Proponents of Psychedelics as Medicine Score a Big Victory

Trump's Executive Order Fast-Tracks Psychedelic Drugs for Mental Health

Proponents of using psychedelics as medicine have come a long way since the 1960s, and over the weekend, they scored a big victory. President Trump signed an executive order to accelerate research and approval of these drugs for treating mental health conditions. NPR's Will Stone reports.

It was a testament to the revival of interest in psychedelics. A Republican president in the Oval Office, flanked by his top health officials, extolling the healing power of these drugs, which remain federally illegal.

These experimental treatments have shown life-changing potential for those suffering from severe mental illness and depression, including our cherished veterans.

The advocacy efforts led by military veterans appear to be crucial for winning over the president - that, along with podcaster and Trump ally Joe Rogan, who was there and said that a text exchange is what set the executive order in motion.

Research into psychedelics has surged in the past decade, and some recent clinical trials show impressive results for treating conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD and addiction.

Just to have a president discussing psychedelics so openly, also signing an executive order, is quite extraordinary. - Mason Marks, senior fellow of psychedelic projects at the Petrie-Flom Center at Harvard Law School.

The order directs federal agencies to prioritize research and could speed up FDA review of psychedelic drugs. It calls for the attorney general to be ready to reschedule the substances once the necessary trials are complete and could make unapproved drugs available to patients who are terminally ill.

In terms of the perception that the federal government is now more receptive to psychedelics. - Mason Marks

Stocks for companies working on psychedelic treatments have already shot up. The psychedelic ibogaine, which comes from a West African shrub, was mentioned repeatedly during the signing and in the order. That was a big deal for Jay Kopelman.

Bravo. Bravo to President Trump. - Jay Kopelman

Kopelman runs the Mission to Live Foundation, which raises money so veterans like him can go out of the country, mainly to Mexico, to use the powerful psychoactive substance.

Thank God I had this medicine. Thank God I had access to this. Otherwise, I don't know what would have happened. - Jay Kopelman

There is scientific interest in ibogaine for conditions like PTSD and opioid addiction, and the state of Texas is funding a big research effort in this area. But the president's emphasis on ibogaine was puzzling to Alan Davis.

There's no compelling evidence to date that suggests that ibogaine is better than these other psychedelics, but there is evidence to suggest that it's more risky. - Alan Davis

He says other psychedelics have much stronger data showing they're safe and they work. For example, he just finished a trial with veterans who took psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms. Seventy-five percent were in remission from their PTSD after the treatment. In fact, psilocybin could soon be up for FDA approval.

Most of us so far in this research world have been doing this research really with very little resources because there hasn't been large, broad federal funding for this work. - Alan Davis

He was particularly heartened by one moment when Trump leaned over his desk and called for the Drug Enforcement Administration to reschedule psychedelics.