Crenshaw and AOC aim to fund PTSD trials with psychedelics.

Reps. Crenshaw and Ocasio-Cortez Aim to Pass Bipartisan Legislation for Psychedelic Drug Trials

Reps. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) are confident that their bipartisan legislation, focused on creating a pathway for clinical trials using psychedelic drugs to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), will pass the House in a floor vote on Friday.

In a joint press conference, Ocasio-Cortez expressed their intention to celebrate the significant progress made in the study and application of psychedelics research for PTSD, particularly within the veterans community and other survivors across the country.

A “Wild Coalition” of Supporters

Crenshaw referred to the diverse group of supporters as a “wild coalition,” spanning the ideological spectrum. He emphasized that everyone is united in their recognition of the effectiveness of these therapies.

“When we find something we can agree on, we just get it done,” Crenshaw stated. “I still can’t find one member of Congress who is actually opposed to this.”

Crenshaw introduced legislation in June that proposes a federal grant program, funded through the National Defense Authorization Act, to support research into the use of psychedelics for active duty military service members suffering from traumatic brain injuries or PTSD. The bill allocates $15 million annually through the Department of Defense for trials involving psilocybin, DMT, MDMA, and ibogaine.

Ocasio-Cortez initially introduced a bill in 2019 to legalize psychedelic clinical trials for all Americans, which faced challenges at the time. However, since then, there has been significant support from various groups that have witnessed the benefits of psychedelics in treating various medical conditions.

During the press conference, Crenshaw highlighted promising clinical trials worldwide that have shown positive outcomes for survivors of sexual assault, drug addiction, and depression. Notably, Australia recently became the first country to legalize MDMA for PTSD and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression.

Recreational psychedelic drug use has seen a surge in the U.S., particularly among 18- to 30-year-olds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some researchers suggest that these substances have been used as coping mechanisms to deal with the challenges of lockdowns and the associated financial and psychological pressures.

Ocasio-Cortez emphasized the “moral responsibility” to increase scientific experimentation for therapies that can aid survivors of both mental and physical trauma through exploratory psychedelics research. She stated, “We desperately need more resources to treat PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and depression.”

When asked about the potential for the legalization of psychedelics, Ocasio-Cortez acknowledged the need for more data on these “powerful” substances before determining whether they should be removed from the Schedule I drug classification list.

Ocasio-Cortez indicated that while she, Crenshaw, and the coalition of supporters in the House believe the legislation will pass the floor vote, they anticipate challenges in the Senate.

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