Turn on, tune in, cash out … The US right used to fear psychedelics. Now it wants to sell them | Kojo Koram
Summary
The US government, under President Donald Trump, has recently signed an executive order to promote medical use of psychedelic drugs. This marks a major change from the 1960s when psychedelics were widely feared and opposed by many US political leaders. Now, some conservative figures support psychedelics for treating mental health problems like depression and PTSD.Key Facts
- In 1966, Senator Ted Kennedy questioned psychologist Timothy Leary about the dangers of psychedelics, reflecting widespread fear at the time.
- On April 18, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order to speed up access to medical treatments using psychedelic drugs.
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and podcaster Joe Rogan support the use of psychedelics and stood with President Trump during the signing.
- Psychedelics like ibogaine are being researched for their ability to treat chronic mental health conditions.
- Conservative groups, including military veterans and some police officers, now advocate for legal reforms to allow psychedelic treatments.
- The market for psychedelic medicines is expected to grow rapidly, potentially exceeding $3.3 billion by 2031.
- Increased rates of mental health disorders have led to more investment in developing psychedelic-based therapies.
- Prominent investors like Peter Thiel have funded biotech startups focusing on psychedelic mental health treatments.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.