For decades, the world of psychedelic drugs was firmly associated with the countercultural left. Today, a significant political shift is underway in the United States, with one of the most potent psychedelics, ibogaine, finding unlikely champions among evangelical Christians, Republican governors, military veterans, and tech billionaires.
A Divine Technology for Healing Trauma
Derived from the rootbark of a Central African shrub, ibogaine is being reframed by its new proponents not just as a drug, but as a divine technology for healing. Many pointedly avoid the term 'psychedelic' due to its cultural baggage. Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a landmark $50m funding package for ibogaine research in June, citing its "great promise" for treating conditions suffered by veterans. Texas is home to more veterans than any other US state.
This conservative embrace marks a stark departure from history. "The psychedelic renaissance is three things: capitalised, conservative and Christian," wrote author Jamie Wheal earlier this year. The strategic decision to place military veterans at the forefront of the psychedelic reform movement has gained powerful momentum, especially after the FDA's rejection of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD in 2023.
From Battlefield to Breakthrough: Veterans' Testimonies
The push is heavily backed by compelling personal and scientific evidence. A 2023 Stanford University study published in Nature Medicine found that 30 US special forces veterans who underwent ibogaine treatment in Mexico experienced significant reductions in symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI), PTSD, and depression. Improvements were sustained a month later with no reported side-effects.
High-profile veterans are lending their voices. Rob O'Neill, the former Navy SEAL credited with killing Osama bin Laden, told Tucker Carlson that ibogaine helped him address his PTSD through a gruelling process of confronting his demons. Congressman Morgan Luttrell, a former Navy SEAL, underwent ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT therapy in Mexico in 2018, calling it "life-changing" and crediting it with easing his war trauma before his election to the House in 2023.
Big Money and Political Alliances
The movement is attracting substantial financial and political backing. Google co-founder Sergey Brin reportedly invested $15m into an ibogaine research startup last year. The advocacy group Americans for Ibogaine was co-founded by lawyer Bryan Hubbard and former Texas Governor Rick Perry, who served as Donald Trump's Energy Secretary.
The cultural alignment extends to other influential figures. Elon Musk, a ketamine therapy enthusiast, has become a vocal figure in the space. Former UFC champion Conor McGregor claimed in a viral social media post that an ibogaine experience led to visions of being initiated by Jesus. Longevity entrepreneur Bryan Johnson live-streamed a mushroom trip to over a million viewers on X.
Author Norman Ohler, who recently took ibogaine at a Mexican clinic alongside veterans, witnessed its transformative potential firsthand. He described a veteran who, after being shot in the head in Afghanistan, suffered daily migraines for years. "After taking ibogaine, his pain was completely gone," Ohler stated.
Risks and the Future of 'Maverick' Medicine
Despite the enthusiasm, ibogaine carries serious risks. It is contraindicated with many other drugs and can cause cardiac arrest, necessitating treatment in a clinical setting with intensive monitoring. A 2021 study noted 33 publicly reported ibogaine-related deaths, though the true figure is believed to be higher.
Critics like Jeremy Wheat of the Global Ibogaine Therapy Alliance warn of the drug's commodification within a "ruthlessly transactional" American healthcare system, reducing a profound experience to "just a pill you take." There is also growing scrutiny over the cultural right's newfound dominance in defining psychedelic healing.
Yet, for advocates like Bryan Hubbard, the focus remains on the urgent medical need. He argues for moving beyond the imagery of "someone who is eating a handful of mushrooms and rolling around the mud at Woodstock in 1969" to present credible advocacy for healing. As reform discussions advance in states like Ohio and Colorado, and with high-profile conservative support solidifying, ibogaine's journey from African ritual to potential mainstream medicine in America is entering a decisive new chapter.
