Jane, the US Endangered Species Act encourages the propagation and distribution of rare and listed species. There is a good discussion of this at http://torreyaguardians.org/shirey-2013-excerpts.p…. You can reassure your friend that he is only helping these plants by propagation and distribution. If he wants to adhere to the strictest interpretation of the law, if he gives cultivated plants or seeds to others (without profit or gain), he is in total adherence to the law and can send them between states. Hope this helps, monica