A former U.S. Senator says the federal government is preparing to fast-track psychedelic medicines, especially for veterans with TBI, PTSD, addiction, and treatment-resistant depression.
In this conversation, Kyrsten Sinema explains why the current administration is unusually aligned behind plant-based therapies, how Ibogaine and MDMA could move through the FDA faster than expected, and why small researchers, not Big Pharma, may end up shaping the field.
We dig into:
- Ibogaine’s impact on Special Forces veterans
- Why bipartisan support is real and why it’s strange
- What “FDA fast-track” actually means
- The fight to secure Medicaid/Medicare + VA coverage
- How cost + access could shift once CMS approves care
- The threat of large companies burying breakthroughs
- Why trauma + TBI may define the next decade of medicine
Sinema isn’t claiming everything is solved.
She argues there’s a rare window — and it could close.
Whether you’re hopeful or skeptical, you’ll walk away with a clearer view of the policy machinery behind psychedelic medicine.
⏱️ Chapters:
00:00 – Intro: Politics, Power, and Psychedelics
01:41 – Why Interview Sinema? Pushback & Intentions
02:21 – First Sponsor Tease & PS25 Plans
03:56 – Sinema Joins the Interview
04:18 – How Ibogaine Changed Her Perspective
06:49 – Senate Colleagues' Reactions
07:44 – Policy Progress & Bipartisan Allies
09:43 – Pharma Capture & Psychedelic Industry Risks
12:02 – Can Psychedelics Avoid Biotech Monopoly?
13:40 – Cost, Access, and Equity Concerns
14:44 – Ensuring Access for the Most Vulnerable
15:56 – State vs. Federal Models
17:00 – Federal Role in Decriminalization & Reform
17:20 – Regrets or Missed Legislative Opportunities?
18:43 – Sinema’s Continued Involvement
20:06 – Political Alignment vs. Policy Goals
20:17 – Restoring Trust in Institutions
21:55 – Five-Year Outlook for Psychedelic Medicine
23:10 – Final Reflections & Outro
23:41 – Bonus: Sinema on Psychedelic Science 2025 Panels
25:17 – Collaboration with VETS Foundation
25:53 – Closing Thanks & Conference Plans
28:49 – Outro Recap & Reflections
31:19 – Sponsors, Shulgin Legacy, and Fireside Project
32:10 – Next Episode Tease: Dr. Anne Wagner
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