The long-term effects of repeated psychedelic use remain unclear, researchers have warned.

WASHINGTON, April 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday signed an executive order to speed up reviews of certain psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine, which remain in the U.S. federal government's most restrictive category for illegal, high-risk drugs.

The move has drawn support from some patient groups, veterans and advocates who see substances such as psilocybin, MDMA and ibogaine as promising alternatives to traditional therapies.

Critics warn that the rapid push raises a series of concerns, ranging from whether the science is mature enough to whether the process could weaken long-established drug safety standards and whether political influence is playing an outsized role in shaping public health policy.

SCIENTIFIC UNCERTAINTY

Supporters of psychedelic-assisted treatment often point to early-stage studies showing that substances such as psilocybin and MDMA may help patients with severe depression, PTSD and anxiety.

Several clinical trials have suggested that psychedelic-assisted therapy could produce faster and more durable effects than some conventional antidepressants, especially for patients who have failed to respond to other treatments.

However, many researchers caution that the current evidence remains limited as most psychedelic studies have involved relatively small groups of participants, making it difficult to determine whether the results can be applied to a broader population.

Researchers have also warned that the long-term effects of repeated psychedelic use remain unclear.

Trump said the United States would dedicate 50 million U.S. dollars to federal research into ibogaine, which has raised particular concerns among experts.

"It's been incredibly difficult to study ibogaine in the U.S. because of its known cardiotoxicity," Frederick Barrett, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, told The Associated Press.

"If the executive order can pave the way for doing objective, scientific research with this compound, it would help us understand whether it is truly a better psychedelic therapy than others," he added.

WEAKENING STRICT DRUG APPROVAL PROCESS

Another source of controversy is the concern that the Trump administration's effort to speed up approvals may weaken the traditionally cautious U.S. drug review process.

Trump administration officials have called for faster pathways for psychedelic therapies, including broader use of Right to Try laws created with the intent to allow terminally-ill patients access to experimental therapies and priority review measures.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to issue national priority vouchers for three psychedelic drugs next week, marking the first time the agency has extended such fast-track treatment to psychedelics, according to the Associated Press.

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the vouchers would allow certain drugs to be approved more quickly if they align with U.S. national priorities. The mechanism could shorten the review process from several months to just a few weeks.

Critics warned that if psychedelic drugs are approved too quickly, it could undermine public trust in the FDA, suggesting that psychedelic drugs should be held to the same scientific standards as any other medicine.

POLITICAL IMPACT

The debate over psychedelic drugs has also taken on a strong political dimension.

In December 2025, Trump signed an executive order backing research into marijuana and cannabidiol, also substances classified as illegal.

The order instructed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to move ahead with reclassifying marijuana, a decision that would represent one of the most significant federal changes to marijuana policy in decades, said Reuters.

Trump's push for reviews of psychedelic drugs has received backing from veterans' advocacy groups, which represent more than 17 million people.

Morgan Luttrell, a military veteran and member of Congress who attended Saturday's signing ceremony, said previous efforts to advance related legislation in Congress had failed.

"We will continue working in Congress to build on the president's leadership and expand access to this life-saving treatment," he said. "Our veterans answered the call for us. Now we must deliver for them."  ■