Trump announces reforms to accelerate access to psychedelic drug treatments

President signed executive order directing FDA to expedite review of psychedelic drugs including ibogaine Donald Trump on Saturday announced reforms intended to speed up access to medical research and treatment based on psychedelic drugs. The president signed an executive order directing the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expedite review of drugs such as ibogaine, which US military veteran groups have said can help treat post-traumatic stress disorder. At an event in the Oval Office, US federal officials said that the reforms would pave the way for the drugs, which can cause hallucinations and are largely illegal, to be reclassified after successful clinical trials. Trump also said the US would dedicate $50m to federal research into ibogaine. “Can I have some, please?” Trump joked at the event. Drawing laughter, the president added: “I’ll take whatever it takes. I don’t have time to be depressed.” The New York Times reported that Trump’s order would most immediately benefit Texas, which has already committed $50m to studying ibogaine, which is made from a central African shrub root. Researchers have also said that ibogaine has shown the potential to treat opioid and