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Policy timeline

US psychedelic policy, 1970 to today

Every federal and state moment that shaped what is legally accessible in US psychedelic therapy. Primary sources where available. Updated whenever new federal or state action ships.

  1. 1970Federal

    Controlled Substances Act signed

    Psilocybin, LSD, DMT, mescaline and ibogaine all placed on DEA Schedule I - the most restrictive category, reserved for substances defined as having no accepted medical use and high abuse potential.

  2. 1992FDA

    FDA resumes approval of psychedelic research

    After a near-20-year moratorium, the FDA reopens investigational new drug pathways for psilocybin and MDMA research, starting with the Rick Strassman DMT trials at the University of New Mexico.

  3. 2000Research

    Johns Hopkins launches psilocybin research program

    The first federally-authorized US psilocybin trial in modern memory. Led by Roland Griffiths, the program becomes the prototype for every subsequent FDA-sanctioned psilocybin study.

  4. 2018Federal

    Federal Right to Try Act signed

    Allows patients with life-threatening conditions to access investigational drugs that have cleared Phase 1 FDA review, outside of formal trials. Becomes the legal foundation for later ibogaine access.

    Public Law 115-176
  5. 2019FDA

    Spravato (esketamine) approved by FDA

    First psychedelic-class medicine approved by the FDA since 1970. Available only through REMS-registered sites, administered under observation. Indicated for treatment-resistant depression.

    FDA announcement
  6. 2020State

    Oregon passes Measure 109 (psilocybin services)

    First state-legal adult-use psilocybin program in the US. Establishes Oregon Psilocybin Services at the Oregon Health Authority. Licensed services begin operating January 2023.

  7. 2020State

    Oregon Measure 110 and DC Initiative 81

    Oregon decriminalizes possession of all drugs; DC deprioritizes enforcement for psilocybin, ayahuasca, ibogaine, mescaline. The beginning of the decriminalization wave.

  8. 2021Research

    Texas passes HB 1802 (ibogaine research)

    Texas becomes the first state to publicly fund ibogaine research for military veterans with PTSD or TBI, allocating $50M for clinical studies at Baylor and UT.

  9. 2022State

    Colorado passes Proposition 122

    Natural Medicine Health Act decriminalizes psilocybin, DMT, mescaline, ibogaine for personal use (21+) and creates a licensed healing-center framework. Licenses begin issuing in 2025.

  10. 2024FDA

    FDA rejects Lykos MDMA-PTSD application

    In a setback for MDMA-assisted therapy, the FDA declines Lykos Therapeutics' new drug application for midomafetamine, citing study methodology concerns. Lykos resubmits with additional data in 2025.

    FDA CRL overview
  11. 2024Research

    Stanford ibogaine veterans study published

    Nolan Williams' Stanford team reports 30 combat veterans showing 88% PTSD remission, 87% TBI improvement, and 83% depression remission 30 days after ibogaine + magnesium treatment in Mexico. Published in Nature Medicine.

    Nature Medicine
  12. 2025Federal

    Trump administration takes office, signals psychedelic openness

    Incoming HHS Secretary RFK Jr. publicly commits to expediting psychedelic medicine approvals. Secretary of Veterans Affairs publicly supports ibogaine trials for combat veterans.

  13. 2025State

    Colorado healing centers open

    First licensed Colorado healing centers begin seating clients for psilocybin sessions under DORA's Natural Medicine Division. Adult-use, 21+, no diagnosis required.

  14. 2026DEA

    DEA begins Schedule I review of psilocybin and MDMA

    Following an HHS recommendation, the DEA formally opens an eight-factor review of psilocybin and MDMA scheduling. Rulemaking expected Q3 2026.

  15. 2026Federal

    White House executive order: Accelerating Medical Treatments for Serious Mental Illness

    President Trump signs the executive order directing the FDA to deploy priority review vouchers for psychedelic applications, naming ibogaine as eligible under Right to Try, allocating $50M through ARPA-H for veteran trials, and authorizing the VA to expand ibogaine and MDMA trial sites. Signed in the Oval Office with commentators including Joe Rogan present.

    whitehouse.gov

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Related guides

Trump's 2026 psychedelic executive order, explainedThe Right to Try Act and psychedelicsPsychedelic therapy pathways for veterans

Last updated April 19, 2026. If you spot a missing milestone or a dated source, email corrections to verify@licensedpsychedelics.com.