes.
The THC Group briefing was even more blunt: “The president just retweeted a video begging him to do something while House Republicans write budget language trying to stop him from doing it.” The group pointed out the contradiction of Trump pushing hemp-derived CBD as a Medicare benefit, the same weekend GOP lawmakers advanced language to block rescheduling funds. Its read is that Medicare CBD could be Trump’s workaround if his party refuses to move on broader cannabis reform.
Hemp vs. Cannabis: Why the Words Matter
The video makes a point of talking about hemp-derived CBD rather than marijuana. That distinction traces back to the 2018 Farm Bill, signed by Trump, which effectively legalized hemp containing less than 0.3% THC.
- Hemp is legally defined as cannabis with 0.3% THC or less. It is the source of most CBD products on the market.
- Cannabis (or marijuana under federal law) remains a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin, considered to have no medical use and a high risk of abuse.
- Some lawmakers now want to ban hemp products that contain even trace amounts of THC, a move that critics say would make CBD production nearly impossible.
By focusing on hemp-derived CBD, the video sticks with language that is safer politically, even as the rescheduling debate continues over the broader cannabis plant.
Also read: Op-Ed: Why Cannabis Rescheduling Matters, But Still Falls Short
Rescheduling vs. Medicare Coverage
This all comes as Trump considers whether to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act:
- Schedule I: Cannabis today, classified as having no medical use and high abuse risk.
- Schedule III: Would acknowledge medical use, reduce penalties, eliminate the 280E tax burden for businesses, and expand research opportunities.
- Medicare coverage for CBD: A separate pathway that would not require Congress but would demand regulatory action through HHS, FDA, and CMS. (Read: Four Ways Trump Could Change Weed Laws Without Congress)
As THC Group noted, Medicare CBD could be a politically safer play. No lawmaker wants to be seen voting against pain relief for seniors, which makes healthcare policy a potential path of least resistance.
Also read: It’s a Trap! Why Schedule III Could Be Worse Than Standing Still on Cannabis Reform
Who Is Behind the Video? The Commonwealth Project
The Commonwealth Project (TCP) was founded in 2019 by entrepreneur and philanthropist Howard Kessler to advance the integration of medical cannabis into healthcare for older adults, particularly those over 65.
According to TCP’s own reports, the group has partnered with senior living facilities in Florida and New York to run pilot programs where residents received medical cannabis under clinical supervision. One of these studies, the “Living Laboratory Project” at MorseLife Health System in West Palm Beach, found that 82.6% of participants showed a positive impact, 74% said cannabis was more cost-effective than their prescription drugs, and more than half stopped taking higher-risk pharmaceuticals such as opioids.
TCP has also worked with the Morehouse School of Medicine, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and the Satcher Health Leadership Institute, while hosting roundtables on how cannabinoid therapies could fit into mainstream medicine for older adults.
These findings come from TCP’s own programs and sponsored research. The group positions itself as an advocacy effort rather than a neutral scientific body, often citing figures such as the projected $64 billion in annual healthcare savings to argue that Medicare coverage of cannabis-based therapies would both improve seniors’ quality of life and reduce costs for the system.
What’s Next
Trump has previously said a decision on rescheduling would come “in the next few weeks.” Now he is boosting a video that pitches Medicare CBD as a legacy move.
Whether this is a trial balloon or a real policy direction remains unclear. But the stakes are significant:
- For seniors: Coverage could transform access to non-pharmaceutical therapies.
- For the hemp industry: It could legitimize and stabilize a sector facing constant uncertainty.
- For cannabis reform overall: It signals that health framing, not culture or criminal justice, may be Trump’s chosen path forward.
Disclosure: The lead image of this article was created with artificial intelligence to illustrate the story. It does not depict a real Trump-branded CBD product, and it should not be interpreted as an endorsement or affiliation by Donald Trump or any related entity.
