Serving Those Who Serve: A 50-State Ranking on Veterans and Military Affairs Policy cover

Serving Those Who Serve: A 50-State Ranking on Veterans and Military Affairs Policy

Veterans and Military Affairs
Zachary Federico, Jonathan Williams, Lee Schalk, Christian Whittle & Max Myers • November 10, 2026
Download PDF View Report

Chapter 4: Supporting Emerging Treatments for Service-Related Mental Health Conditions

Regulated Access to Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy

ALEC Policy Resource: The Therapeutic Psilocybin Act for Veterans and First Responders

Currently, treatment options for veterans with service-related mental health conditions are limited. Using post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as an example, trauma-focused therapy, the VA/DoD-recommended first-line treatment for PTSD, has an estimated dropout rate of 27.1%, and 50% of veterans who complete treatment still meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Second-line treatments involving FDA-approved medications for PTSD only achieve remission in about 20% to 30% of patients and often cause adverse side effects.

In response, researchers, federal agencies, and states are exploring options to expand access to alternative treatments. Psilocybin, the compound found in certain mushroom species, is gaining traction as one of the most promising.

Clinical research on psilocybin was extensive in the 1960s but was impeded in 1970 when it was classified as a Schedule I substance in the Controlled Substances Act. Schedule I substances are defined as “high abuse potential with no accepted medicinal use.” However, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine and other academic institutions have questioned whether psilocybin fits this classification, citing research indicating that it has low potential for abuse, has no known lethal overdose threshold, and is being studied for therapeutic applications across multiple conditions.

Research interest began to reemerge in the early 2000s, with multiple studies reporting significant reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms. One recent study reported a 58% remission rate for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) 12 months post-treatment, a condition that commonly co-occurs with PTSD. In addition to clinical research, observational data from nonprofit-led psilocybin retreats have drawn attention. One study examining veterans who attended a psilocybin retreat in Jamaica reported average improvements of 38% in depression symptoms, 30.4% in anxiety symptoms, and 24.8% in PTSD symptoms.

This growing body of research and institutional engagement has helped move psilocybin-assisted therapy from academic study into state policy action. In the past few years, Oregon, Colorado, and New Mexico have led by enacting legislation to provide access to psilocybin-assisted therapy through regulated access programs. Additionally, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Utah, and Washington have established pilot programs or research programs for psilocybin-assisted therapy.

These programs do not allow recreational psilocybin use. Instead, they provide a framework for providers to administer psilocybin-assisted therapy to patients in need. In Oregon, over 38,000 psilocybin products have been sold for medicinal use with fewer than 30 calls for emergency services, and a recent real-world study from the Oregon program found significant improvements in depression, anxiety, and general well-being.

The ALEC model policy Therapeutic Psilocybin Act for Veterans and First Responders provides states with a framework for establishing a regulated access program for psilocybin-assisted therapy while setting clear guardrails that prioritize patient safety, provider accountability, and legislative oversight. By providing a clear state-led framework, the Act allows lawmakers to lead on mental health policy while maintaining oversight, accountability, and public trust.

Scoring Details

Meaningful Access

  • 10 points are awarded when a state has established a regulated access program for psilocybin-assisted therapy.
  • 5 points are awarded when a state has established a pilot program or research program for psilocybin-assisted therapy.
StateMeaningful Access
Alabama0
Alaska0
Arizona0
Arkansas0
California0
Colorado10
Connecticut5
Delaware0
Florida0
Georgia0
Hawaii0
Idaho0
Illinois0
Indiana5
Iowa0
Kansas0
Kentucky0
Louisiana5
Maine0
Maryland5
Massachusetts0
Michigan0
Minnesota0
Mississippi0
Missouri0
Montana0
Nebraska0
Nevada0
New Hampshire0
New Jersey5
New Mexico10
New York0
North Carolina0
North Dakota0
Ohio0
Oklahoma0
Oregon10
Pennsylvania0
Rhode Island0
South Carolina0
South Dakota0
Tennessee0
Texas0
Utah5
Vermont0
Virginia0
Washington5
West Virginia0
Wisconsin0
Wyoming0

Research Funding for Ibogaine-Assisted Therapy

ALEC Policy Resource: Veterans Mental Health Innovations Act

For veterans who have not experienced relief through traditional treatments, another emerging treatment for service-related mental health conditions is ibogaine-assisted therapy. Ibogaine is a naturally occurring psychoactive compound found in the root bark of the iboga plant in West Africa. In 2024, Stanford Medicine published a study that found an 88% reduction in PTSD symptoms for combat veterans after a single session with ibogaine. This study, along with anecdotal stories from veterans who traveled overseas for ibogaine-assisted therapy, has helped drive interest in clinical research.

The average new drug costs over $1 billion and takes more than 10 years to develop through the FDA approval process. Ordinarily, private drug developers can recover these costs through patent-protected sales following FDA approval. Ibogaine presents a unique challenge because a patent covering its use for opioid addiction expired in 2003, reducing the traditional financial incentive for a private company to fund clinical development.

To help close this funding gap, states have begun using public investment to attract private and philanthropic support for FDA-compliant clinical trials. In 2025, Texas and Arizona allocated $50 million and $5 million, respectively, to fund clinical trials using ibogaine as an investigational new drug. The Texas law also established a multistate research consortium to coordinate research across participating states. Shortly after, the ALEC Veterans and Military Affairs Task Force approved the Veterans Mental Health Innovations Act as model policy, which provides a template for states to join the research effort. Since then, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma have joined the multistate consortium.

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) to partner with states in this research effort. The EO allocated at least $50 million from existing funds to support and partner with state governments, created collaboration pathways across governments and research institutions to enhance data sharing, and expedited approval for psychedelic research by providing Commissioner’s National Priority Vouchers for certain psychedelic drugs.

Unlike psilocybin, ibogaine remains an investigational treatment and is not yet available through state-regulated access programs. Because of this, states are evaluated based on the steps they have taken to advance clinical development. The scoring criteria recognize states that have established an ibogaine research fund or similar mechanism, committed state funding to clinical research, and enacted language supporting participation in the multistate research consortium.

Scoring Details

Research Funding

  • 8 points are awarded when a state has allocated funds for ibogaine research.
  • 4 points are awarded when a state has created financial pathways to fund ibogaine research but has not yet allocated funds.

Consortium Participation

  • 2 points are awarded when a state statute requires participation in the multistate consortium.
  • 1 point is awarded when a state statute says the research institution may participate in the multistate consortium.
StateScoreResearch FundingConsortium Participation
Alabama000
Alaska000
Arizona880
Arkansas000
California000
Colorado541
Connecticut000
Delaware000
Florida000
Georgia000
Hawaii000
Idaho000
Illinois000
Indiana880
Iowa000
Kansas000
Kentucky642
Louisiana202
Maine000
Maryland000
Massachusetts000
Michigan000
Minnesota000
Mississippi1082
Missouri000
Montana000
Nebraska000
Nevada000
New Hampshire000
New Jersey000
New Mexico000
New York000
North Carolina000
North Dakota000
Ohio000
Oklahoma642
Oregon000
Pennsylvania000
Rhode Island000
South Carolina000
South Dakota000
Tennessee101
Texas1082
Utah000
Vermont000
Virginia000
Washington000
West Virginia000
Wisconsin000
Wyoming000