In this week’s psychedelic policy briefing, Investigative Journalist Jack Gorsline unpacks a wave of state and federal momentum aimed at expanding alternative therapies for veterans and those battling addiction. On Capitol Hill, bipartisan lawmakers are leveraging the National Defense Authorization Act to extend military clinical trials for substances like psilocybin and MDMA, a move mirrored by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ ongoing push to expedite treatment research for PTSD. Meanwhile, at the state level, a pioneering Louisiana law officially took effect this week, utilizing opioid settlement funds to launch a highly regulated clinical pilot program targeting substance abuse and treatment-resistant mental health conditions.
AOC, Other Members of Congress Tout Psychedelic Benefits as Research Amendments Advance
Legislators from both parties are actively advocating for congressional bills designed to increase federal studies on psychedelic treatments for veterans and active-duty service members. The key provisions, attached to the House version of the 2027 fiscal year National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) extends Department of Defense clinical trials for six additional years, continuing studies through September 30, 2033.
Proponents, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), have highlighted the medical promise of these substances, emphasizing that MDMA has shown unique potential in treating severe, treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder, while psilocybin holds promise for depression.
Rumored 2028 presidential hopeful Ocasio-Cortez recently remarked to Marijuana Moment that she supports expanded access to investigational therapies like psychedelics in part because, “there are so many people that have tried every single path available to them in order to get the healthcare that they need and they have not been able to access that.”
The newly approved amendments, which were co-sponsored by Representatives Jack Bergman (R-MI), Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), Lou Correa (D-CA), and Seth Moulton (D-MA), among others – would widen research pathways and codify aspects of a recent executive order targeting alternative therapies. In addition to prolonging DOD-backed trials involving substances like psilocybin, MDMA, and ibogaine for active-duty service members, the legislation directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a dedicated oversight official within 90 days. It also requires federal agencies to coordinate on workforce readiness and issue comprehensive progress reports to lawmakers regarding emerging psychedelic-assisted treatments.
VA Secretary Highlights Psychedelic Progress
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins recently praised the Trump administration’s advancements in developing psychedelic treatments for military veterans battling post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions. Speaking Wednesday following a roundtable discussion with veterans and Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna in Pinellas County, Florida, Collins highlighted the agency’s shift toward research-driven care rather than traditional approaches.
The push for alternative therapies follows an April 2026 executive order from President Donald Trump that directed health regulators to expedite the review of psychedelic treatments and increase research funding. The VA is currently participating in 20 active clinical trials investigating the efficacy of these therapies.
While the veterans’ mental health crisis has played a foundational role in moving the needle on Capitol Hill, the emerging data on psychedelics’ efficacy in treating complex conditions like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) continues to encourage lawmakers, advocates, and researchers alike. A recent, donor-funded clinical trial conducted at Ohio State University’s Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education featuring a cohort of exclusively military veterans with PTSD reported that nine of twelve participants (75%) met the study’s remission threshold one month after psilocybin-assisted therapy, in an open-label safety trial with no control group.
Luna, an Air Force veteran, emphasized that the therapy requires a comprehensive process rather than a simple prescription. She also credited the Trump administration and advocates like HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for championing the initiative. The VA remains engaged in the research phase rather than broad access, observing strict protocols.
Louisiana Opioid Settlement Psychedelic Pilot Launches
As of August 1, 2026, a Louisiana law authorizing the creation of a psychedelic pilot program officially took effect, paving the way for expanded psychedelic clinical research in the state. The program, funded by the state’s opioid settlement money, became law without Governor Jeff Landry’s signature following SB 43’s unanimous passage by state lawmakers in May.
The initiative supports clinical trials exploring investigational treatments, including psilocybin, ibogaine, and MDMA. The Louisiana Department of Health will oversee the program, which focuses on patients suffering from opioid use disorders, as well as co-occurring substance use disorders, and “treatment-resistant neurological and mental health conditions.” All clinical trials conducted under the new program must adhere to the Food and Drug Administration’s investigational drug approval process. Participating researchers are required to obtain permits from the Drug Enforcement Administration to study the Schedule I controlled substances. Patients will undergo physical and mental health screenings, and researchers must establish strict protocols for safety and adverse event reporting.
The legislation also authorizes state academic institutions to collaborate on the trials and mandates a revenue-sharing model. If a viable prescription therapy is developed and approved through the pilot program, a 20% state revenue-share on the drug’s profits will be returned to Louisiana, and the state will participate in a national drug development consortium.
