Trump Signs Order To Speed FDA Psychedelic Reviews After Joe Rogan Lobbying
Former President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the FDA to speed reviews of certain psychedelics.
He signed the order in the Oval Office on Saturday, April 18, 2026, saying it would expand treatment options for severe post-traumatic stress disorder. The order explicitly lists ibogaine, psilocybin, MDMA and LSD and directs the FDA to add three psychedelics to a national priority voucher pilot program. Officials said the vouchers will cut review times from months to weeks and that the administration will open a pathway for some desperately ill patients under Right To Try. The White House and CBS reported a $50 million federal research investment aimed specifically at ibogaine and plans to begin human trials in the United States.
Scientists and regulators cautioned that evidence for ibogaine is limited to small studies and one randomized trial, with larger trials only beginning. Safety concerns are substantial: ibogaine is a Schedule I drug linked to at least 27 deaths from cardiac arrhythmias, and a 2023 review called its heart risks "worrying." FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the agency will add three psychedelics to the priority program to speed reviews while the FDA also begins the process for potential ibogaine human trials.
Early coverage emphasized the potential for faster access and optimistic veteran endorsements, but reporting has shifted. Later pieces from outlets such as PBS and MS NOW highlighted safety questions, the thin evidence base and the unusual role of podcaster Joe Rogan, who texted Trump about ibogaine and stood behind him at the signing. That reporting tempered initial optimism by putting cardiac risks and limited data front and center, giving readers a fuller picture than the initial upbeat accounts.
đ Key Facts
- On April 18, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order in the Oval Office directing the federal government to hasten FDA review of psychedelics; he said the administration would "dramatically accelerate" access and that, if the drugs prove effective, they could have a "tremendous impact."
- The order explicitly lists ibogaine, psilocybin, MDMA and LSD as psychedelics the FDA should support in clinical trials and directs the agency to issue new national priority vouchers for three psychedelics to cut review times from months to weeks.
- The administration said it will begin the process to allow the first-ever ibogaine human trials in the United States, open a pathway under the FDA's Right To Try rule for "desperately ill" patients, and announced a $50 million federal research investment targeted at ibogaine.
- FDA Commissioner Marty Makary confirmed that three psychedelics will be added to the National Priority Voucher pilot program to shorten review timelines.
- Joe Rogan personally lobbied Trump on ibogaine â PBS reports Rogan texted the president (Trump replied, "Sounds great. Do you want FDA approval? Let's do it."), stood behind him at the signing and was publicly credited as a catalyst; Rogan said he learned about ibogaine from a podcast interview with Americans for Ibogaine CEO W. Bryan Hubbard, and former Energy Secretary Rick Perry was present at the event.
- Reports emphasize major safety and evidence caveats for ibogaine: it is a Schedule I drug linked to at least 27 deaths from cardiac arrhythmias, researchers cite cardiotoxicity and note that past NIH funding was halted over cardiovascular risks, and scientific evidence remains limited to small studies and one randomized trial with only early larger trials underway.
- The order is framed in part around treating post-traumatic stress disorder, especially for veterans, and at least one veteran (Marcus Luttrell) and other advocates expressed on-the-record enthusiasm for accelerated access and research.
đ° Source Timeline (5)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Trump signed the executive order in the Oval Office with Joe Rogan standing directly behind him and publicly credited Rogan's call as a catalyst, saying Rogan told him 'We have to do something about this.'
- The order explicitly lists ibogaine, psilocybin, MDMA and LSD as psychedelics the FDA is directed to support in clinical trials and speed toward approval if found safe and effective.
- Rogan said he learned about ibogaine's potential from a podcast interview with Americans for Ibogaine CEO W. Bryan Hubbard and former Energy Secretary Rick Perry, both present at the signing.
- Trump joked about wanting ibogaine himself and cited a study he said showed major reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms within a month for people who took the drug.
- The article underscores that Rogan has recently criticized Trump on immigration, the Epstein files and the Iran war, yet appeared friendly with him at the signing, with Trump calling him a 'fantastic person.'
- CBS clip confirms Trump signed an executive order specifically described as easing U.S. restrictions on psychedelic research.
- CBS explicitly frames ibogaine as a psychedelic used in some countries to treat post-traumatic stress disorder.
- 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.'