Federal report urges states to prepare for psychedelic therapy approvals as research examines THC placebos, ketamine seizures, and ibogaine

A SAMHSA report urges U.S. states and tribal agencies to prepare for possible FDA approval of psychedelic therapies, including the legal, operational, fiscal, and Medicaid implications of bringing treatments into regulated care. It estimates that coverage for psychedelic-assisted therapy could cost states millions of dollars and warns of conflicts with existing programs in Oregon, Colorado, and New Mexico. The newsletter also reviews a four-person pilot study in which 25 mg delta-9 THC produced subjective effects resembling 25 mg psilocybin, suggesting a possible active placebo for psychedelic trials, though replication is essential. Other updates include record UK border seizures of ketamine, an Arizona-funded ibogaine trial for chronic traumatic brain injury symptoms planned for 2027, and cell-signaling research distinguishing hallucinogenic from non-hallucinogenic serotonergic compounds. The issue also notes risks from illicit PMMA-containing pills and early research on psilocybin and chemotherapy-related nerve damage.