Trump Signs Order to Fast-Track Psychedelic Drug Research, Treatment Access

President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order aimed at accelerating research and access to treatments derived from psychedelic drugs, including the controversial substance ibogaine.

The directive, announced on Saturday, instructs the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expedite the review process for drugs such as ibogaine, which some advocates  particularly among military veterans  say could help treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health conditions.

Speaking at the White House, Trump said the move would help remove longstanding stigma around such substances and open the door for scientific evaluation. “It was almost like taboo. It’s not taboo anymore,” he said.

The administration also approved $50 million in federal funding for research into ibogaine, a psychoactive compound derived from a West African shrub. The drug is currently classified as a Schedule I substance in the United States, meaning it is considered to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has publicly supported alternative mental health treatments, backed the initiative, arguing that psychedelic-based therapies could offer new hope for conditions such as depression and trauma-related disorders.

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said decisions on whether to advance the drugs for medical use could come as early as this summer, depending on the outcome of ongoing evaluations.

The order could also pave the way for potential reclassification of ibogaine if clinical trials demonstrate safety and effectiveness  a move that would significantly shift U.S. drug policy.

Although illegal in the United States, ibogaine is used in some countries under regulated conditions. Mexico, for instance, hosts treatment centres that have attracted American veterans seeking alternative therapies.

Trump was joined at the signing ceremony by veterans and lawmakers, including Representative Morgan Luttrell, who has advocated for expanding access to such treatments.

Support for psychedelic research has also found rare bipartisan backing in Congress, with some Democrats endorsing further study.

The executive order follows a similar directive issued in December encouraging research into cannabis and cannabidiol, though federal reclassification efforts for those substances remain ongoing.

Lawmakers say they will continue pushing legislation to support the use of psychedelic therapies, particularly for veterans, as debate grows over their potential role in modern mental health treatment.