Gavin Newsom Speeds Psychedelic Research With New Law Backed by Veterans
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 1103, a measure designed to accelerate the study of psychedelics for mental health treatment. The law, effective January 1, 2026, streamlines the state’s approval process for clinical research into drugs such as ibogaine, MDMA, and psilocybin.
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| Key Takeaways from AB 1103 | Details |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Fast-tracks psychedelic studies for PTSD, depression, and traumatic brain injury |
| Lead Supporters | Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS), co-founded by Marcus and Amber Capone |
| Main Change | Allows smaller panels to approve FDA-cleared psychedelic studies, avoiding long delays |
| Effective Dates | January 1, 2026 – January 1, 2028 |
| Potential Impact | Expands access to clinical trials and could inform future legalization efforts |
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Veterans Push for Urgency
The new law reflects a growing demand from veterans who credit psychedelics with saving their lives. Former Navy SEAL Marcus Capone, who co-founded VETS after struggling with PTSD and depression, said traditional therapies failed him. Ibogaine, a powerful plant-based medicine, helped him recover. “California is leading—empowering researchers to advance rigorous studies with the urgency this work warrants,” Capone said.
Every day, more U.S. veterans die by suicide than the average daily combat deaths during the Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan wars combined, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. For advocates like Capone, the crisis underscores why the research can’t wait.
Cutting Through Bureaucracy
Before AB 1103, California’s Research Advisory Panel had to approve any study involving Schedule 1 or 2 drugs. The panel’s 11-month inactivity last year, caused by procedural disputes, stalled progress and drew criticism from scientists and mental health advocates.
The new law allows smaller review groups to greenlight studies that already meet FDA and state compliance requirements, reducing approval times from months to days. Lawmakers will review its effectiveness in 2028 and consider making the reform permanent.
Expanding the Science
VETS has already sent more than 1,000 veterans abroad for treatment and helped secure a $50 million fund in Texas to support ibogaine research. A Stanford study of 30 special forces veterans found dramatic reductions in PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms after ibogaine therapy.
Amber Capone, CEO of VETS, called the legislation “a pivotal moment for science and for every veteran who has waited too long for better treatment options.”
