The U.S. federal ban on psychedelics has ended!!!

Today (April 18, 2026), President Trump signed an executive order aimed at accelerating research into and access to psychedelics for medical use in the United States—particularly for: • PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) • Severe depression • Addiction • Other treatment-resistant mental health conditions Key substances include: • Ibogaine (an alkaloid extracted from an African shrub, widely championed by veteran groups for treating PTSD and opioid addiction) • Other psychedelic compounds, including psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA Specific measures: • Directing the FDA to expedite review of psychedelics that have received ‘Breakthrough Therapy’ designation • Allocating $50 million in federal funding for research on ibogaine and related substances • Leveraging the Right-to-Try Act to provide eligible patients with access to experimental therapies • Reducing bureaucratic barriers and supporting clinical trials—especially those focused on veterans Trump declared at the signing event, 'The federal ban on psychedelic medicine is over,' a phrase echoed by advocates. However, note: this does *not* constitute full repeal of federal scheduling or legalization for recreational use. Rather, it prioritizes accelerating medical research, streamlining regulatory hurdles, and paving the way for potential therapeutic applications—not immediate over-the-counter availability. Currently, most of these substances remain classified as Schedule I controlled substances (i.e., deemed to have high abuse potential and no accepted medical use). Why now? • Psychedelic research has long been constrained by stringent regulations enacted during the ‘War on Drugs’ era (under Nixon). • Recent clinical trials demonstrate significant efficacy—when combined with psychotherapy—for psilocybin, MDMA, and ibogaine in treating PTSD and depression, especially among patients unresponsive to conventional treatments. • High veteran suicide rates serve as a major catalyst; many veterans have already traveled to Mexico and elsewhere to receive ibogaine therapy. • The Trump administration—including figures like RFK Jr.—views this as an innovative approach to addressing the national mental health crisis. Many of these so-called 'psychedelics' contain DMT. Interestingly, the human pineal gland also produces DMT—but in modern society, the pineal gland is often calcified in most people. The author has personally experienced multiple sessions using A…, a substance traditionally used by South American tribes for parasite elimination and spiritual connection.

Has LSD achieved successive breakthroughs in treating mental illness—and is it finally transitioning from illicit drug to approved medicine?

Disclaimer This is a personal perspective and does not represent any organization or institution. In April this year, Trump—accompanied by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, and prominent podcast host Joe Rogan—signed an executive order directing accelerated research into long-stigmatized psychedelics such as LSD. During the event, he even joked about trying some himself. Psychedelics are a class of psychoactive substances primarily known for altering perception, cognition, and mood. Globally, they have long been regarded as highly dangerous illicit drugs. Yet recently, their therapeutic potential for depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has drawn increasing scientific and clinical attention. Following Trump’s announcement, on June 22 and August 12, U.S. biopharmaceutical company Definium announced that LSD—the pioneering and most iconic psychedelic—had achieved successful Phase III clinical trial results for both depression and anxiety. Its transformation from prohibited substance to approved medicine appears imminent. LSD stands for lysergic acid diethylamide. Humans have used naturally occurring psychedelics for millennia—many cultures incorporate hallucinogenic plants and mushrooms into rituals and religious practices, leveraging their naturally occurring psychoactive compounds. LSD, however, was the first *synthetic* hallucinogen—and the first to thrust psychedelics into mainstream public consciousness. In 1938, Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann first synthesized LSD while seeking a respiratory stimulant. Initially showing no notable effects, it was shelved for five years—until 1943, when Hofmann resumed work on it and decided, almost by chance, to investigate its psychological effects. He chose to self-administer 250 micrograms—a dose he assumed would be safe and pharmacologically inert. He vastly underestimated the potency of what would become the most famous molecule he ever synthesized. While 250 micrograms produced negligible respiratory stimulation, it triggered intense hallucinations: people and objects around him appeared distorted and unreal. Thereafter, LSD entered psychiatric research and was even adopted by some psychiatrists for therapeutic practice. Yet by the mid-to-late 1950s, LSD’s growing fame extended beyond medicine into broader public awareness. Initial curiosity soon encountered…

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FDA Holds Public Hearing on Psychedelic Drugs as Trump-Driven Push Gathers Pace

FDA Holds Public Hearing on Psychedelic Drugs as Trump-Driven Push Gathers Pace

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