Ibogaine, LSD and Psilocybin: Trump’s New Order a Medical ‘Turning Point’

President Donald Trump’s latest executive order to accelerate medical treatments for serious mental illness, notably psychedelics, was described by one advocate to Military.com as “a turning point” for the military veteran community.

Trump’s executive order signed on Saturday calls on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to facilitate access to psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine compounds, psilocybin, ketamine, LSD and MDMA, for eligible patients suffering from major depressive disorder and substance abuse disorders. Trump and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said newer methods have become necessary beyond reliance on prescription medicines.

“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 Saturday in the Oval Office, joined by others including RFK Jr. and podcast host Joe Rogan, the latter of whom Trump said had sent “some information” to the president about such treatments.

The order could set a new standard for how drugs under the Schedule I banner of the Controlled Substances Act could be reclassified pending successful trials by medical professionals.

Psilocybin, for example, has long been known as the main ingredient in “magic mushrooms.” The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration describes that and Ibogaine, both currently Schedule I drugs among others, as having "no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”

Trump’s executive order also calls on the Department of Health and Human Services to allocate at least $50 million from existing funds to support and partner with state governments that have enacted or are developing programs to advance psychedelic drugs for serious mental illnesses, including through federal funding, technical assistance and data sharing.

'Important Moment for Mental Health'

Currently, according to the White House, more than 14 million American adults have a serious mental illness, defined as having a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder that substantially interferes with a person’s life and ability to function, while roughly 8 million are on prescription medication for such conditions.  

“The president’s executive order represents a meaningful turning point in how our nation approaches brain health within the military community, particularly for veterans navigating treatment-resistant PTSD, traumatic brain injury, depression, and substance use disorders,” Tom Feegel, CEO of Beond, told Military.com.

Beond is a clinical neuro-health center focused on ibogaine-assisted protocols designed to support neuroplasticity, nervous system regulation, and long-term mental optimization.

Ibogaine is a psychoactive compound derived from the African shrub Tabernanthe iboga, which studies have cited as productive in interrupting opioid and cocaine addiction, reducing withdrawal symptoms, and treating PTSD or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).

A Stanford study from January 2026 found that ibogaine, when combined with magnesium for heart safety, effectively reduces PTSD, anxiety and depression and improves functioning in veterans with TBI.

Feegel said veterans for too long have had to seek treatments within a system largely centered on symptom management, often involving years of pharmaceutical dependence with inconsistent outcomes.

Now, an order like this could begin to change that age-old model by what he described as the acceleration of scientific validation and potential access to next-generation neurotherapeutics that operate at the level of brain chemistry, neural signaling and neuroplasticity.

Just as importantly, it reinforces that access must be built on medical excellence, physician oversight, measurable standards, and accountable systems worthy of those who served.

It’s not just ibogaine but psilocybin and ketamine that could have major impacts and reduce long-held stigmas, said Jay Godfrey, CEO and co-founder of Nushama, described as the largest psychedelic wellness center in the western world that has administered over 15,000 ketamine journeys for mood disorders.

“At Nushama, our focus is on delivering care safely and ethically in alignment with evolving evidence and regulatory requirements,” Godfrey told Military.com. “We’re investing in experienced clinical teams, appropriate facilities and patient-safety protocols to support responsible translation from research to practice where permitted.

“We’re especially committed to supporting veterans and others living with service-related PTSD and trauma, and to expanding access as the science and policy landscape allow. This is an important moment for mental health in America, and we’re prepared to contribute.”

A 'Meaningful Step' in US Policy

The executive order and what is being asked of the federal government to facilitate and usher in what perhaps could be a new era of medical advancement begs a major question: how will this positively affect the military community?

Military.com has previously reported on myriad efforts on Capitol Hill, in both the House and Senate, to advance legislation mirroring some of what is called for in Trump’s new directive.

Other reporting has shown that the federal government itself may be turning a new leaf as many of these substances—whether its MDMA or LSD—have long been listed nationally as being among the most illicit substances, drawing decades of scrutiny.

But as countless states have recreationally legalized cannabis (24 states plus the District of Columbia currently allow it), tides have shifted albeit slowly. Having a U.S. president tout the benefits of such substances may lead to a sea change in time.

“This is a meaningful step, especially for veterans who haven’t responded to existing treatments,” Nikita Tsimmer, co-founder of Fountain Health, told Military.com.

Fountain Health is launching the first precision psychiatry clinic integrating biomarker testing, ketamine therapy and longevity science.

“Let’s remember that psychedelics alone aren’t a solution—they’re a tool,” he added. “While this is the right step, we still treat mental health as primarily psychological, when in many cases it’s biological and systemic.

“Without addressing things like inflammation, metabolic health, and nervous system regulation, we risk repeating the same pattern: a new intervention layered onto an outdated model.”

Proof That Lives Can Be Saved

For some like Jay Kopelman, CEO of the Mission to Live Foundation that funds veteran scholarships for ibogaine, 5-MeO-DMT and psilocybin treatments, the issue hits home.

He’s a military veteran who has personally benefited twice from ibogaine, saying that through the murkiness of stigmas and federal drugs law, “We now see a future free from veteran suicide.”

“This not only will save veteran lives, but the lives of those suffering from substance use disorders,”We at Mission to Live Foundation, where we’ve raised millions of dollars to send veterans and first responders to receive treatment outside the United States, are thrilled that there is now a fast-tracked opportunity to research this incredible medicine.”

“As the CEO and a veteran who has experienced this incredible medicine twice, I can attest that this will save lives. It certainly saved mine.”

Feegel described a “twofold” impact from this legislation, one being the establishing of a clear federal mandate that includes the collaboration of major agencies “critical” to evaluating such emerging modalities.

The other, he said, is how it “opens the door” to near-term access through mechanisms such as Right to Try and accelerated clinical programs. The executive order mentions Right to Try, the 2018 federal act that essentially allows patients with life-threatening conditions and minimal treatment options to use drugs that lack FDA oversight.

“Today, many veterans are forced to leave the United States to pursue treatments that show significant promise,” Feegel said, adding that veterans particularly should have access when conventional interventions have broadly failed. “This executive order begins to address that gap by helping create controlled, medically supervised pathways closer to home—where American veterans should be able to seek world-class care.