President Donald Trump signed an executive order on April 18 to accelerate mainstream access to medical treatment based on psychedelic drugs, with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. standing beside him in the Oval Office.

The order places particular focus on ibogaine, a psychoactive compound derived from a West African shrub that scientists suggest can be effective for treating chronic mental health problems. Kennedy Jr. has emerged as the primary advocate for psychedelics within the Trump administration, alongside figures such as podcaster Joe Rogan, who was also present during the signing ceremony.

Rogan told reporters that he had encouraged the president to sign the executive order through text messages. The development represents a significant shift in political attitudes toward psychedelic substances, which were once viewed with deep suspicion by conservative politicians.

The change in approach contrasts sharply with historical opposition to psychedelics among right-wing politicians. In 1966, Senator Ted Kennedy led a Senate subcommittee questioning Dr. Timothy Leary about the dangers of LSD, reflecting widespread establishment concerns that psychedelics were fueling counterculture movements and anti-war protests.

Kennedy Jr. has also promoted the concept of wellness farms as a treatment approach for addiction, citing an Italian farm community as a model for addressing the U.S. overdose crisis. However, critics have raised concerns about the safety and effectiveness of such approaches.

The executive order reflects growing interest in psychedelic research for medical applications, driven partly by veterans' advocacy and Silicon Valley investment in the sector. The shift represents a notable evolution in drug policy discussions within conservative political circles.