Psychedelic treatments are moving closer to federal approval, with the FDA taking steps to fast-track several compounds. The agency recently said three companies will receive National Priority Vouchers to speed their psychedelic drugs through approval. These include two psilocybin compounds for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder, and methylone for PTSD. One week prior, President Donald Trump signed a psychedelics executive order, signaling federal support for states including Texas working to create access to psychedelic treatments.
How Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies Work
Psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, 5-MeO-DMT, and ibogaine are among compounds being studied in FDA clinical trials for mental and behavioral health conditions. Lynnette Averill, PhD, who leads a psilocybin clinical trial at Baylor College of Medicine and the Menninger Clinic, explained that psychedelic-assisted therapy involves one or a few psychedelic experiences supporting ongoing therapy, with effects felt quickly—within hours to days. This differs from daily antidepressants, which generally take weeks or months to help patients.
Personal Case: An Austin Attorney’s Journey
Garrett Coppedge, an Austin attorney diagnosed with complex PTSD and major depressive disorder, tried talk therapy, antidepressants, and ketamine infusions for several years with limited lasting effects. In February, he traveled to Mexico with The Mission Within clinic for ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT treatment. On his first evening, after taking ibogaine, he recalled feeling terrified because “there was no turning back.” His visions were abstract—bright colors and electricity flowing through his body. After the intense experience, he learned to trust the medicine and focus on the present moment. Two months later, his anxiety remains but is more manageable.
Texas’s Leading Role in Psychedelic Policy
In 2021, Texas became the first state to pass legislation (HB 1802) funding psychedelic research—a psilocybin clinical trial for veterans with PTSD. In 2025, Texas made the largest public investment in psychedelic research in American history: SB 2308 allocated $50 million for ibogaine clinical trials. U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw led the bipartisan Douglas Mike Day Psychedelic Therapy to Save Lives Act, providing $10 million in federal grants. President Trump’s executive order allocates at least $50 million to match state-funded psychedelic research programs.
Legal Access Pathways in Texas
Currently, two legal ways exist to access psychedelic-assisted therapy in Texas: ketamine clinics (available throughout the state with telehealth options) and clinical trials at institutions like Baylor College of Medicine and UT Austin. Adults who travel to Oregon and Colorado can access psilocybin with trained facilitators. New Mexico’s medical psilocybin program is anticipated to launch by the end of 2026.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.tpr.org/public-health/2026-05-04/psychedelic-treatments-are-on-the-verge-of-fda-approval-why-texas-is-pushing-for-them-and-how-texans-could-gain-access