Chicago – April 18, 2026
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Saturday directing federal agencies to speed up review and access to psychedelic-based treatments, including ibogaine, for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and addiction.
The order instructs the Food and Drug Administration to accelerate evaluation of select psychedelic drugs and create a pathway for eligible patients to access investigational therapies under the Right to Try framework.
The White House also said it will allocate $50 million through ARPA-H to support state-backed research programs focused on serious mental illness. Trump said the move could help people with debilitating symptoms regain their lives, while administration officials argued the policy could speed promising treatments through the regulatory process.
The push comes as psychedelics have gained attention for possible use in veterans’ mental health care, though drugs such as ibogaine remain tightly restricted and carry safety concerns. Supporters say the order could expand research; critics are likely to press for stronger evidence before broader use.
