President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order directing federal agencies to expand research into ibogaine, a psychedelic compound being studied for potential treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries, and addiction.
According to officials familiar with the proposal, the order would encourage additional federal research funding and scientific evaluation of the drug’s safety and effectiveness, particularly for military veterans suffering from trauma-related conditions. Ibogaine remains classified as a Schedule I substance under U.S. law, meaning it is currently considered to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
The expected move would not immediately change ibogaine’s legal status or approve it for clinical use in the United States. Instead, the goal is to determine whether the compound represents a promising therapeutic option or lacks sufficient evidence to support broader medical adoption.
Ibogaine is derived from a shrub native to Central Africa and is already used in some clinics outside the United States to treat depression, addiction, and trauma-related conditions. Because the drug remains illegal domestically, some Americans especially veterans—have traveled abroad to seek treatment in countries where it is available.
Early studies suggest potential benefits for withdrawal symptoms and PTSD, but researchers caution that safety concerns remain significant, including documented cardiac risks and reports of deaths associated with unsupervised use.
The executive order is expected to accelerate federal coordination on clinical trials and scientific review, aligning with broader interest among policymakers in exploring psychedelic-based therapies for mental health conditions affecting veterans and others.
Analysts say the initiative could signal a notable shift in federal attitudes toward psychedelic medicine, even as regulators maintain strict controls on substances that have not yet completed large-scale clinical testing.
If signed, the order would mark one of the most prominent federal steps toward evaluating ibogaine’s medical potential in the United States.
