FDA expedites review of three psychedelic drugs after Trump order

PoliticsHealth & Fitness
24 Apr 2026 • 11:15 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

FDA expedites review of three psychedelic drugs after Trump order

  • The FDA has announced an "ultra-fast" review of three psychedelic drugs aimed at treating mental health conditions, including depression and PTSD.
  • President Donald Trump signed an executive order last weekend to accelerate access and ease restrictions on psychedelics, which are currently illegal under federal law.
  • The FDA awarded priority review vouchers for psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, for difficult-to-treat depression, and for methylone, related to MDMA, for post-traumatic stress disorder.
  • These moves reflect growing support for mind-altering substances among Trump's supporters, including combat veterans and the "Make America Healthy Again" movement led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
  • The FDA also authorized initial testing of a drug related to ibogaine for alcohol use disorder, with podcaster Joe Rogan reportedly influencing Trump's interest in the substance.

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