At a hearing earlier this week, Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R) asked HHS Secretary Kennedy what steps he plans on taking to accelerate “domestic research, clinical trial access, and the safe deployment of these therapies”, referring to psychedelic-assisted therapies ‘for conditions like PTSD, depression and addictions.’

“We are launching clinical trials now on that now at FDA, I think there are 11 clinical trials at the VA going on at this point”, Kennedy began his brief response. (Note that the FDA does not conduct clinical trials itself.)

He continued by saying that, “particularly for our servicemembers, retired servicemembers, it’s critically important that we make sure that the science on this is solid”. “The preliminary results are very, very encouraging and it’s something that we wanna pursue”, he continued.

“Marty Makary has told me that we don’t wanna wait two years to get this done,” he added, referring to the FDA Commissioner, “these are people who badly need some kind of therapy, nothing else is working for them.”

“This line of therapeutics has tremendous advantage, given the clinical setting, and we are working very hard to make sure that that happens within 12 months”, he concluded.

“That’s great to hear”, Crenshaw responded, before requesting that the FDA Draft Guidance on psychedelics clinical investigations, first issued in the summer of 2023, be finalised.

It’s not clear what Kennedy is referring to in terms of the ‘12 months’ timeline. What are they attempting to make happen within that period? More studies within the VA? Streamlining FDA-aligned trials? Providing some sort of access pathway, such as through the VA, a limited approval, a broad approval, or even rescheduling of some sort? And, who would such access include: just veterans?

As always, questions abound, but many in the psychedelics field are enthused by Kennedy’s comments.

Popular replies to Kennedy’s X post on the matter expressed skepticism, meanwhile. “Bobby, we haven’t even fixed the mess with Cannabis!”, said Christos Greek, self-described ‘free thinker’ and military veteran. Another wrote: “theres [sic] plenty of effective trauma therapies but psychedelics are not one of them”. Others, like veteran Sara Higdon, described the comments as “amazing news”, asking: “Can you just reschedule it in the meantime?”

Might Trump be looking for a boost ahead of the midterms? Remember that the President fast-tracked esketamine’s adoption within the VA by ordering the agency to buy “truckloads” of the drug, despite controversy surrounding its approval and the VA having its own process for adding new drugs to its formulary.

He was looking for a veteran-mental-health-related win in his first term, so why not again in his second?