{"id":83803,"date":"2025-10-15T05:35:02","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T13:35:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2025\/10\/15\/va-official-says-federal-government-must-gear-up-for-expanding-psychedelic-medicine-for-veterans\/"},"modified":"2025-10-15T19:49:53","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T03:49:53","slug":"va-official-says-federal-government-must-gear-up-for-expanding-psychedelic-medicine-for-veterans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2025\/10\/15\/va-official-says-federal-government-must-gear-up-for-expanding-psychedelic-medicine-for-veterans\/","title":{"rendered":"VA Official Says Federal Government Must \u2018Gear Up\u2019 For Expanding Psychedelic Medicine For Veterans"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

A U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) official says the federal government needs to \u201cgear up\u201d to provide psychedelic medicines to veterans and ensure that therapists are equipped to facilitate the novel therapy.<\/p>\n

As VA continues to support research into psychedelic medicine, Rachel Yehuda, director of mental health at VA\u2019s James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, spoke on CBS Mornings on Friday about the therapeutic potential of substances such as psilocybin and MDMA for veterans.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s<\/span> still<\/span> a<\/span> lot<\/span> more<\/span> research<\/span> that<\/span> needs<\/span> to<\/span> be<\/span> done,<\/span> and<\/span> we<\/span> have<\/span> to<\/span> gear<\/span> up<\/span> in<\/span> a<\/span> way<\/span> that<\/span> makes<\/span> it<\/span> safe<\/span> to<\/span> be<\/span> able<\/span> to<\/span> provide<\/span> these<\/span> therapies,\u201d she said.<\/span> \u201cWe<\/span> have<\/span> to<\/span> make<\/span> sure<\/span> therapists<\/span> know<\/span> how<\/span> to<\/span> use<\/span> these<\/span> medications\u2014<\/span>and<\/span> also<\/span> who<\/span> should<\/span> and<\/span> shouldn\u2019t<\/span> be<\/span> treated<\/span> with<\/span> them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The widespread piecemeal approach to mental health treatment for conditions such as depression, anxiety and trauma is simply a means of dampening \u201csymptoms,\u201d rather than identifying possible cures, she said. Psychedelics represent \u201ca very<\/span> different<\/span> approach.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>This<\/span> is<\/span> an approach<\/span> where<\/span> you<\/span> take<\/span> a<\/span> medication<\/span> that<\/span> puts<\/span> you<\/span> in<\/span> an<\/span> altered<\/span> state<\/span> of<\/span> consciousness\u2014<\/span>and<\/span> if<\/span> you<\/span> are<\/span> prepared<\/span> for<\/span> it<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> right<\/span> way,<\/span> and<\/span> you<\/span> do<\/span> it<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> right<\/span> setting<\/span> with<\/span> the<\/span> right<\/span> facilitator,<\/span> different<\/span> kind<\/span> of<\/span> material<\/span> will<\/span> surface,\u201d Yehuda, who was speaking in the interview in her capacity as director of Mount Sinai\u2019s Parsons Research Center for Psychedelic Healing and not appearing as a representative of VA, said. \u201cE<\/span>motions,<\/span> thoughts,<\/span> memories\u2014<\/span>a<\/span> lot<\/span> of<\/span> things<\/span> that<\/span> usually<\/span> you<\/span> spend<\/span> a<\/span> lot<\/span> of<\/span> time<\/span> keeping<\/span> down.