Story perspectives

Trump Allocates $50 M for Psychedelic Research, Cites Drug-Price Cuts

4/25/2026

Summary

Story summary

President Donald Trump signed an executive order allocating $50 million to accelerate state research on ibogaine and other psychedelics, urging fast-track FDA review.
Trump and White House spokesperson Kush Desai defended exaggerated drug-price-cut claims of 500-600 %, asserting Americans pay several times more than peers in other wealthy nations.
Veterans and researchers praised the order for PTSD and opioid-addiction potential, while experts warned of ibogaine’s heart-risk and the need for rigorous trials.

History

Historical Context

President Nixon’s 1970 Controlled Substances Act placed LSD and psilocybin in Schedule I, halting research and giving enforcement to the newly formed DEA in 1973. The act created five schedules, limiting medical use of psychedelics. In 2024 President Trump issued an executive order allocating $50 million to revive ibogaine trials, signaling a policy reversal.

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Story summary

President Donald Trump signed an executive order allocating $50 million to accelerate state research on ibogaine and other psychedelics, urging fast-track FDA review.
Trump and White House spokesperson Kush Desai defended exaggerated drug-price-cut claims of 500-600 %, asserting Americans pay several times more than peers in other wealthy nations.
Veterans and researchers praised the order for PTSD and opioid-addiction potential, while experts warned of ibogaine’s heart-risk and the need for rigorous trials.

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