Why Conservative Icon Rick Perry Is Pushing for More Psychedelic Drugs

Secretary Rick Perry Official DOE Portrait, 2017. Photo courtesy of Ken Shipp, United States Department of Energy. Public domain.

Rick Perry built his political career as a no-nonsense conservative, a tough-on-crime, small-government champion. But what if we told you that the same man who once fought against drug legalization is now one of the loudest voices advocating for psychedelics? Yes, you read that right — the former Texas governor is championing the very substances his party has long demonized, and it's all in the name of helping veterans.

In recent years, Perry has taken a stance that many in his political circle would never have expected — he has become an outspoken advocate for psychedelic therapy. His shift was not about embracing broader drug legalization but about finding a viable treatment for military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).

A Conservative's Unexpected Allyship

Perry's introduction to psychedelic therapy came through Morgan Luttrell, a former Navy SEAL and now a U.S. congressman, who worked with Perry at the Department of Energy. Luttrell's twin brother, Marcus Luttrell, also lived with Perry while struggling with PTSD, which gave Perry firsthand exposure to the difficulties veterans face in accessing effective treatment. Over time, Perry became convinced that psychedelics like ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT had been unfairly stigmatized and removed from medical research for political reasons.

The Crisis Facing Veterans

The United States has long struggled to provide adequate mental health care for veterans. Traditional treatments such as talk therapy and prescription medications often fall short, leaving many veterans battling depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Some have turned to psychedelic therapy, seeking relief in clinics outside the country, particularly in Mexico, where ibogaine and other psychedelics are legally administered in controlled settings.

These substances, though still illegal in the United States, have shown promise in early research. Some studies suggest that ibogaine may help rewire neural pathways damaged by trauma, as reported by The New York Times, while 5-MeO-DMT has been described by veterans as providing profound emotional and psychological relief.

The Road to Legitimacy

Perry's support for psychedelics places him among a growing group of politicians and researchers calling for expanded studies into their medical benefits. In a significant development, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently announced its first federally funded research into psychedelic therapy in over 50 years. However, despite growing interest, federal restrictions mean that these treatments remain largely inaccessible to U.S. veterans who could benefit from them.

FDA Red Tape

Psychedelic treatments — like psilocybin and MDMA — show promise for helping people, but they have many hurdles to clear before being accepted into the U.S. healthcare system. Safety, insurance, and finding enough trained therapists are all concerns. The FDA also faces challenges in evaluating these therapies because they involve long, immersive sessions in addition to the drug itself.

Dr. Thomas Insel, a former director of the National Institue of Mental Health and a current advisor and investor for Compass Pathways, a biotech firm conducting psilocybin clinical trials, explains, "the idea that you're suddenly going to democratize care by getting [a drug] through the FDA," doesn't always work out, as reported by Time. Insel notes that the overall process is complicated by the FDA's lack of experience in regulating a combined therapy-plus-drug approach. Even tried-and-true research methods, like using placebos, can be tricky with psychedelics since participants often know if they've taken the real thing.

The Future of Psychedelic Therapy

For Perry, advocating for psychedelic research is not about political ideology but about finding effective solutions for those who served their country. He argues that refusing to explore these treatments due to outdated drug policies does a disservice to veterans who have exhausted all other options.

"What I try to tell people is that this isn't partisan at all. Let's take our labels away on this one. This is about humankind. This is about taking care of individuals. This is about saving lives. This is about giving people their lives back," Perry explained, in an interview with Reason's Nick Gillespie at the Psychedelic Science 2023 conference in Denver.

While legal and regulatory hurdles remain, Perry's voice adds significant weight to the push for change. As studies continue and public opinion shifts, psychedelics could become a mainstream tool in the fight against PTSD and TBIs, offering a lifeline to the veterans who need it most.

References: Rick Perry on Psychedelics: 'These Are Medicines That Were Taken Away for Political Purposes' | Seeking Relief From Brain Injury, Some Veterans Turn to Psychedelics | The FDA Didn't Approve MDMA. Is the Medical System Ready for Any Psychedelic? | Pα+ Psychedelic Bulletin #185: Joe Rogan on Ibogaine; Wisconsin Medicaid to Cover IV Ketamine for Depression; Inside the Plan to Make Lykos MAPS Again | Psychedelic drugs can greatly reduce psychiatric symptoms among special forces veterans, study finds