20.8 C
Warsaw
Thursday, July 17, 2025
spot_imgspot_img

Top 5 This Week

spot_img

Related Posts

GOP Congressman ‘Excited’ To Advance Psychedelics Reform With ‘Friendlier’ Trump Administration Officials

GOP Congressman: “I’m excited” to work on psychedelics with Trump Administration.

In an interview with Fox News, Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) talked about his work to secure funding for studies into the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics such as psilocybin, MDMA and ibogaine—including the passage of legislation to require Department of Defense (DOD) clinical trials into such substances for active duty service members that then-President Joe Biden signed into law.

The congressman stated that he hoped to double the funding in this year’s budget process. He also noted that the state of Texas had approved legislation that would provide funding of up to tens millions of dollars to investigate the potential medical benefits of psychedelics.

“One of the reasons I wanted to start at the top with the Department of Defense—and make it a little controversial, because we said specifically that you had to let active duty service members be part of those trials should they choose to do so—and when you start at the top, what that has is a trickle down effect and removes that taboo.”

Many people agree with this. Crenshaw stated that the bipartisan nature of this effort is a great thing. “I couldn’t have been more proud so far,” Crenshaw added. There’s plenty of work left to do. I look forward to working with you.” [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.] The people he has appointed that I consider to be more friendly [the issue].”

The president added, “The current administration of Trump is definitely friendly towards this idea and breakthrough therapies which have saved lives.”

He also referred to legislation sent by state legislators in Texas to the Governor to establish a state-backed consortium for conducting clinical trials of ibogaine to treat substance abuse disorders and mental illnesses. The goal is to develop a drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Crenshaw stated in a post on social media promoting his Fox interview that, “This mission has always felt personal.” Invisible wounds have taken the lives of my brothers, and I watched as others recovered when no other treatment worked.

“That’s the reason I passed a bill authorizing DoD trial on psychedelic therapy like psilocybin, and ibogaine,” said he. “These promising treatments can save lives—and with @SecKennedy’s openness and strong bipartisan support, we’re closer than ever to ensuring we fully research the potential clinical benefits of breakthrough therapies.”

Crenshaw urged FDA separately late last year to finalize guidelines on conducting clinical tests into psychedelics in order to facilitate research. This included investigations focused on potential benefits of substances like MDMA and Psilocybin to military veterans.

Meanwhile, another Republican congressman—Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI) of the Psychedelics Advancing Therapies (PATH) Caucus—recently expressed optimism about the prospects of advancing psychedelics reform under President Donald Trump, arguing that the administration’s efforts to cut spending and the federal workforce will give agencies “spines” to tackle such complex issues.

Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), who is a retired Navy SEAL, separately shared more details about his own “life-saving” experience with psychedelic therapy to treat symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—explaining how ibogaine allowed him to not only see cosmic colors and shapes and mathematic formulas “raining down” on him but also helped resolve long-held challenges in his interpersonal relationships.

It is unclear what will happen next on the federal level. However, Bergman, along with fellow PATH Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Lou Correa, introduced in April a bill to allocate $30 million annually for “centers of excellence” that focus solely on psychedelics at VA hospitals, so veterans can receive innovative treatment using substances such as ibogaine, MDMA, and psilocybin. Luttrell was the original sponsor.

Within the Trump administration, top officials are also touting the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, including the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) who said in an interview over the weekend that exploring psychedelic medicine is a “top priority,” especially when it comes to helping military veterans grapple with trauma from being sent to fight “unnecessary wars.”

The commissioner’s remarks has come in the context of a seemingly meaningful shift on psychedelics policy within this administration—with the secretaries of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and HHS that oversees FDA also having expressed support for exploring the issue. Trump’s choice for U.S. physician general previously spoke of her experience with psilocybin.

The VA secretary Doug Collins boasted last month that he was “one of first” VA secretaries to be committed to exploring the use of psychedelics for potential treatment options.

Collins also recently met with a military veteran who’s become an advocate for psilocybin access to discuss the therapeutic potential of psychedelic medicine for the veteran community.

Last month, the secretary separately informed Trump during a Cabinet meeting that his agency is “opening up the possibility of psychedelic treatment” for veterans.

Also, during a Senate committee hearing last month, he separately reiterated his commitment to exploring the efficacy of psychedelic therapy to address serious mental health conditions that commonly afflict veterans.

Bipartisan congressional lawmakers have also asked the VA head to meet with them to discuss ways to provide access to psychedelic medicine for military veterans.

Collins said last month he and the HHS secretary had an “eyeopening” discussion about the potential for psychedelic medication. Collins has said he would be open to vouchers covering the cost of psychedelic treatment for veterans that receive VA services.

In December, VA separately announced that it’s providing $1.5 million in funding to study the efficacy of MDMA-assisted therapy for veterans with PTSD and alcohol use disorder (AUD).

A federal judge allows a lawsuit seeking home psilocybin care to proceed, rejecting Oregon officials’ motion to dismiss

MEDCAN24 would not be possible without the support of readers. Consider a Patreon subscription if our marijuana advocacy journalism is what you use to keep informed.



Popular Articles