On Wednesday, a veteran turned advocate of psilocybin met with staff at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Secretary Robert Wilkie to discuss the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelic medicines for veterans.
As VA Secretary Doug Collins continues to promote psychedelics as a possible alternative treatment option for those suffering from serious mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Matthew “Whiz” Buckley—founder of the No Fallen Heroes Foundation—was invited to VA headquarters to share his perspective.
Buckley, who spoke to MEDCAN24 Thursday said that it seemed symbolic that the meeting was held almost exactly four-years after he himself had a psychedelic drug experience. That led him to start his foundation with hopes of helping other veterans heal from their mental wounds using psilocybin.
Collins, a former GOP congressman, wasn’t scheduled to participate in the meeting—but he proactively made time to introduce himself to Buckley, who late last month directed a post on the social media site X to the secretary encouraging him to go “full throttle” on the push for psychedelic access for veterans.
Buckley is a TOPGUN graduate and knows a thing or two about going at full speed. Collins’ response to the article, confirming his support for psychedelics and working with Congress on the option of treatment, was posted shortly thereafter. The secretary raised this issue briefly in a cabinet meeting with Donald Trump, just a few days after Collins replied to the post.
Buckley claimed Collins said “the VA will take care of this”, and that “if anyone is going to make it happen, it’s us.”
Buckley stated that Buckley was “bullish” and that at the conclusion of the meeting he had conveyed his hopes to Secretary that VA would do the work in order to give this access, so that Buckley’s foundation became redundant. He stated that his message was received well.
Buckley told VA staff that he suggested that a first step, which could be taken without major federal policy changes, since substances such as psilocybin were strictly banned, would be to provide vouchers to veterans seeking plant medicine in countries outside the U.S.
Collins disclosed that last month he and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of HHS, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had an “eye opening” discussion about the therapeutic possibilities of psychedelic medication. Collins also said that he is open to having vouchers provided by the government to pay for psychedelic therapies for veterans receiving services from outside the VA, as Congress looks at pathways to access.
During a Senate committee hearing on Tuesday, he separately reiterated his commitment to exploring the efficacy of psychedelic therapy to address serious mental health conditions that commonly afflict military veterans.
Bipartisan members of Congress also asked the VA chief to meet them on Thursday to discuss how to give veterans access to psychedelic medicines.
In a letter sent to Collins on Wednesday, Reps. Lou Correa (D-CA) and Jack Bergman (R-MI)—co-chairs of the Congressional Psychedelic Advancing Therapies (PATH) Caucus—said they were “encouraged by your recent remarks about the importance of pursuing research into psychedelic treatments and other alternative treatments to improve Veterans’ care.”
Correa and Bergman separately introduced a bill last month to provide $30 million in funding annually to establish psychedelics-focused “centers for excellence” at VA facilities, where veterans could receive novel treatment involving substances like psilocybin, MDMA and ibogaine.
Bergman has also expressed optimism about the prospects of advancing psychedelics reform under Trump, arguing that the administration’s efforts to cut spending and the federal workforce will give agencies “spines” to tackle such complex issues.
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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).
Last year, Rachel Yehuda, who has overseen some psychedelic research as director of mental health at VA’s James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, also touted an initial study the agency funded that produced “stunning and robust results” from its first-ever clinical trial into MDMA therapy.
Shereef Enahal, the ex-VA Under Secretary of Health who served under Shereef in VA from 1996 to 1999 said “it was very encouraging” when Trump chose Kennedy as HHS’s leader. And he hoped to work with him on the issue if he stayed on for the next administration, but that didn’t pan out.
Trump’s New Surgeon General Pick Had ‘Meaningful Experiences’ With Psychedelics, But Said Marijuana Harms The Ability To ‘Make Good Energy’
Kristie Gianopulos.
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