Missouri Bill Aims to Allow Psychedelic Therapy Trials for Veterans

The legislation seeks to provide new treatment options for veterans and first responders struggling with mental health issues.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 7:48pm

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A Missouri bill that would permit FDA-approved clinical trials for psychedelic therapies is moving to the state Senate. The measure cleared the Missouri House of Representatives this past week with bipartisan support, aiming to provide new treatment options for veterans and first responders. The legislation comes as a Missouri veterans report found that 171 Missouri veterans died by suicide in 2022, a rate 23% higher than the national average.

Why it matters

The bill is part of a growing movement across the country to explore the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapies to treat mental health conditions, particularly among veterans and first responders who face high rates of PTSD, depression, and suicide. If passed, the legislation could open the door to new treatment options for those struggling with treatment-resistant conditions.

The details

The proposed clinical trials would be conducted by research organizations within Missouri. Navy veteran Trey Warren, who served four combat deployments and flew 192 combat missions, advocated for the bill after traditional treatments provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs were not effective for his PTSD, anxiety, depression, and alcohol use disorder. Warren said the psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy he later pursued was a 'lifesaver' for him.

  • The Missouri House of Representatives passed the bill this past week.
  • The Missouri Senate is scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday, but a date for a committee hearing on the bill has not yet been posted.

The players

Trey Warren

A Navy veteran who served four combat deployments and flew 192 combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. He is a graduate of the Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program, popularly known as Top Gun, and was diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress, treatment-resistant anxiety and depression, and alcohol use disorder.

Dina Ladd

The founder of the Modern Health Coalition, an organization that focuses on promoting research and finding therapies for veterans and law enforcement officers.

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What they’re saying

“I did four combat deployments. I flew F-14s F-18s off of aircraft carriers 192 combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, graduated from Top Gun. And I was diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress treatment resistant anxiety and depression and alcohol use disorder. And I also had a TBI in 2002.”

— Trey Warren, Navy Veteran

“Our mission is to promote legislation and policy with, promoting psychedelic research, clinical trials, supporting the legislation so that we can get those trials and find therapies for veterans and for law enforcement.”

— Dina Ladd, Founder, Modern Health Coalition

What’s next

The Missouri Senate is scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday, and a date for a committee hearing on the bill has not yet been posted.

The takeaway

This legislation reflects a growing national movement to explore the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapies to treat mental health conditions, particularly among veterans and first responders who face high rates of PTSD, depression, and suicide. If passed, the bill could open the door to new treatment options for those struggling with treatment-resistant conditions.