Trump Signs Order To Speed FDA Review Of Psychedelics Including Ibogaine
President Trump signed an executive order directing the FDA to speed review of certain psychedelics, including ibogaine, on April 18, 2026. He signed the order in the Oval Office and framed it around treating post-traumatic stress disorder, especially for veterans. Trump said the administration would "dramatically accelerate" access if the drugs prove effective.
The order directs the FDA to add three psychedelics to a National Priority Voucher pilot program that FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said will cut review times from months to weeks. The administration also announced a $50 million federal research investment specifically for ibogaine and plans to begin the process for ibogaine human trials in the United States. Officials said they would open a pathway for desperately ill patients to access ibogaine under the FDA's Right To Try rule. Scientific evidence for ibogaine remains limited to small studies and a single randomized trial, while early larger trials are only now getting underway. Safety concerns are significant: ibogaine is a Schedule I drug linked to at least 27 deaths from cardiac arrhythmias and a 2023 review called heart risks "worrying."
Early outlets noted only that the president signed an order to hasten psychedelic reviews, but newer reports added policy, funding, safety and celebrity details. PBS and CBS reporting introduced specifics such as the Oval Office signing date, a $50 million ibogaine research pledge, Right To Try access, human trial steps and Joe Rogan's text to the president. Those newer accounts also foregrounded veterans' enthusiasm and repeated researcher warnings about cardiotoxicity and past halted NIH funding over heart risks.
📌 Key Facts
- President Trump signed an executive order on April 18, 2026, in the Oval Office to speed FDA review of psychedelics and explicitly ease federal restrictions on ibogaine, framing the effort around PTSD treatment, especially for veterans.
- The order directs a $50 million federal research investment specifically for ibogaine.
- The administration will open a pathway for ibogaine use by 'desperately ill' patients under the FDA's Right To Try rule and has directed the FDA to begin the process for the first-ever ibogaine human trials in the United States.
- FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said three psychedelics will be added to the National Priority Voucher pilot program, cutting review times from months to weeks — the first time psychedelics have received this kind of fast-tracking.
- Scientific evidence for ibogaine remains limited — primarily small studies and one randomized trial — with only early larger trials currently underway.
- Ibogaine remains a Schedule I drug and has been linked to at least 27 deaths from cardiac arrhythmias; researchers and reviews (including a 2023 review) have described its cardiotoxicity as 'worrying,' and past NIH funding was halted over cardiovascular risks.
- The announcement included strong public advocacy and personal outreach: Trump promised to 'dramatically accelerate' access and said successful drugs would have a 'tremendous impact,' reporting says podcaster Joe Rogan privately urged Trump about ibogaine, and veterans such as Marcus Luttrell voiced on‑the‑record enthusiasm.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms the order was signed Saturday, April 18, 2026, in the Oval Office.
- Details that FDA will issue new national priority vouchers for three psychedelics, cutting review times from months to weeks, marking the first time psychedelics receive this fast-tracking.
- States FDA is taking steps to clear the way for the first-ever ibogaine human trials in the United States.
- Quotes Trump promising to "dramatically accelerate" access and saying if the drugs are as good as advocates claim they will have a "tremendous impact."
- Reports that Joe Rogan personally texted Trump about ibogaine and that Trump replied, "Sounds great. Do you want FDA approval? Let's do it."
- Includes on-the-record enthusiasm from veteran Marcus Luttrell and explicit acknowledgment from researchers like Frederick Barrett about ibogaine's cardiotoxicity and past NIH funding being halted over cardiovascular risks.
- Executive order explicitly eases federal restrictions on ibogaine and is framed around post-traumatic stress disorder treatment, especially for veterans.
- Trump announces a $50 million federal research investment specifically for ibogaine.
- The administration will open a pathway for ibogaine use by 'desperately ill' patients under FDA's Right To Try rule.
- FDA Commissioner Marty Makary says three psychedelics will be added to the National Priority Voucher pilot program to cut review times.
- FDA will begin the process to allow human trials of ibogaine in the United States.
- Scientific evidence for ibogaine remains limited to small studies and one randomized trial, with only early larger trials underway.
- Ibogaine is a Schedule I drug associated with at least 27 deaths from cardiac arrhythmias, and a 2023 review called heart risks 'worrying.'