Trump Signs Order to Fast-Track Psychedelic Drug Reviews

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Saturday directing his administration to speed up reviews of psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine, a decision that comes despite serious safety concerns associated with the substance. The order instructs the Food and Drug Administration to issue national priority vouchers for three psychedelics, enabling expedited reviews that could cut approval timelines from several months to weeks. The administration will also direct at least $50 million to states developing programs for psychedelic treatments targeting serious mental illness, marking the first time the FDA has offered such fast-tracking to any psychedelics. The announcement was made in the Oval Office with veterans including former Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, conservative podcaster Joe Rogan, and top health officials including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. Rogan told Trump he had texted him information about ibogaine and that Trump responded, "Sounds great. Do you want FDA approval? Let's do it." The effort follows bipartisan support for psychedelic treatments, with Texas last year passing legislation providing $50 million for ibogaine research and several veteran organizations long advocating for the drug's medical use. Ibogaine, derived from a shrub native to West Africa, remains classified as a Schedule I substance with no accepted medical use and high abuse potential. The drug has been linked to more than 30 deaths in medical literature due to cardiovascular toxicity, including irregular heart rhythms, and the National Institutes of Health discontinued research on it in the 1990s over these concerns. Despite these risks, a small Stanford University study found that veterans treated with ibogaine in Mexico showed improvements in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. While no psychedelic has been approved in the United States, Oregon and Colorado have already legalized psilocybin therapy, and advocates say Trump's order will give states significant federal cover to pursue similar programs.