Puerto Rico’s psychedelic scene is heating up. Government moves, recent events and growing buzz around the prospect of a retreat centre landscape have put the territory on the map in the United States.
On Aug. 4, Governor Jenniffer González-Colón signed Executive Order 2026-037. It tells the Department of Health to explore a pilot clinical research programme focused on ibogaine, MDMA and psilocybin. The order sets up a Scientific and Regulatory Advisory Committee packed with experts in psychiatry, pharmacology and ethics.
Officials must weigh the evidence, check what infrastructure is needed and hunt for funding and partnerships with federal bodies such as the NIH, FDA, VA and DEA. Veterans get special attention through the Department of Health working with Puerto Rico’s Veterans Advocate office so they can learn about the research and, if eligible, take part in trials. The order does not green-light everyday clinical use of these substances.
It builds directly on President Trump’s April executive order, which aimed to speed up psychedelic research and cut federal red tape, especially around ibogaine. It also rides the wave already rolling through Oregon’s licensed psilocybin centres, Colorado’s Natural Medicine programme and New Mexico’s medical psilocybin law — the first passed by a state legislature.
“Through this Executive Order, we are moving toward making Puerto Rico a leader in clinical research and opening new opportunities for our patients, researchers, healthcare professionals, and veterans,” said the governor.
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From summit to action
This step follows Puerto Rico’s first Psychedelic Summit in 2025, run by the Pravan Foundation — a local mental health advocacy organisation. Researchers, clinicians, policymakers and community voices gathered to talk evidence, culture and possible rules. It will be hosted for the second time next week.
That event, and the foundation’s steady advocacy, helped keep the conversation alive and set the stage for the governor’s order. Pravan co-founder David Melchor was in attendance when González-Colón signed. One public gathering, one formal policy move, now linked.
“Puerto Rico could create a responsible pathway to study these medicines and offer hope to people who are still suffering without finding answers,” said Melchor.
Puerto Rico still follows federal law. These substances remain Schedule I, so possession, sale and growing them stay illegal outside approved research. The new order clears some of the bureaucratic obstacles by mapping legal routes, building research capacity and lining up federal partners. Investigators get a clearer path to run proper trials.
People in Puerto Rico living with stubborn mental-health problems may, in time, gain access to carefully controlled studies that offer options when standard treatments fall short.
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