President Donald Trump is preparing to sign an executive order that speeds up federal research into ibogaine for treating PTSD and traumatic brain injuries in veterans.
According to a CBS News report, citing sources familiar with the matter, the White House has drafted the order and plans to sign it as soon as this week. The order would focus on advancing safety and efficacy studies without immediately changing the drug’s Schedule I status, as specified by CBS.
Officials point to early positive results from veterans who have sought treatment abroad and from a small study at Stanford that demonstrated significant symptom relief.
Ibogaine is a powerful psychoactive compound derived from the root bark of the Tabernanthe iboga shrub, which grows in Central Africa. Indigenous Bwiti healers in Gabon have used it for centuries during spiritual ceremonies to promote deep emotional insight and personal transformation.
In the early 1960s, American researcher Howard Lotsof first highlighted its potential to treat addiction after a single dose helped him and several others overcome heroin dependence. The substance works by flooding the brain with neurotransmitters like serotonin, which can interrupt addiction pathways, ease withdrawal symptoms and often provide lasting relief from depression, anxiety and trauma.
According to a breaking report, President Trump is expected to sign an executive order directing federal agencies to expand research into ibogaine – a powerful plant-based compound currently used abroad to treat PTSD, traumatic brain injury, addiction, and depression.
The move…
— Matthew 'Whiz' Buckley (@WhizBuckleyNFH) April 16, 2026
Read more: Non-profit Heroic Hearts publishes psychedelics guide for veterans
Ibogaine gains momentum in the U.S.
Support for ibogaine research has grown steadily in the United States. In June 2025, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 2308 at the state Capitol. The law authorizes matching funds for FDA-approved clinical trials on ibogaine’s ability to treat opioid use disorder, depression and PTSD, with a strong focus on veterans.
Texas later committed up to US$50 million for studies on the drug, marking the largest public investment in psychedelic research so far.
In early 2026, Oklahoma lawmakers introduced the Breakthrough Therapy Act and related measures to support ibogaine clinical trials and veteran mental health studies.
More recently at the beginning of April, former Texas Governor Rick Perry and Americans for Ibogaine founder W. Bryan Hubbard joined Joe Rogan on his podcast. They discussed the emerging science, shared veteran success stories and called for quicker access to the treatment.
These steps, combined with the aforementioned Stanford study involving 30 special operations veterans, have sparked fresh bipartisan interest in bringing ibogaine into regulated domestic research.
Mexican retreat centres see rising number of visitors
This growing attention in the U.S. has led more veterans and civilians to travel to licensed retreat centres in Mexico for ibogaine therapy.
Facilities such as Ambio Life Sciences in Rosarito and Beond in Cancun have reported a sharp rise in American military veterans seeking help since 2023. Many arrive struggling with combat-related PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, or treatment-resistant depression.
High-profile advocates include retired Navy SEAL Robert O’Neill — the man recognized for killing Osama bin Laden. He has publicly credited ibogaine with ending his long battle with PTSD. O’Neill has urged the Department of Veterans Affairs to make the therapy available within the United States.
Famed mixed martial artist Conor McGregor is also an advocate. He claims to have had a life-altering Christian religious experience while under the effects of the plant.
Despite growing enthusiasm, experts stress that ibogaine can cause dangerous heart problems. Patients should only take it under close medical supervision with continuous heart monitoring to stay safe.
Read more: Conor McGregor is the latest fighter using psychedelics for healing
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