President Donald Trump on Saturday signed an executive order to expedite access to research and treatments based on psychedelic drugs, a move that could ease patient access to substances such as psilocybin, ibogaine, LSD, and MDMA.
The order will “dramatically accelerate access to new medical research and treatments based on psychedelic drugs,” Trump said before signing the order at an Oval Office event attended by top government officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
“In many cases, these experimental treatments have shown life-changing potential for those suffering from severe mental illness and depression—including our cherished veterans,” Trump added.
RFK Jr. said at the event that under the new order, HHS “will accelerate research, approval, and access to new mental health treatments, including psychedelic therapies.”
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary added that his agency will issue three national priority vouchers for psychedelics, referring to a program launched last year to speed up review of therapeutics developed by companies aligned with national priorities.
“Under this new program in this administration, drugs can get approved in weeks—not a year or a year plus, but in weeks—if they are in line with our national priorities,” Makary added, according to Marijuana Moment.
Shares of companies focused on psychedelic drugs rose on Thursday after CBS News reported that Trump plans to sign an executive order that would expand research into ibogaine, a psychedelic plant medicine native to Africa.
Notable companies focused on developing psychedelic drugs include AtaiBeckley (ATAI), COMPASS Pathways (CMPS), GH Research (GHRS), Definium Therapeutics (DFTX), and Cybin (HELP).
