President Trump signed an executive order on April 18 directing the FDA to fast-track review of psychedelic therapies and committing $50 million to ibogaine research. The psychedelics community is cautiously optimistic, and watching closely.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Saturday directing federal agencies to accelerate research into psychedelic therapies and allocating $50 million for ibogaine research. The signing took place in the Oval Office on April 18, with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., podcast host Joe Rogan, veterans advocate Marcus Luttrell and Representative Morgan Luttrell among those present.
Federal commitment to ibogaine research
$100M
Total committed to ibogaine research
$50M from Texas (SB 2308, June 2025) + $50M federal commitment announced April 18, 2026
Summer
Earliest timeline for FDA decisions on ibogaine
Per FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary at the April 18 Oval Office signing
40+
Years ibogaine has been Schedule I in the United States
Classified since 1970. Used legally in Mexico and other countries where it faces fewer restrictions.
“I’m pleased to announce historic reforms to dramatically accelerate access to new medical research and treatments based on psychedelic drugs,” Trump said at the signing, as reported by The New York Times. Of ibogaine specifically, Trump added: “I never heard anything about it in the past. It was almost like, taboo. It’s not taboo anymore.”
FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said decisions on the drugs could come as soon as this summer, telling those assembled that drugs aligned with national priorities could get approved “in weeks, not a year or a year-plus,” according to CNN.
How Joe Rogan helped make this happen
Rogan, who backed Trump in 2024 and has devoted significant airtime to advocates for ibogaine’s use in treating veterans, described the moment from the Oval Office. He said he had sent Trump information about ibogaine, and that the response came …
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Author: Javier Hasse / High Times
