A Kentucky lawmaker is proposing new legislation to fund research into ibogaine as a potential treatment for addiction and certain mental health conditions. State Sen. Donald Douglas introduced the idea during a legislative committee meeting, arguing that Kentucky should explore alternatives to existing addiction treatments and invest in clinical research that could eventually support FDA approval of the compound. The proposal follows growing national interest in studying psychedelic therapies for conditions such as opioid use disorder and post-traumatic stress.
The effort revisits an earlier proposal first advanced by Bryan Hubbard, now CEO of Americans for Ibogaine, which sought to allocate opioid settlement funds toward ibogaine research in Kentucky. That plan was ultimately halted in 2023, but momentum has continued to build elsewhere, including a $50 million research initiative in Texas. Supporters argue that further study could expand treatment options, while critics caution that more scientific research is needed to fully understand ibogaine’s safety and long-term effects.