As federal institutions gradually formalize pathways for psychedelic research, the broader landscape remains defined by steep friction.
In this week’s psychedelic policy briefing, investigative journalist Jack Gorsline breaks down key developments from across the psychedelic industry, including a potential final death blow on Capitol Hill for expanding Right to Try access to schedule 1 drugs this term.
Elsewhere in D.C., whispers are growing louder that a rumored reversal of the FDA’s previous request for new clinical trials before reevaluating a controversial biotech company’s patented MDMA formula.
Just beyond the psychedelic bubble, a recently-advanced intellectual property-focused federal bill seeks to upend the status quo for patented pharmaceutical compounds, signaling a strong interest from congress in reigning in longstanding monopolistic business practices across the pharmaceutical industry.
Here are the three major developments shaping the beat this week.
U.S. House Passes NDAA Amendments to Extend Military Psychedelic Research Through 2033
As first reported by Marijuana Moment, on Wednesday July 22, The U.S. House of Representatives passed drug policy amendments as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The measure extends the Department of Defense’s (DOD) psychedelic therapy research initiative through 2033. The legislative package codifies executive directives aimed at expediting clinical trials for military service members struggling with treatment-resistant PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI).
The reform reflects a continued federal bifurcation: while House lawmakers advanced clinical psychedelic research for veterans, the House rules committee blocked proposed waivers for military recruits with prior cannabis infractions. The House also rejected a separate amendment to the NDAA proposed by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Rep. Madeline Dean (D-PA) that sought to solidify Right to Try access to Schedule I substances.
This congressional rejection of “Right to Try” access-focused NDAA amendment likely signals the end of the road for the Freedom to Heal Act of 2025 as well, which aimed to codify RTT Access to Schedule I substances like psilocybin, MDMA, and ibogaine. Filed on December 4, 2025 by Sen. Corey Booker (D-NJ) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), the bill was backed prominently by advocacy organizations Reason for Hope, BrainFutures, and the Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition (VHMLC), the bill generated significant media coverage and a public endorsement from former Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema, who is the subject of a Department of Justice complaint alleging illegal lobbying activity. However, as I reported for DoubleBlind Magazine back in March, leaked email correspondence from key Senate Veteran Affairs Committee (SVAC) staffers appeared to indicate that the bill never had any legs in Congress.
Rumors of FDA Re-Evaluation for Resilient Pharmaceuticals
Resilient Pharmaceuticals (formerly Lykos Therapeutics) is expected to be granted a full reevaluation of its MDMA-assisted therapy treatment from the FDA without being required to conduct new Phase III clinical trials. According to multiple sources with knowledge of the company’s ongoing negotiations with the FDA, Resilient could resubmit by the end of the year, or possibly even by the end of July.
Psychedelic Alpha founder Josh Hardman first reported on a possible reevaluation of the original clinical data earlier this year, and noted on Twitter/X last week that a formal resubmission could happen by the end of July.
A reversal from the FDA would contrast with the agency’s request for Resilient to conduct new Phase III clinical trials in a Complete Response Letter (CRL) sent to the company following the initial rejection of its New Drug Application (NDA) for its patented MDMA formula. Additionally, three research studies evaluating long-term outcomes of Phase II clinical trial participants following MDMA-assisted therapy were formally retracted by Psychopharmacology in August 2024. The prominent academic journal cited “protocol violations amounting to unethical conduct… by researchers associated with this project.”
The retraction notice stated that the authors “confirmed they were aware of these violations… but did not disclose this information to the journal or remove data generated by this site from their analysis.”
Administrative and industry influence on the rumored reevaluation could have played a role as well. President Trump reportedly exerted significant influence on the FDA’s decision to approve flavored nicotine vapes earlier this year, and Trump has openly stated that a text from Podcaster Joe Rogan spurred his decision to sign a psychedelic research-focused Executive Order back in April. What’s more, one of Resilient’s largest shareholders is Venture Capitalist Antonio Gracias, a prominent Silicon Valley aly of SpaceX Founder Elon Musk who served alongside Musk as a Special Government Employee under Trump’s since-shuttered Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and helped lead a takeover of Resilient/Lykos in May 2025 after connecting with company founder Rick Doblin at Burning Man.
