Trump signs executive order to fast-track psychedelic drug research

President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order Saturday ordering federal agencies to step up research into psychedelic drugs following a direct text message exchange with podcast host Joe Rogan, marking a swift policy shift at the White House.

“We all respect Joe, and he’s a little more liberal than I am. That’s okay. I have a lot of friends who are liberal,” Trump said during the Oval Office event. “Joe is a great guy. He wrote me a little note about it and I had it checked. Everyone gave the same answer.”

The directive aims to expedite federal review of substances such as ibogaine and LSD, which are classified as Schedule I drugs under federal law. The order directs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expedite breakthrough therapy designations, encourages interagency data sharing, and opens the door to expedited planning if safety and effectiveness are proven.

The move was made by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. It comes after months of internal debate as he and his aides worked to expand access to alternative mental health treatments, but Rogan’s support appears to have accelerated the timeline.

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Rogan said he shared information with Trump claiming that ibogaine was extremely successful in treating opiate addiction.

“The text message came: ‘Sounds great. Do you want FDA approval? Let’s do it,'” Rogan said, describing Trump’s immediate reaction. “It really was that quick.”

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz described the domestic effort as a rapid policy breakthrough; Within days, officials moved to turn a private exchange into a formal executive order. The administration has framed the move as part of a broader initiative to address mental health issues, particularly among veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and addiction.

“In many cases, these experimental treatments have demonstrated life-changing potential for those suffering from severe mental illness and depression, including our beloved veterans,” Trump said at the signing ceremony.

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A man takes ecstasy pills. (iStock)

Although no psychedelic has yet received FDA approval in the United States, compounds such as psilocybin and MDMA are currently being studied in clinical trials. Two states, Oregon and Colorado, have already legalized supervised psilocybin therapy programs, signaling growing momentum at the state level.

“You’re going to save a lot of lives because of this,” former Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell told Trump during the event. “It definitely changed my life for the better.”

Ibogaine, a psychedelic derived from a West African shrub, has attracted the attention of veterans groups and some Republican lawmakers as a potential treatment for PTSD and opioid addiction.

But medical experts have warned of serious risks, including heart complications and a lack of large-scale clinical trials. According to available medical literature, the drug has been linked to more than 30 deaths.

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Joe Rogan and President Donald Trump. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC; Chris Jakson/Pool/AFP)

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“Ibogaine was incredibly difficult to study in the US due to its known cardiotoxicity.” said Frederick Barrett from Johns Hopkins University, according to PBS. “If the executive order can pave the way for objective, scientific research with this compound, it will help us understand whether this is truly a better psychedelic therapy than others.”

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