Psychedelics Surpass Cannabis With Unprecedented Bipartisan Support In Congress, Says Top VA Official

VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal shared insights on the “unstoppable narrative” of psychedelic medicine, fueled by compelling veterans’ recovery stories and robust scientific research.

Speaking at a Horizons psychedelics conference, Elnahal noted that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is actively preparing for the anticipated FDA approval of psychedelics-assisted therapies, particularly for treating conditions like PTSD that prevalently affect veterans, reported Marijuana Moment. “We are positioning ourselves to provide these therapies the moment they’re approved, anticipating an overwhelming demand from the veteran community,” he said.

VA's Role In Advancing Psychedelics Therapy

The VA, which runs programs aiming to aid veterans and members of their families, is actively funding research into clinical therapies using MDMA and psilocybin. “We have 13 studies happening right now; we want to take it further and strengthen the case for veterans,” Elnahal stated.

To understand why the VA is so engaged in MDMA and psilocybin treatments, particularly after years of clinical research being balked and repressed, consider this fact: 15 out of 100 veterans who served in recent wars is Iraq and Afghanistan are reportedly still suffering from PTSD in the past year and 29 will face PTSD at some time in their lives. Increasing suicide rates are also a major reason for exploring non-opioid therapies.

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The demand is intense and broad. Scientists and advocates argue for quicker availability of these experimental treatments, considering the ethical implications of delaying potentially effective solutions. “We are not talking about the ethics of doing this, but the ethics of not doing this,” Elnahal emphasized.

Broad Bipartisan Support For Medical Treatments

Elnahal highlighted the vast bipartisan support for psychedelics research, using conservative Texas Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R) as an example. Elnahal argued that this political backing is critical as it influences legislative actions to facilitate more studies and potential treatments.

The House Veterans' Affairs Committee recently passed a bill requiring the VA to notify Congress if psychedelics are added to its drug formulary. President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan measure to provide funding for the Department of Defense to conduct clinical trials on the therapeutic potential of certain psychedelics for active duty military members. This was enacted under the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

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