Where the Trump administration and Bay Area progressives agree: Psychedelics

Psychedelics policy in the US is shifting toward mainstream medical use, and the San Francisco Chronicle argues that the Trump administration is driving a pro-psychedelic change while Bay Area progressives broadly support regulated clinical access. The piece points to federal figures and actions including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promoting legalization in regulated therapeutic settings, plus appointments and advocacy meant to accelerate psychedelic medicine approvals. It also cites FDA attention to MDMA research, including Phase 3 results and prior FDA rejection of a New Drug Application for MDMA that hinged on trial design and safety data. The argument frames this as an unusual alignment between MAGA Republicans and progressive advocates, with libertarian influence and a reduced anti-regulatory stance helping explain the reversal. It warns that speeding psychedelics to market without safeguards like rigorous trials, careful patient screening, trained therapists, and transparency could undermine patient safety and trigger backlash, even as federal funding could help advance credible clinical oversight.