Psychedelic Law and U.S. Military Veterans

Military veterans and active-duty service members experience unique stressors and are heavily impacted by depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicide. As part of the evolving psychedelic renaissance, researchers are exploring therapeutic interventions such as psilocybin, MDMA, and ibogaine. These substances produce profound changes of cognition, perception, and mood. Clinical trials suggest they may produce significant mental health benefits for veterans. Researchers are still exploring the risks and benefits, but the heavily restricted status of psychedelics (as Schedule I controlled substances) impedes research in veterans and military personnel. Meanwhile, though the FDA may soon approve psychedelic medicines for some indications, they may be prohibitively expensive for many patients, including veterans.

This event assembles a panel of leading experts on veterans health, psychiatry, public health, law, and psychedelic research to discuss the challenges facing veterans who seek access to psychedelic medicine. Panelists will discuss efforts to increase funding of psychedelic research for veterans, nonprofit organizations that help veterans access psychedelics in jurisdictions where they are legal, efforts to educate Congress and federal agencies on psychedelic medicine, reducing the cost of psychedelic medicines, and current legislation to promote research and access, including state-level legal reforms, the federal Breakthrough Therapies Act, and federal defense spending bills.