SABER Applauds Texas for Advancing Groundbreaking $50 Million Ibogaine Research Bill

The Scientific Association for Botanical Education and Research (SABER) commends the Texas Legislature for passing Senate Bill 2308, a groundbreaking measure that would allocate up to $50 million toward clinical trials investigating ibogaine, a psychedelic compound with emerging potential in the treatment of opioid use disorder, PTSD, and traumatic brain injury.

The legislation, expected to be signed by Governor Greg Abbott and backed by former Governor Rick Perry, positions Texas as a national leader in publicly funded psychedelic research. It establishes a research consortium, prioritizes care for veterans, and creates a revenue-sharing model that ties scientific innovation directly to community benefit.

“Texas just set a new standard for how states can responsibly explore emerging therapies,” said Dr. Mary Hardy, M.D., a member of SABER’s Scientific Steering Committee. “This is science-driven policymaking that centers both patient safety and public health.”

The initiative marks a turning point in how state governments can respond to substance abuse and mental health crises with forward-thinking, scientifically credible approaches. While some clinics abroad offer ibogaine in unregulated settings, Texas’s model provides a blueprint for rigorous, ethical investigation.

• Largest state psychedelic research fund to date: Texas’s investment is the most significant of its kind, with public funds matched by private and academic partners.
• Veteran-focused and data-driven: Texas is advancing research into treatments for those failed by conventional options. The program emerged following powerful testimonies from military veterans.
• Built-in accountability: The state will retain 20% of any intellectual property generated through the trials, with a quarter of that revenue earmarked for veterans’ services.
• Addressing a critical evidence gap: Ibogaine remains a Schedule I substance under federal law. Texas’s regulated trial framework will generate the clinical data needed to evaluate its safety and effectiveness under medical oversight.

“SABER strongly supports research grounded in rigorous science and public health,” said Dr. Hardy. “By prioritizing research, Texas is setting a powerful example for how states can lead on innovative, accountable approaches to substance abuse and trauma treatment.”

About Scientific Association for Botanical Education and Research (SABER)

The Scientific Association for Botanical Education and Research (SABER) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing scientific understanding, regulation, and safe access to botanicals. Through research partnerships, policy advocacy, and public education, SABER works to ensure that natural products are studied responsibly, used safely, and regulated appropriately.​ To learn more, visit www.saberscience.org.

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