Trump signs order to research psychedelic used abroad to treat PTSD

Politics Trump signs executive order to research ibogaine, a psychedelic used abroad to treat PTSD By Kerry Breen Kerry Breen News Editor Kerry Breen is a news editor at CBSNews.com. A graduate of New York University's Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she previously worked at NBC News' TODAY Digital. She covers current events, breaking news and issues including substance use. Read Full Bio Kerry Breen April 18, 2026 / 9:46 AM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google President Trump has signed an executive order to ease restrictions on the psychedelic ibogaine, signaling the administration's willingness to further U.S. research into the drug, which is used in some countries to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. Mr. Trump was joined by health officials including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and podcaster Joe Rogan.Mr. Trump said the order will "dramatically accelerate access to new medical research and treatments based on psychedelic drugs," which he said have shown "life-changing potential." Mr. Trump said that the federal government will make a $50 million research investment into ibogaine. He said the federal government was also opening a pathway for ibogaine to be administered to "desperately ill patients" under the Food and Drug Administration's Right To Try rule.  "Everybody is so strongly in favor of this. It's for a lot of people, but it's for our veterans in particular," Mr. Trump said, highlighting veteran suicide rates. "If these turn out to be as good as people are saying it's going to have a tremendous impact on this country and in other countries too," Mr. Trump added. Food and Drug Administration commissioner Marty Makary said that three psychedelics would be added to the National Priority Voucher pilot program, which is a pathway meant to dramatically reduce review times for drug and biological products that align with U.S. national health priorities. The FDA will also begin the process to all...