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Senate study committee hears calls to fund psychedelic-assisted therapy research for veterans
Summary
A Senate study committee heard veterans, clinicians and advocates urge Georgia to invest in clinical trials, licensing and infrastructure so veterans can access MDMA- and psilocybin-assisted therapies domestically; witnesses cited research, state models and regulatory hurdles including Schedule I restrictions and Right to Try limits.
A Senate study committee heard testimony from veterans, clinicians and advocacy groups calling for state investment in clinical trials and regulatory changes to expand access to psychedelic-assisted therapies for veterans with PTSD and traumatic brain injury.
Witnesses described research suggesting MDMA and psilocybin can produce rapid, durable improvements for some patients and highlighted state-funded trials as models. ‘‘MDMA-assisted therapy has demonstrated that nearly two-thirds of participants no longer meet the criteria for PTSD after treatment,’’ said a VETS representative presenting clinical findings. Panelists pointed to Texas, Connecticut, Maryland, Arizona and Illinois as examples of states that have allocated public funds for trials or pilot programs.
Retired Marine Lt. Gen. Martin R. Steele, leading Reason for Hope, urged lawmakers to prepare the state’s medical system and training pipeline so that approved therapies can be delivered safely. ‘‘The State of Georgia can position itself as a leader in the clinical rollout of psychedelic-assisted therapy by investing in quality research and treatment initiatives,’’ Steele said.
Clinicians described how the treatments are delivered. Dr. Barbara Rothbaum, director of the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program, said her team combines a single MDMA dose with daily prolonged exposure therapy over a condensed two-week intensive outpatient program, and that current funding supports treatment for a limited number of participants.
Speakers described regulatory and logistical barriers that would affect state rollout. Presenters noted that MDMA and several psilocybin compounds remain Schedule I substances, which raises research licensing burdens, increases costs and prevents access under existing Right to Try laws. ‘‘Patients are blocked from access under the bipartisan Right to Try act because these drugs are Schedule I,’’ a Reason for Hope attorney warned, adding that states can help by funding trials, streamlining licensing, and planning for FDA risk‑evaluation mitigation strategies after approval.
No formal votes were taken. The committee chair asked members to submit final reports for compilation, and the study committee adjourned with plans to meet again to finalize its report to the legislature.
