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Trump pushes to fast-track psychedelic drug approval
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
April 19, 2026
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order meant to fast-track government approval of certain psychedelics for therapeutic use. Compounds like psilocybin and MDMA, which are still illegal at the federal level, have shown promise in the treatment of severe mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety.
“Today’s order will ensure that people suffering from debilitating symptoms might finally have a chance to reclaim their lives and lead a happier life,” Trump said during a press conference.
The president added that his directive will help “dramatically accelerate” access to potential treatments, especially for the country’s “cherished veterans.”
“If these turn out to be as good as people are saying, it’s going to have a tremendous impact,” he said.
The order directs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue national priority vouchers for certain psychedelics designated as Breakthrough Therapy. So far, this includes variations of psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD.
The vouchers will allow the drugs to be approved quickly “if they are in line with national priorities.” This means review times could be cut from several months to weeks. It marks the first time the FDA has offered fast-track review for psychedelics, nearly all of which are classified as Schedule I substances.
Once Phase 3 clinical trials are successfully completed, the administration is to complete rescheduling in a “timely manner.”
Rhonda DeSantis, CEO and founder of Psylutions, a licensed therapeutic psilocybin provider in Colorado, told GreenState she was encouraged by the news.
“As regulatory pathways evolve, we look forward to expanded FDA alignment and rescheduling to support responsible access across states,” DeSantis said.
The order will also allow the FDA to conduct the first human trials of ibogaine in the U.S. The plant-derived compound, used ceremonially in parts of Africa, has gained popularity as an alternative treatment for substance use disorder.
The compound has raised concerns among some researchers over its potential risks. There have been a number of fatal cardiac events linked to ibogaine use.
