How Trump is pushing psychedelics reform through the health agencies
SkimNews Take
The executive order, by directly intervening in the drug approval and scheduling process, effectively centralizes control over psychedelic research and access within the executive branch.
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- Trump signed an executive order on Saturday to fast‑track FDA review of three serotonin‑2A agonist psychedelics and allocate $50 M for state mental‑health programs.
- FDA commissioner Marty Makary announced three priority‑review vouchers for those psychedelics, with agency decisions slated for later this summer.
- DEA will begin rescheduling reviews after successful Phase‑III trials, with Trump pledging “very quickly” reclassification.
- DOJ will join the DEA in the rescheduling process, aligning law‑enforcement with the new health‑policy direction.
- White House officials, including Mehmet Oz, noted the order was drafted in under a week, reflecting the administration’s rapid response to public pressure.
- Joe Rogan texted Trump about ibogaine research, prompting the president’s swift move to open “right‑to‑try” pathways for terminally ill patients.
Why it matters: Veterans and patients with treatment‑resistant mental illness gain faster access to psychedelic therapies, while the FDA and DEA face accelerated scheduling decisions; $50 M funding spurs state programs, potentially reducing opioid and depression costs.
