President Trump’s signing of a decree to accelerate federal research on the therapeutic use of hallucinogens at a ceremony in the White House on April 18 made Dimitri Mugianis feel like he was “hovering,” as reported by the New York Times. Mugianis, a practitioner who has worked extensively with these substances in an illegal capacity, shared his experience.
The article highlights that it is significant that a Republican figure who has always abstained from drinking alcohol is now promoting these hallucinogens, which were once condemned by a former president of his party, Richard Nixon, as the “public enemy number one.”
Trump’s shift—along with his Justice Department’s relaxation of regulations on marijuana— may not be entirely surprising. Nixon’s “war on drugs,” which classified psychedelic substances as the most restricted, is now seen as a failure. Modern research has shown the potential of certain hallucinogens in treating conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
Moreover, prominent figures like Elon Musk and Trump’s Health Minister, Robert F. Kennedy, have openly discussed their psychedelic experiences, contributing to the evolving public opinion on the matter.
