The Food and Drug Administration announced on Friday that it will expedite the review process for three psychedelic drugs under development for mental health conditions, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This action represents a significant advancement in the Trump administration’s efforts to facilitate the approval of these experimental treatments.

The accelerated review follows an executive order signed by President Trump the previous weekend, which directed the FDA and other federal agencies to enhance research and ease regulatory restrictions on psychedelics. These substances, known for their hallucinogenic properties, remain classified as illegal at the federal level.

The FDA disclosed that it has granted priority review vouchers to two companies investigating psilocybin, the primary psychoactive compound found in "magic mushrooms," targeted at treatment-resistant forms of depression. A third company received a priority review voucher for methylone, a compound related to MDMA, being studied as a treatment for PTSD. However, the agency did not reveal the identities of these companies.

In a statement, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary emphasized the urgency of evaluating these potential therapies, citing the need to address the suffering of veterans and other Americans dealing with mental health disorders. “We owe it to our nation’s veterans and all Americans who are suffering from these conditions to evaluate these potential therapies with urgency,” Makary said.

This move reflects an increasing acceptance of psychedelic drugs within certain segments of the U.S. population, notably among Trump supporters, combat veterans, and advocates of the Make America Healthy Again initiative led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The initiative aims to advance health policies aligned with broader public and veteran support for alternative mental health treatments.

The push to accelerate the approval process comes amid ongoing debates regarding the safety and efficacy of psychedelics in clinical settings. While advocates argue that these substances offer promising new options for patients with limited treatment success, some experts caution that more rigorous research is needed to fully understand their long-term effects.

The FDA’s decision to fast-track these reviews could potentially pave the way for wider access to psychedelic-based therapies, marking a notable shift in federal drug policy and mental health treatment paradigms.