Written by: Logan Davidson, VETS Legislative Director
Why psychedelic research funding matters now.
Every major policy shift begins with a small step that changes the conversation.
For decades, the discussion around mental health, especially among veterans, was defined by crisis and limitation. The veteran suicide epidemic, treatment-resistant PTSD, and the lack of innovation in mental health care left too many families waiting for solutions that weren’t coming fast enough.
That began to change when a coalition of veterans, researchers, and policymakers came together to demand something different: evidence-based, science-led legislation funding research for breakthrough treatments for veterans.
Today, the U.S. is witnessing an unprecedented wave of legislative momentum around psychedelic research—and it all started with one Texas bill.
The First Breakthrough (HB1802): How it opened doors for other states.
In 2021, Texas passed HB 1802, landmark legislation championed by VETS, that directed the state to conduct a clinical trial for the use of psychedelic-assisted therapies, specifically psilocybin, for veterans struggling with PTSD.
At the time, the idea of a state-funded psychedelic study was almost unheard of. But HB 1802 did more than authorize research; it changed what was politically possible.
It was the first law of its kind in the country, and it passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. Veterans were at the center of that effort testifying before committees, meeting with legislators, and sharing their lived experience of both trauma and healing. The legislation showed lawmakers something that advocacy alone couldn’t: that the call for research was rooted in courage, not controversy.
As the Texas legislation became law, it sent a clear signal across the country: psychedelic research had moved from the margins to the mainstream.
The Ripple Effect: New state appropriations and growing momentum.
What followed HB 1802 was nothing short of historic. In just a few years, states from Maryland to Illinois, from Arizona to Georgia, began taking up their own versions of psychedelic research funding. Legislators referenced Texas as proof that bipartisan, evidence-based progress was possible.
Texas’s early leadership inspired a policy model. One that focused not on decriminalization or culture wars, but on research, safety, and measurable outcomes for veterans.
That approach worked.
As the states continued to emulate and advance the Texas model, federal progress finally followed but it was still Texas in the lead. In 2023, two veterans serving in Congress, Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) and Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), led a successful effort to appropriate $10 million for psychedelic research through the National Defense Authorization Act. This effort was led by veterans, centered on veterans, and succeeded because Republicans like Crenshaw and Luttrell worked with Democrats like Alexandira Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA).
And then in 2025, Texas built on its own success by passing Senate Bill 2308, establishing the Texas Ibogaine Initiative (TII). TII is a first-of-its-kind, state-funded public-private-partnership clinical research and drug development program focused on ibogaine.
VETS was honored to play a key role in helping secure $50 million in state funding for this initiative—an extraordinary and historic bipartisan investment in the future of psychedelic science. But just as important, the bill itself represented something larger: a recognition that innovation and compassion can coexist in public policy.
That recognition was further realized in New Jersey, where state lawmakers kicked off 2026 by sending a $6 million appropriation for psilocybin research to Governor Murphy’s desk. On January 20, 2026, he signed the first psychedelic legislation of the year, and signaling early that 2026 is shaping up to be a year of real progress.
Veterans at the Center: Advocacy that gave this issue credibility and urgency.
What makes this movement different is who is leading it.
Veterans have always been the moral and political center of this conversation. Their stories and their service transcend partisanship. When veterans talk about alternative treatments, they aren’t speaking from ideology; they’re speaking from experience, survival, and a desire to help others find healing.
That credibility has opened doors in statehouses and on Capitol Hill that were once closed. It’s why governors, members of Congress, and health agencies are now willing to listen to conversations that were politically untouchable just a few years ago.
At VETS, we see this every day. Our community isn’t driven by politics; it’s driven by purpose. Veterans know the stakes. They’ve lost friends, they’ve seen the gaps in care, and they’ve found hope in treatments that science is only beginning to understand.
Their advocacy has reshaped what’s possible in American mental health policy.
Looking Ahead: What these appropriations mean for the future of research and access.
None of this progress belongs to a single champion. The story of psychedelic research funding is a story of collaboration between scientists, policymakers, donors, advocates, and, most importantly, the veterans who refused to give up.
Groups across the country—state veteran coalitions, local nonprofits, academic research centers—have all played vital roles in building this momentum. Every hearing, every testimony, every policymaker who took a meeting or asked a hard question moved the conversation forward.
Collective advocacy works because it mirrors the very thing we’re fighting for: connection. Healing happens in community and policy change does, too. The wave of psychedelic research appropriations represents more than a policy trend. It’s the foundation of a new era in mental health innovation.
By funding this research, states are not only expanding scientific understanding, they’re accelerating access to life-saving therapies. These appropriations build the infrastructure for larger-scale clinical trials, create data that informs federal policy, and signal to philanthropic partners that this work is credible and scalable.
They also demonstrate something powerful: that when the issue is healing veterans, politics can take a back seat.
We’re often asked what success looks like in this work. The truth is, success isn’t just about passing a bill or securing an appropriation. It’s about changing hearts, minds, and systems.
Every legislative win builds momentum for the next. Every research study brings us closer to understanding how to safely and effectively treat conditions that have taken too many lives. And every story shared by a veteran moves the needle toward compassion, understanding, and action.
The psychedelic research movement isn’t about celebrating organizations or individuals—it’s about celebrating progress. It’s about ensuring that no veteran is left without hope, and no policymaker is left without data.
Call to Action: Stay engaged, share, and support VETS’ advocacy work.
As this work continues, we know there’s more to do. Federal agencies are beginning to take notice, with discussions underway at the Department of Veterans Affairs, National Institutes of Health, and Department of Defense about how to integrate psychedelic research into their existing frameworks. States are learning from each other’s successes, and donors are recognizing that funding science is one of the most impactful ways to honor those who served.
But sustaining this momentum requires ongoing advocacy, credible partnerships, and a willingness to lead with integrity.
At VETS, we remain committed to being part of that effort as a leader and a bridge between those who need healing and those with the power to make it possible.
HB 1802 started as a simple idea: to study the science behind hope. Four years later, that hope has become a movement transforming how America approaches mental health.
From Texas to California to Washington, D.C., the message is clear: when veterans lead, change follows.
As long as there are veterans who need healing, VETS will be there to make sure policymakers listen.
If you’ve been inspired by this progress, there are ways to stay involved:
Share your story . Use your voice to amplify the message that science, compassion, and bipartisanship can save lives.
Support the work. Your donations make it possible for VETS to continue leading credible, veteran-driven advocacy for psychedelic research and treatment access.
Together, we’re building a future where healing isn’t controversial, it’s compassionate.