Per reporting from The Guardian, it was at the annual festival in Black Rock City, Nevada that Gracias initially advised Doblin to cut his losses with Lykos altogether and start fresh, before ultimately teaming up with British billionaire hedge fund manager Christopher Hohn.
MA Lawmakers Advance Two Competing Psychedelic Pilot Program Bills
Two bills designed to establish psychedelic-assisted therapy pilot programs in Massachusetts have advanced to the House Committee on Ways and Means. The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing recently issued favorable recommendations for House Bill 4200 and House Bill 2203, continuing the legislative momentum after both measures cleared the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery. House Bill 4200, introduced by state Rep. James O’Day, would authorize the Department of Public Health to license a maximum of three mental health centers for supervised psychedelic treatments, mandating that the participating clinics remain independent from pharmaceutical companies and drug developers.
However, the push for a strictly medicalized rollout has sparked scrutiny over the growing influence of private capital. Control Z Health co-founder Colin Beatty testified alongside O’Day in June 2025 to support the pilot while harshly criticizing broader decriminalization efforts like Question 4, labeling adult-use access an “irrational exuberance.” While Beatty claimed his advocacy is rooted in a desire to provide humane medical care, grassroots activists like Jamie Morey and Graham Moore of Mass Healing have raised concerns regarding his previous addiction treatment venture, Column Health.
A companion measure sponsored by state Rep. Marjorie Decker, House Bill 2203, would create a two-year psilocybin pilot program strictly for adults 21 and older. Following U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines, the initiative would partner university researchers with community groups to oversee clinical protocols and evaluate psilocybin’s effectiveness in treating depression, PTSD and end-of-life distress. State officials are expected to analyze the pilot’s community impact and the feasibility of eventual MassHealth coverage before the legislation goes before the full House for a vote.
These legislative advancements are unfolding in the wake of the scandal-plagued failure of a 2024 psychedelics-focused ballot initiative and alongside a notable spike in lobbying spending on Beacon Hill. As I’ve previously reported for Lucid News, Compass Pathways, a company pursuing FDA approval for a synthetic psilocybin drug, poured $54,000 into lobbying the governor’s office and the Executive Office of Veterans Services during the first half of 2025 — a significant jump from $32,100 the previous year. Traditional health care organizations are also spending heavily to mold the state’s upcoming psychedelic framework, with Health New England Inc. and the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans spending a combined $140,000 over the first six months of the year.
Legal & Corporate IP: Senate Passes S. 1041 to Curb Biologic Patent Thickets
On July 21, 2026, the United States Senate unanimously approved the bipartisan Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act (S. 1041). The bill imposes a statutory cap of 20 patents that brand-name drug manufacturers can assert against biosimilar applicants during litigation.
This proposed bill aims to crack down on “patent thickets,” a tactic used by pharmaceutical companies to prolong their monopolies on biologic drugs. Historically, large drug manufacturers have manipulated the patent system by registering numerous minor, overlapping patents for a single medication, effectively preventing cheaper alternatives from reaching the public.
By removing these legal roadblocks, lawmakers expect the legislation to significantly lower out-of-pocket expenses for patients who depend on these crucial treatments. Additionally, opening up the market to more competition should save government healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid billions of dollars over time. The bill is now moving to the House of Representatives, where patient advocates are pressing for its rapid approval so these vital pricing reforms can quickly become law.
While the bill specifically pertains to “biologic patent thickets” – the precedent-setting nature of the bill signals an appetite from members of both political parties for broader patent thicketting reform in the future.
This article was produced in partnership with Psychedelic State(s) of America – a nonprofit-sponsored news organization dedicated to rigorous independent psychedelic journalism. Learn more about PSA’s Media Partnerships Program and donate to the PSA Media Fund here.
