psychedelics are back at the center of federal attention as the Trump administration prepares an executive order on ibogaine, a drug used in some countries to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. The White House is drafting the order, and President Trump is expected to sign it as soon as this week, two on April 16, 2026, at 11: 51 AM ET. The move would signal support for deeper U. S. research without changing ibogaine’s current legal status.
Federal Review Could Open Research Door
The planned action would direct attention toward ibogaine’s safety and effectiveness, especially for PTSD and traumatic brain injuries. The administration does not plan to reclassify the drug for medical use at this time, and ibogaine would remain a Schedule I substance under federal law.
That designation places it alongside drugs the Drug Enforcement Administration says have no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. The executive order is meant to open the door to federal funding for more research, with veterans named as a key group of interest. Officials inside the administration are still working out how the federal government would help facilitate the research.
Why Ibogaine Is Drawing Attention
Ibogaine is a naturally occurring compound from a shrub native to Africa. It is used to treat depression, anxiety, addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder and brain trauma in some countries, but Americans seeking it have been traveling to unregulated clinics, often in Mexico or the Caribbean, because it is illegal in the United States.
The issue has become more visible because of interest in whether the drug could help fill gaps in addiction treatment, especially for opioid dependence. Still, researchers say more large-scale clinical trials are needed before ibogaine can be considered safe or effective for any condition.
Psychedelics Research Still Faces Major Safety Questions
The evidence base remains limited. Most of the science so far comes from small observational studies and open-label trials, and only one double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial has been completed. More advanced trials are just getting underway.
The biggest concern is heart risk. Ibogaine can cause dangerous heart rhythm disturbances, which can be fatal. A 2023 review of 24 studies involving 705 people found that while ibogaine appeared to reduce withdrawal symptoms and craving, toxicity to the heart and the risk of death were worrying. The same review found at least 27 deaths after ibogaine use. In a small study of 30 veterans published by Stanford Medicine last July, ibogaine paired with intravenous magnesium was linked to reductions in PTSD, anxiety and depression, but the sample was too small to show whether magnesium reliably reduces cardiac risk.
What Officials And Researchers Are Watching
Trump the medical research into ibogaine is still early and that the administration wants to determine whether it is snake oil or a legitimate treatment, one official said. White House spokespeople did not immediately comment.
Texas has already pushed ahead on the topic. Gov. Greg Abbott last year signed a bill approving $50 million for ibogaine research. For now, the coming order would not change the federal status of psychedelics like ibogaine, but it could mark the start of a more formal U. S. review. If Trump signs it this week, the next step will be how the government translates that interest into research, funding and oversight around psychedelics.
