Psychedelics have shown great promise in treating mental-health conditions, but their use is severely limited by legal obstacles, which could be overcome.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated a national mental-health crisis in the United States. For two decades, drug-overdose deaths have risen exponentially, and suicide rates have steadily increased. These trends reflect deep-seated problems with the healthcare system, including low investment in preventative mental healthcare and a lack of innovation in psychiatry. In search of more effective treatments, clinicians are exploring the therapeutic use of psychedelic compounds, a promising avenue for addressing the mental-health crisis. However, there are social and legal obstacles to making psychedelics a viable treatment option1.