NDAA Section 723: DoD psychedelic research authorization
A $10M federal authorization in the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act allowing the Department of Defense to fund psychedelic clinical trials — including ibogaine — for active-duty service members with PTSD or TBI.
The FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act, signed January 2024, includes Section 723 — a provision authored largely through the efforts of Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), himself a former Navy SEAL.
Key provisions
- Lead administrator designation: The Secretary of Defense is directed to designate a lead administrator within 180 days and establish a process to fund eligible entities — federal and state agencies and academic institutions — to conduct research on psychedelic-assisted therapies.
- Eligible substances: MDMA, psilocybin, ibogaine, 5-MeO-DMT, and qualified plant-based alternative therapies.
- Funding: $10 million in research grants is appropriated for the program.
- Eligible participants: Active-duty service members diagnosed with PTSD or TBI.
- Reporting requirements: Annual reports to Congress for three years on findings and participation.
What it does and doesn’t do
NDAA Section 723 does not legalize ibogaine for civilian use. It authorizes DoD to fund research and to permit active-duty service members to participate in that research. The bill is the most direct federal acknowledgment to date that psychedelic therapies — including ibogaine — warrant rigorous study for service-member mental health.
For veterans seeking treatment today, this section does not provide a path to access; it builds the research foundation that future regulatory access may eventually rest on. See Access and funding for how veterans actually obtain treatment now.