Trump’s Orders Elevate The Medical Status Of Psychedelics And Cannabis

InnovationHealthcareTrump’s Orders Elevate The Medical Status Of Psychedelics And CannabisByJoshua P. Cohen,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Joshua Cohen is a Boston-based writer who covers health policy.Follow AuthorApr 27, 2026, 08:12am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Martin Makary, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, from left, President Donald Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services and media personality, Joe Rogan, during an executive order signing in the Oval Office of the White House on Saturday, April 18, 2026. The order directs federal agencies to expedite research and access to psychedelics to treat certain mental health disorders. Photographer: Allison Robbert/The Washington Post/Bloomberg© 2026 Bloomberg Finance LPPsychedelics and marijuana are in the news as President Trump issued two executive orders last week with the potential to elevate the medical status of these drugs nationwide.Though legally prohibited at the national level, American researchers have for many decades been investigating the therapeutic potential of psychedelics and marijuana. This has culminated in recent years in a modern day “renaissance” in terms of medical research regarding their potential benefits.PsychedelicsPresident Trump issued an executive order this month to accelerate research and access to psychedelic medication for people with “serious mental illnesses.” The document stipulates that there will be inter-agency collaboration between the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs to share data and increase clinical trial participation. The order states that on a case-by-case basis, psychedelics will be rescheduled from illegal to legal provided they receive marketing authorization from the FDA.The unconventional way in which the order seems to have been hast...