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Committee backs bill to allow Louisiana universities to run clinical trials of psilocybin, ibogaine for veterans and treatment‑resistant conditions
Summary
The committee reported SB43 favorably after adopting a technical amendment to allow participation in a national consortium and to refine stakeholder language; veterans, clinicians and researchers testified that controlled clinical trials could expand tools for treatment‑resistant PTSD, TBI and substance use disorders.
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee on March 25 voted to report SB43 as amended, a bill intended to enable Louisiana universities and hospitals to conduct controlled clinical trials using psilocybin and ibogaine for opioid use disorder, treatment‑resistant psychiatric conditions and for certain veterans and first responders.
Sponsor lawmakers and witnesses framed the bill as a carefully regulated pathway for research — not recreational use — that would allow Louisiana institutions to participate in a national consortium and develop clinical protocols with DEA, FDA and IRB approvals. An amendment (11‑32) to permit participation in an interstate consortium and refine stakeholder language was adopted by unanimous consent.
University researchers from LSU Shreveport described existing institutional approvals, dosing suites and staff training for administering psychedelics in controlled settings and offered to provide scientific and procedural guidance. "We developed procedures to administer psilocybin and ibogaine safely, under appropriate conditions," a university researcher told the committee, noting approvals from federal agencies and institutional review boards for their trials.
Veterans and veteran‑advocacy witnesses recounted personal experiences with treatment abroad and argued for in‑state clinical research. Major General (ret.) Glenn Curtis and participant Nick Curtis said controlled clinical trials could create protocols so Louisiana can study effectiveness, safety and long‑term outcomes locally. "This is not a recreational drug," Glenn Curtis said, urging regulated research to inform clinical practice and policy.
Medical witnesses — addiction specialists, psychiatrists and neurologists — testified that current standards of care leave some patients with few effective options and that rigorous trials are needed to assess safety and efficacy. The panel repeatedly emphasized clinical oversight, research integrity and patient safety.
The committee reported SB43 favorably as amended by unanimous consent. Sponsors said the bill aims to build research infrastructure and eventually move effective treatments out of clandestine settings and into regulated medical practice if supported by evidence.
The bill will move to the Senate floor for further consideration.