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut<\/span> the<\/span> reason<\/span> that<\/span> we<\/span> have<\/span> mental<\/span> health<\/span> symptoms<\/span> is<\/span> because<\/span> we<\/span> feel<\/span> those<\/span> things<\/span> and<\/span> because<\/span> things<\/span> have<\/span> happened<\/span> to<\/span> us,\u201d Yehuda said. \u201c<\/span>So<\/span> this<\/span> is<\/span> a<\/span> way<\/span> to<\/span>\u00a0access<\/span> and<\/span> be<\/span> able<\/span> to<\/span> work<\/span> with<\/span> really<\/span> what\u2019s<\/span> at<\/span> the<\/span> core<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> problem.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThis<\/span> is<\/span> a<\/span> way<\/span> of<\/span> taking<\/span> a<\/span> medicine\u2014<\/span>a<\/span> medication<\/span> once<\/span> or<\/span> twice<\/span> or<\/span> three<\/span> times<\/span> at<\/span> most\u2014t<\/span>hese<\/span> are<\/span> sessions<\/span> that<\/span> take<\/span> several<\/span> hours<\/span> with<\/span> psilocybin<\/span> or<\/span> MDMA [and] <\/span>could<\/span> be<\/span> six<\/span> or<\/span> eight<\/span> hours,<\/span> and<\/span> you\u2019re<\/span> with<\/span> therapists<\/span> the<\/span> whole<\/span> time,\u201d she said<\/a>. \u201cS<\/span>tuff<\/span> comes<\/span> up<\/span> that<\/span> you<\/span> talk<\/span> about,<\/span> and<\/span> hopefully<\/span> you<\/span> won\u2019t<\/span> have<\/span> to<\/span> keep<\/span> taking<\/span> medications o<\/span>nce<\/span> you<\/span> try<\/span> to<\/span> get<\/span> at<\/span> the<\/span> root<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> problem.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut<\/span> let\u2019s<\/span> be<\/span> very<\/span> clear<\/span> that<\/span> there<\/span> is<\/span> a<\/span> danger<\/span> in<\/span> having<\/span> unfettered<\/span> access<\/span> to<\/span> psychedelics<\/span> and<\/span> having<\/span> people\u2014<\/span>I<\/span> wouldn\u2019t<\/span> say<\/span> danger, t<\/span>he<\/span> drugs<\/span> themselves<\/span> are<\/span> not<\/span> very<\/span> dangerous\u2014<\/span>but<\/span> the<\/span> material<\/span> that<\/span> can<\/span> surface<\/span> with<\/span> these<\/span> drugs<\/span> can<\/span> be<\/span> very<\/span> overwhelming. S<\/span>o<\/span> you<\/span> want<\/span> to<\/span> really<\/span> make<\/span> sure<\/span> that<\/span> you<\/span> take<\/span> the<\/span> drug<\/span> with<\/span> a<\/span> professional<\/span> who<\/span> is<\/span> able<\/span> to<\/span> help<\/span> you<\/span> make<\/span> meaning<\/span> out<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> experience<\/span> that<\/span> you\u2019ve<\/span> just<\/span> had.<\/span> For<\/span> many<\/span> people,<\/span> what<\/span> comes<\/span> up<\/span> can<\/span> be<\/span> very<\/span> overwhelming,<\/span> and<\/span> if<\/span> they<\/span> don\u2019t<\/span> have<\/span> somebody<\/span> there<\/span> to<\/span> talk<\/span> them<\/span> through<\/span> it,<\/span> then<\/span> maybe<\/span> some<\/span> things<\/span> can<\/span> happen<\/span> that<\/span> would<\/span> be<\/span> harmful.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI<\/span> think<\/span> that<\/span> really,<\/span> when<\/span> we\u2019re<\/span> talking<\/span> about<\/span> what\u2019s<\/span> new<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> field<\/span> of<\/span> mental<\/span> health,<\/span> we<\/span> are<\/span> not<\/span> talking<\/span> about<\/span> handing<\/span> somebody<\/span> a<\/span> psychedelic<\/span> and<\/span> saying,<\/span> \u2018let<\/span> me<\/span> know<\/span> how<\/span> it<\/span> goes,’\u201d she said.<\/span> \u201cWe\u2019re<\/span> talking<\/span> about<\/span> a<\/span> supervised<\/span> experience.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Yehuda has routinely discussed the therapeutic potential of psychedelic medicine<\/a> with respect t0 veterans with conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).<\/p>\n

