Senator Ruben Gallego recently introduced Senate Amendment 3138 to the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, calling for the Department of Veterans Affairs to research innovative therapies including MDMA, ibogaine, ketamine and psilocybin mushrooms to treat conditions affecting veterans such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, chronic pain and substance use disorders. The amendment directs the VA secretary to conduct research on those treatments and submit a report to Congress within one year outlining findings and recommendations on improving access to emerging therapies for veterans.
Gallego stated: “As a Marine, I’ve seen firsthand how the invisible wounds of war follow many of our service members when they come home. Too many veterans are still searching for treatments that truly work. If emerging therapies like psychedelics show promise in helping veterans with PTSD and other service-related injuries, then we have a responsibility to study them.”
Arizona Clinical Trial
In Scottsdale, researchers led by Dr. Sue Sisley launched what is believed to be the first controlled clinical trial in the world studying whole psilocybin mushrooms—rather than synthetic compounds—for trauma-related mental health conditions. The FDA-approved phase one trial included 24 participants drawn from police, fire and military backgrounds. Each received a standardized 30-milligram dose of psilocybin—the psychoactive compound found in so-called “magic mushrooms”—during supervised group therapy sessions.
An unusual element of the trial included FDA-approved therapy dogs present during psychedelic sessions to provide comfort when participants entered altered states of consciousness. According to Sisley: “The dogs are very intuitive. They know what people need.” Researchers expect to release initial data from the study in the spring or early summer. Because psilocybin remains illegal in Arizona outside approved research settings, the clinical trial is currently the only legal way for participants in the state to access the therapy. Among trial participants is Nick Jones, an Army veteran who served with the 82nd Airborne Division before a 2017 injury ended his military career. He is now studying mental health counseling at Arizona State University with a focus on helping first responders and veterans.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.kgun9.com/news/state/sen-gallego-pushes-for-research-for-veterans-as-arizona-study-moves-forward