The President on April 18, 2026, signed an executive order directing federal agencies to accelerate research and patient access to psychedelic drugs for serious mental illnesses.
The order, published in the Federal Register on April 22, 2026, says the policy aims to find long-term solutions beyond existing prescription medications for patients who do not fully respond to standard therapies. According to the order, over 14 million American adults have a serious mental illness, and psychedelic drugs show potential in clinical studies to address these conditions.
The order directs the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to provide Commissioner’s National Priority Vouchers to appropriate psychedelic drugs that have received a Breakthrough Therapy designation. It also directs the Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Administration to create a process for eligible patients to access psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine compounds, under the Right to Try Act. This includes any necessary handling authorizations for treating physicians and researchers.
The order directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to allocate at least $50 million from existing funds through the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health. The funds will partner with state governments that have enacted or are developing programs to advance psychedelic drugs for serious mental illnesses.
The Department of Health and Human Services and the FDA must collaborate with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the private sector to increase clinical trial participation and data sharing. The order directs the agencies to sign data-sharing agreements to ensure clinical study data is available to the FDA.
Finally, the order directs the Attorney General, in consultation with Health and Human Services, to review any product containing a Schedule I substance that has successfully completed Phase 3 clinical trials for a serious mental health disorder. The order says this will allow rescheduling, if appropriate, to proceed as quickly as practicable for products ultimately approved by the FDA.