The head of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is reiterating his commitment to exploring psychedelic therapy options for the veteran community.<\/p>\n
VA Secretary Doug Collins, a former Republican congressman, was pressed by a commenter on the social media site X about the agency\u2019s work to expand alternative therapies and said in a reply on Monday that \u201cwe are looking at psychedelic treatments as well as other alternative treatments such as hyperbaric oxygen chambers, and virtual reality therapy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are also working with Congress to approve more treatments,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI am committed to doing what we can to make the veteran\u2019s care better.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\nAs I\u2019ve said before, we are looking at psychedelic treatments as well as other alternative treatments such as hyperbaric oxygen chambers, and virtual reality therapy. We are also working with Congress to approve more treatments.<\/p>\n
I am committed to doing what we can to make the\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/Fi4Fv5M6mi<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Doug Collins (@RepDougCollins) April 28, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
Rachel Yehuda, who has overseen some psychedelic research as director of mental health at VA\u2019s James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, responded to the secretary\u2019s comment by saying it\u2019s \u201cgreat to hear this!\u201d<\/p>\n
\nGreat to hear this! https:\/\/t.co\/OHH4xVz6E6<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Rachel Yehuda (@RachelYehuda) April 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
Collins, for this part, disclosed earlier this month that he had an \u201ceye-opening\u201d talk with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Trump administration\u2019s top federal health official, about the therapeutic potential of psychedelic medicine<\/a>. And he intends to press Congress to take action on the issue.<\/p>\n
He also said that he\u2019s open to the idea of having the government provide vouchers to cover the costs of psychedelic therapy for veterans who receive services outside of VA as Congress considers pathways for access.<\/p>\n
In December, VA separately announced that it\u2019s providing $1.5 million in funding to\u00a0study the efficacy of MDMA-assisted therapy for veterans<\/a>\u00a0with PTSD and alcohol use disorder (AUD).<\/p>\n
Last year, VA\u2019s Yehuda also touted an initial study the agency funded that produced \u201cstunning and robust results\u201d from its first-ever clinical trial into MDMA therapy<\/a>.<\/p>\n
In January, former VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal said that it was \u201cvery encouraging\u201d that Trump\u2019s pick to have Kennedy lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has supported psychedelics reform. And he\u00a0hoped to work with him on the issue if he stayed on<\/a>\u00a0for the next administration, but that didn\u2019t pan out.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, advocates are also eager to see how Collins navigates marijuana policy issues at VA, which has historically resisted congressional efforts to reform rules around studying cannabis or authorizing government doctors to issue medical marijuana recommendations to veterans in legal states.<\/p>\n
The official has a prior record of\u00a0voting against medical cannabis access for military veterans<\/a>\u00a0during his time in Congress.<\/p>\n
Separately, a GOP congressman recently cheered news that the Department of Defense (DOD) has allocated nearly $10 million in funding for\u00a0research into the therapeutic potential of MDMA<\/a>\u00a0for active-duty military members.<\/p>\n
Another Republican congressman has also\u00a0expressed optimism about the prospects of advancing psychedelics reform under Trump<\/a>, arguing that the administration\u2019s efforts to cut spending and the federal workforce will give agencies \u201cspines\u201d to tackle such complex issues.<\/p>\n
\nWhite House Drug Czar Could Endorse Marijuana Legalization Under New Bill To Repeal \u2018Ludicrous\u2019 Restriction<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
Photo elements courtesy of carlosemmaskype<\/a> and Apollo<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n
The post Trump\u2019s VA Secretary Reaffirms Commitment To Exploring Psychedelic Therapy For Veterans<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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