President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Saturday directing the Food and Drug Administration to accelerate its review of psychedelic drugs that have been designated as breakthrough therapies for treating mental health disorders.

The order specifically targets compounds being researched for their potential efficacy in treating conditions such as severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. The executive action will particularly open doors for expanded research into ibogaine, a psychedelic drug that has been used abroad for PTSD treatment, according to sources.

The signing ceremony took place in the Oval Office and was attended by several guests, including podcaster Joe Rogan. During the event, Trump made light remarks about the subject matter, joking about asking for ibogaine himself.

The executive order is designed to streamline the regulatory process for psychedelic substances that have already received breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA. This designation is typically given to drugs that show substantial improvement over existing treatments for serious conditions.

The initiative represents a significant shift in federal policy toward psychedelic research, which has gained renewed scientific and medical interest in recent years. The order aims to provide faster access to these experimental treatments for patients suffering from debilitating mental health symptoms.

Trump framed the initiative as an opportunity for people with severe mental health conditions to "finally have a chance to reclaim their lives and lead a happier" existence, emphasizing the potential therapeutic benefits of accelerated research into these compounds.