Trump expected to ease federal limits on psychedelic drugs

A planned executive order would direct federal agencies to reduce research barriers for psychedelic compounds and provide $50 million for state-level ibogaine studies, officials said.

President Trump is planning to sign an executive order intended to boost research and ease federal restrictions on psychedelic compounds, officials said. The measure would target drugs such as LSD, Ecstasy and psilocybin and would provide $50 million for state-level research into ibogaine. Texas has already committed $50 million to studying ibogaine, and the new funding would most immediately benefit that state. The order is reported to direct the FDA, DEA, the Justice Department and other agencies to reduce red tape that has limited research, and could also allow terminally ill patients access to investigational drugs that have completed early trials. Key details: - Executive order intended to accelerate research into psychedelics' efficacy for PTSD, depression and other mental health problems, officials said. - Compounds mentioned include LSD, Ecstasy, psilocybin and ibogaine. - The proposal would provide $50 million in federal funding for state-level ibogaine research. - Texas has already committed $50 million to studying ibogaine. - The order is expected to instruct the FDA, DEA and the Department of Justice to reduce barriers to research. - It would also pave the way for some terminally ill patients to receive investigational drugs that have completed early clinical trials, and officials said approvals could be issued within weeks. Summary: If finalized, the order would aim to lower federal barriers and accelerate research into several psychedelic compounds, officials said. Officials said it could also speed approval processes for promising treatments and include $50 million for state ibogaine research, with Texas positioned to benefit. The timing reported by officials is that the order could be signed as early as Saturday.