Psychedelic therapy is no longer just a fringe idea—it’s picking up powerful political backing from unlikely allies, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former Trump officials.
RFK Jr., now Health Secretary, recently stunned lawmakers by saying he wants to legalize psychedelic-assisted therapy within a year. “This line of therapeutics has tremendous advantage,” he told Congress. His bold goal has energized advocates and raised some eyebrows.
Former Trump officials like Rick Perry and VA Secretary Doug Collins are also on board, particularly for treating PTSD and opioid addiction in veterans. Texas, under Perry’s influence, just allocated $50 million to study ibogaine, a potent plant-based psychedelic with both powerful benefits and serious risks.
The timing is striking. Just months ago, the FDA under Biden rejected MDMA (ecstasy) as a PTSD treatment, citing flawed data. However, under Kennedy’s leadership, the agency may be shifting its focus. New initiatives promise to fast-track specific treatments, slashing review times and potentially easing study requirements—especially for drugs like MDMA, where placebo tests are notoriously tricky due to the drug’s noticeable effects.
Critics, including scientists at Yale, warn that skipping rigorous clinical trials could undermine both public trust and patient safety. Still, the administration is hiring pro-psychedelic staff and signaling a clear shift in attitude.
Veterans like Navy SEAL Marcus Capone say ibogaine saved their lives. After his session, “the weight was completely off my shoulders,” Capone recalled. His nonprofit VETS has already helped over 1,000 veterans seek psychedelic therapy abroad.
Meanwhile, the FDA is exploring safer, synthetic versions of ibogaine to reduce its heart-related risks.
For now, psychedelics are riding a wave of political momentum, led by the most unexpected coalition in Washington. Whether the science keeps pace with the hype remains to be seen.