How Joe Rogan Convinced Trump to Fast-Track Review of Psychedelic Drugs
The president issues executive order increasing research into drugs used to treat PTSD and other disorders
- President Trump signed an executive order to fast-track research into psychedelic drugs like LSD and ibogaine for mental illness and depression.
- Podcaster Joe Rogan’s text message to the president accelerated the executive order, which followed his recent criticism of the administration.
- The executive order directs the FDA to expedite review of “breakthrough therapy” psychedelics and encourages data sharing between the health and veterans affairs departments.
A text message from podcaster Joe Rogan kicked off a frenetic weeklong effort by the Trump administration to announce changes to the way the government handles psychedelic drugs.
President Trump signed an executive order Saturday that seeks to fast-track research into certain psychedelic drugs, including LSD and ibogaine, which some veterans have used to treat their post-traumatic stress disorder.
“In many cases, these experimental treatments have shown life-changing potential for those suffering from severe mental illness and depression, including our cherished veterans,” Trump said.
The move had a secondary political benefit for Trump: keeping on his side—for now—one of the most influential podcasters in the country. Rogan endorsed Trump in the 2024 presidential election but has since criticized the Trump administration on his podcast, especially over its immigration policy and handling of the Iran war, which Rogan has called “terrifying.”
“We all respect Joe, he’s a little bit more liberal,” Trump said Saturday at the signing. “It’s OK.”
Standing behind Trump in the Oval Office, Rogan recalled bringing public attention to the drug when he hosted a recent podcast with W. Bryan Hubbard, an advocate for ibogaine research, and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who spoke about the benefits of ibogaine. He sent a text message to Trump that included statistics about the drug’s success in reducing opioid addiction.
“The text message came back: ‘Sounds great. Do you want FDA approval? Let’s do it,’” Rogan recalled. “It was literally that quick.”
Mehmet Oz, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator, described the process from there as an “unimaginable task in one week to be able to go from a series of connections and communications with Joe Rogan” to completing the executive order.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made easing access to psychedelic medicines one of his priorities, and his department and the White House have been working on policy solutions for months, people familiar with the matter said. Rogan’s involvement accelerated the efforts and moved the initiative to the top of Trump’s queue, the people said. Kennedy aide Calley Means and Dr. Heidi Overton, deputy director of the Domestic Policy Council, helped expedite the executive order after the president asked for it, the people said.
The executive order directs the Food and Drug Administration to expedite its review of some psychedelic drugs that have been categorized as “breakthrough therapy” drugs. In addition, it will encourage the sharing of clinical data between the health and veterans affairs departments and will facilitate fast rescheduling of any psychedelic drugs that become FDA approved. The FDA is expected to issue three national priority vouchers for psychedelics, which would allow the drugs to be approved in weeks, according to Dr. Marty Makary, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.
Trump’s executive order comes as more Republican lawmakers are pushing to allow the usage of certain psychedelics in medically controlled environments to help address issues such as PTSD, depression and substance abuse. Ibogaine is currently illegal in the U.S., but some Americans have traveled to Mexico to try the treatment. Proponents of the drug say that it could help reduce suicide rates in the veteran community. But some doctors have urged caution, saying there is insufficient medical evidence for the benefits of psychedelics.