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US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order designed to accelerate federal research into psychedelic substances, including psilocybin and LSD.
Appearing alongside Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr and podcaster Joe Rogan, the president emphasised that the order aims to remove bureaucratic obstacles that currently hinder scientists from studying the potential medical benefits of these drugs.
The move is specifically intended to improve data sharing between the FDA and the Department of Veterans Affairs to fast-track the rescheduling of any substances that prove effective.
The initiative comes amid a growing movement to find more effective treatments for mental health conditions, particularly for war veterans suffering from treatment-resistant depression and PTSD.
Many patients have reported that traditional medications are often ineffective or cause detrimental personality changes.
The administration wants to make it easier for people who are at risk to get help by relaxing research restrictions. One reason for this is the high rate of veteran suicides, which is why they are looking into other therapies.
While the order facilitates quicker clinical trials, it does not immediately reclassify these drugs for general therapeutic use or change their legal status for law enforcement.
During the signing, the president highlighted the dramatic recovery rates reported in some early studies of substances like ibogaine, though he acknowledged the need for further testing.
Experts caution that while results are promising, more research is required to fully understand the risks, such as potential heart complications associated with certain psychedelic treatments.
