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President Trump Signs Executive Order to Speed Up Research into Psychedelic Mental Health Treatments
President Donald Trump signed a significant executive order on Saturday aimed at accelerating federal research into psychedelic treatments for mental health. During a signing ceremony in the Oval Office, the president emphasized the potential for these experimental therapies to provide life-changing results for individuals struggling with severe depression and mental illness, specifically highlighting the impact on the nation's veterans.
As part of the initiative, the federal government is committing a 50 million dollar investment specifically for the study of ibogaine. This compound, derived from an African plant, has shown promise in treating opioid withdrawal and post-traumatic stress disorder. While signing the order, the president noted the drug's potential and jokingly asked if he could have some himself, remarking that he does not have time to be depressed.
The event featured prominent supporters of the policy, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and podcast host Joe Rogan. Rogan noted that his personal outreach to the president helped initiate the policy shift. Secretary Kennedy described the move as a decisive step in confronting the national mental health crisis by removing legal barriers that have historically blocked American researchers from studying these substances in clinical settings.
FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary also addressed the new directive, stating that the approval process for these treatments could be reduced from years to weeks if they align with national priorities. While drugs like psilocybin and LSD have received breakthrough designations in the past, ibogaine remains a Schedule I substance without current FDA approval.
Critics and some members of the scientific community have raised concerns that fast-tracking these powerful substances might bypass traditional safety benchmarks. However, the administration maintains that the urgency of the mental health crisis requires a faster pipeline for innovative treatments. This report is based on updates from national news correspondents covering the latest developments in federal health policy.
Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.
By: CNN Newsource
April 18, 2026
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