Trump Signs Executive Order to Speed Up Psychedelic Research
President Trump signed an executive order on April 18, 2026, directing federal agencies to accelerate research into psychedelic-based treatments for mental health conditions, with a particular focus on ibogaine, a plant-derived compound that has shown promise for treating opioid addiction and PTSD in veterans.
The signing took place in the Oval Office, where Trump was joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, and podcast host Joe Rogan, who has long advocated for ibogaine's therapeutic potential.
What the Executive Order Does
The order instructs federal agencies to remove legal impediments that have hindered researchers, scientists, and physicians from studying psychedelic medicines. It also establishes a framework for developing safe clinical protocols where appropriate.
The federal government announced a $50 million investment specifically earmarked for ibogaine research. The order names ibogaine as the primary focus compound but also encompasses other psychedelics, including psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA, that have been studied as treatments for depression and PTSD.
FDA Commissioner Makary said the agency's approval timeline could shorten significantly under the initiative. "Drugs can get approved in weeks, not a year or a year-plus, if they are in line with our national priorities," Makary said during the Oval Office event.
Joe Rogan Says He Sparked the Policy
Rogan told those present that a text message exchange with Trump directly led to the executive order. "I sent President Trump some information," Rogan said, describing the president's reply as: "Sounds great, do you want FDA approval? Let's do it." He said it was "literally that quick."
Trump made light of the drug's appeal before signing. "Can I have some, please?" he said, adding that he would "take whatever it takes." He then noted that staying busy might be his own antidepressant: "I don't have time to be depressed."
What Ibogaine Is and Why It's Controversial
Ibogaine is a psychoactive compound extracted from the iboga plant, native to Central Africa.
It has been used in some countries to reduce opioid cravings and treat withdrawal symptoms, and early research suggests it may also address depression, anxiety, and PTSD in veterans. A 2024 Stanford study found evidence that ibogaine may alter certain neural pathways in ways that could explain its reported therapeutic effects.
Despite this interest, ibogaine remains a Schedule I substance in the United States, the most restrictive federal classification. It is reserved for drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, and it has not received FDA approval.
The compound carries real risks. It is known to cause abnormal heart rhythms and has been associated with a number of deaths, though researchers note it is not always clear whether ibogaine, pre-existing health conditions, or other factors were the direct cause. Scientists have expressed concern that the administration may accelerate approvals before the research is rigorous enough to ensure patient safety.
RFK Jr.'s Role and the Broader Mental Health Push
Kennedy framed the order as part of a larger effort to confront the country's mental health crisis. His own son and several of his friends have reportedly used psychedelics to deal with trauma and depression, something Kennedy has discussed publicly on multiple occasions.
RFK Jr. has been a prominent and sometimes polarizing figure in health policy debates. Earlier this year, his personal diaries became public, revealing a wide range of unconventional views on medicine. Trump, meanwhile, has made health-adjacent statements that drew scrutiny, including his claim to Dr. Oz that diet soda kills cancer cells.
Where Other Psychedelics Stand
The FDA has already designated psilocybin, the active compound in "magic mushrooms," as a breakthrough therapy for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder.
That classification is designed to speed review of experimental drugs targeting serious conditions. Small clinical trials have shown one or two doses, given in a therapeutic setting, can produce significant and lasting improvements in patients who have not responded to traditional antidepressants.
A formulation of LSD targeting generalized anxiety disorder received breakthrough therapy status in 2024 and remains in clinical trials. MDMA did not fare as well. The FDA declined to approve it as a PTSD treatment in 2024 and requested additional clinical trials after an advisory committee raised concerns about the integrity of earlier research.
That uneven record is part of why some researchers worry about the new order's accelerated approval language. The FDA's standard drug approval process exists precisely to catch safety problems that early trials miss.
What Comes Next
The executive order sets the direction but leaves agencies to work out the details. HHS and the FDA will need to define what a safe clinical protocol looks like for ibogaine and other compounds, and researchers will need to conduct trials meeting rigorous evidentiary standards.
For veterans advocates, the order is a long-awaited signal. Ibogaine treatment has been available in Mexico, where some veterans have traveled at their own expense after conventional therapies failed. The question now is whether the federal government can move quickly enough, and carefully enough, to make it safely available at home. Researchers studying how psychoactive compounds reshape the brain say the answer depends on whether the science, not the politics, leads the way.
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