Trump Set to Sign Executive Order Expanding Psychedelic Drug Research
President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to sign a new executive order that will significantly increase research into psychedelic drugs used to treat mental illnesses, potentially paving the way for their legal use in controlled medical environments. Multiple insiders have confirmed to The Washington Post that the commander in chief is currently in talks to draft the order, which would release new guidance for medical research on substances including psilocybin and ibogaine.
Saturday Announcement Teased by President
While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday, President Trump teased an upcoming announcement scheduled for Saturday morning concerning a matter he feels "strongly about." The president described the impending revelation as a "very positive thing," adding that he would be joined by a "very good, very smart, very caring" person to make the official announcement. Sources initially told CBS News about the executive order, noting that it's specifically designed to open the door to federal funding for research on ibogaine's effectiveness in treating post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries.
Understanding Ibogaine and Its Current Status
Ibogaine is a naturally occurring psychoactive substance derived from the root of a shrub native to Central Africa. Currently, the Drug Enforcement Administration classifies ibogaine as a Schedule I substance, meaning there are no accepted medical uses for it and it carries a high potential for abuse. Schedule I drugs also include substances like heroin and ecstasy (methylenedioxymethamphetamine). Drug classifications in the United States are sectioned into five different schedules, with Schedule I representing the highest potential for abuse.
Despite its Schedule I status in the U.S., ibogaine remains unregulated in several countries including Mexico, the Netherlands, Germany and Canada. The drug has gained considerable popularity in recent years and has increasingly captured the attention of medical professionals seeking alternative mental health treatments.
Recent Research Findings on Ibogaine
Stanford Medicine released a significant study in 2024 concluding that ibogaine effectively treated military veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries. The research found that when combined with magnesium to protect the heart, the drug safely and effectively reduced symptoms of PTSD, anxiety and depression in study participants.
Dr. Nolan Williams, an associate professor of behavioral sciences and psychiatry involved in the study, stated: "No other drug has ever been able to alleviate the functional and neuropsychiatric symptoms of traumatic brain injury. The results are dramatic, and we intend to study this compound further."
Potential Impact of Trump's Executive Order
President Trump's looming executive order could pave the way for future studies to explore ibogaine's effectiveness more comprehensively. The potential move would represent a significant victory for advocacy groups who have lobbied for years to achieve alternative pathways to mental health therapy through psychedelic substances.
Former Texas Governor Rick Perry helped launch the nonprofit organization Americans for Ibogaine last year to advance education, clinical research and responsible medical access to the drug. Perry, who also served as Energy Secretary under Trump's first administration, recently appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast with the nonprofit's CEO, W. Bryan Hubbard, to advocate for ibogaine research and accessibility.
Veterans' Advocacy and Previous Drug Policy Moves
Amber Capone, the CEO and founder of Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions, told Reuters that news of increased access to ibogaine research marked a "huge sigh of relief" for the veteran community. She explained: "There's no doubt whatsoever in our minds that it works. But we just can't say, 'Believe us.' The research has to corroborate what we know to be true, and it feels like we could finally, finally be making some impact."
This would not be President Trump's first move toward loosening federal restrictions on drugs. In December, he signed an executive order paving the way for medical applications of marijuana and CBD products, demonstrating a pattern of supporting alternative medical research pathways. The White House has not yet provided official comment on the reported psychedelic research executive order.