\u2014
\nMarijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills<\/a> in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters<\/a> pledging at least $25\/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don\u2019t miss any developments.<\/strong>
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\nLearn more about our marijuana bill tracker<\/a> and become a supporter on Patreon<\/a> to get access.
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Meanwhile, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) over the summer extolled the therapeutic promise of ibogaine on an episode of his podcast<\/a>, drawing attention to a Stanford University study that found the psychedelic showed potential to treat PTSD, anxiety and depression in military veterans with traumatic brain injury.<\/p>\n

The message around the therapeutic potential of psychedelics has been getting out in a number of ways, including in prominent conservative media circles and within the Trump administration.<\/p>\n

For example, a Navy SEAL veteran credited with killing Osama Bin Laden said during a Fox News interview that psychedelic therapy has helped him process the trauma he experienced during his time in the military, stressing that \u201cit works\u201d and should be an available treatment option<\/a>.<\/p>\n

That interview came days after the U.S. House of Representatives included an amendment to a spending bill from Reps. Lou Correa (D-CA) and Jack Bergman (R-MI) that would encourage VA to support research into the benefits of psychedelics in treating medical conditions<\/a>\u00a0commonly affecting military veterans.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, HHS Secretary Kennedy recently said his agency is\u00a0\u201cabsolutely committed\u201d to expanding research on the benefits of psychedelic therapy<\/a>\u00a0and, alongside of the head of FDA, is aiming to provide legal access to such substances for military veterans \u201cwithin 12 months.\u201d<\/p>\n

VA Secretary Doug Collins also disclosed in April that he had an \u201ceye-opening\u201d talk with Kennedy\u00a0about the therapeutic potential of psychedelic medicine<\/a>. And he said 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

Collins also\u00a0recently visited a facility conducting research on psychedelics<\/a>, and he reiterated that it\u2019s his \u201cpromise\u201d to advance research into the therapeutic potential of the substances\u2014even if that might take certain policy changes within the department and with congressional support.<\/p>\n

The secretary\u2019s visit to the psychedelics research center came about a month after the VA secretary met with a military veteran who\u2019s become an advocate for psilocybin access to\u00a0discuss the therapeutic potential of psychedelic medicine for the veteran community<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Collins also\u00a0briefly raised the issue in a Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump<\/a>\u00a0in April.<\/p>\n

Correa and Bergman\u2014co-chairs of the Congressional Psychedelic Advancing Therapies (PATH) Caucus\u2014introduced a bill in April to provide $30 million in funding annually to establish psychedelics-focused \u201ccenters for excellence\u201d at VA facilities<\/a>, where veterans could receive novel treatment involving substances like psilocybin, MDMA and ibogaine.<\/p>\n

Bergman 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

Kennedy, for his part, also said in April that\u00a0he had a \u201cwonderful experience\u201d with LSD at 15 years old<\/a>, which he took because he thought he\u2019d be able to see dinosaurs, as portrayed in a comic book he was a fan of.<\/p>\n

Last October, Kennedy specifically criticized FDA under the prior administration over the agency\u2019s \u201csuppression of psychedelics\u201d and a laundry list of other issues that he said amounted to a \u201cwar on public health\u201d that would end under the Trump administration.<\/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

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 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

Photo courtesy of Dick Culbert<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

The post VA Official Says Federal Government Must \u2018Gear Up\u2019 For Expanding Psychedelic Medicine For Veterans<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n


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\nRead More: VA Official Says Federal Government Must \u2018Gear Up\u2019 For Expanding Psychedelic Medicine For Veterans<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) official says the federal government needs to \u201cgear up\u201d to provide psychedelic medicines to veterans and ensure that therapists are equipped to facilitate the novel therapy. As VA continues to support research into psychedelic medicine, Rachel Yehuda, director of mental health at VA\u2019sContinue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":458,"featured_media":83804,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18,81,126],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83803"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/458"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83803"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83803\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":83805,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83803\/revisions\/83805"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83804"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=83803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=83803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}