U.S. Conservatives Embrace Psychedelics: What Does This Mean for Europe?

Psychedelics are no longer just the domain of left-leaning progressives and wellness circles. In the U.S., a growing number of conservative figures are publicly backing psychedelic therapy — raising new questions about how Europe’s political and cultural landscapes will respond.

A Shift Is Happening 

A political and cultural transformation is unfolding, one that few could have predicted even a decade ago. In the 1960s and ’70s, psychedelics were outlawed as symbols of counter-culture and moral decay. Ronald Reagan’s 1980s “Just Say No” era cemented the War on Drugs and the belief that all “drugs” were dangerous threats to society. 

For over 50 years, psychedelics were thrown into the same legal and socio-political category as hard substances like heroin and cocaine. Ignoring the pleas of patients and advocates and scientists, psychedelics were considered physically, morally, and politically toxic. 

But things have changed. Dramatically.  

Suddenly, some of the most vocal supporters of psychedelic therapy are emerging not from liberals or progressives, but from the heart of conservative America.

The U.S. right wing, once the driving force behind drug prohibition, is embracing psychedelic medicine. And with the U.S. often setting the pace for global drug policy and biotech innovation, this ideological reversal could have ripple effects far beyond its borders — influencing the future of psychedelic medicine in Europe and beyond.

From “Just Say No” to My Vote Is “Yes”

Picture it. A conservative Republican politician from Texas standing outside of the U.S. Congress, holding a press conference, and loudly and compassionately advocating for psychedelics.

Unimaginable just a few years ago. Yet this was the scene in 2023, when Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), a former U.S. military soldier and very conservative member of Congress, put his reputation on the line and pushed for a new law to support psychedelic therapy. 

“Why am I pushing for this? Because it works… and it could have saved Mike’s life,” said Rep. Crenshaw, referring to Mike Day who served 20+ years as a Navy SEAL and tragically took his own life after suffering from unresolved PTSD and mental health issues. Crenshaw was introducing a bill to establish a grant program for psychedelic research to treat conditions like PTSD.

Himself a wounded military veteran, Crenshaw is one of several conservative politicians leading the charge for increased access to psychedelics, having witnessed first-hand how these therapies helped fellow war veterans dealing with severe trauma and other conditions.

This unlikely movement keeps gaining traction and recruiting new devotees. One of the most vocal champions to join this unlikely movement is former Texas Governor Rick Perry. The former Republican candidate for President of the United States has made a career change and is now devoting his life to push for increased access to psychedelic therapy. Perry has signed on as Chairman of Americans for Ibogaine, working to reschedule ibogaine for medical use (ibogaine is a powerful plant medicine). The former governor recently appeared at the Psychedelic Science conference in Denver as a keynote speaker, announcing that the state of Texas had passed legislation allocating $50 million toward ibogaine research. 

Again, a reality that would have been completely unimaginable just a few years ago.

“I’ve spent most of my adult life in public service — as governor of Texas, U.S. secretary of energy and a proud veteran. And few things have moved me like what I’ve witnessed with a psychedelic drug made from a shrub in Africa,” wrote Governor Perry in an op-ed for the Washington Post. 

Coming from a conservative politician and former Presidential candidate, this sort of public advocacy for an illegal psychedelic drug signals a significant cultural and political paradigm-shift.

Thank You For Your Service: Military Veterans Give Permission for Change

Like infantry leading the charge on the battlefield, military veterans are once again the vanguard for this fight. 

Perhaps the most influential factor in swaying conservative support is the testimony of veterans. For many former service members, psychedelic therapy isn’t political — it’s life-saving.

The story of Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), a retired Navy SEAL and staunch conservative Republican politician, illustrates the shift. After returning home with traumatic brain injury and PTSD, Luttrell found traditional treatments ineffective. A psychedelic retreat in Mexico changed his life. Now, he’s advocating for policy change and hasn’t been shy about sharing how profound and life-changing the experience was for him: ‘I’ve traveled the country studying and researching these emerging therapies, and I have personally experienced the groundbreaking effects they can have.” 

“I can honestly stand in front of all of you and the American public and say I was reborn. This changed my life. It saved my marriage. It is one of the greatest things that ever happened to me.‘  Rep. Morgan LutrellI on his experience with psychedelic therapy.

Stories like Luttrell’s resonate deeply across party lines. Veterans’ advocacy organizations like Heroic Hearts, many led by former special forces and combat veterans, are lobbying Congress and statehouses to fund research and legal access. These are not hippie activists — they’re decorated warriors showing bravery and vulnerability, saying we need help and this has saved our lives. These military veterans are telling their stories and demanding medical freedom and therapeutic innovation. And it’s working.

For conservative politicians who might otherwise recoil at the idea of psychedelics, the needs of veterans have created political permission to act. Framing these therapies as “supporting our troops” has become a bipartisan rallying cry — and created the conditions for political and regulatory progress.

RFK and the FDA: Federal Government Gets Psychedelic

The political and cultural embrace of psychedelics is now spilling over into the nation’s most powerful health agencies, particularly the FDA. 

While grassroots advocacy and bipartisan political support are crucial, it’s the Food and Drug Administration that serves as the ultimate gatekeeper for medical legitimacy. Without FDA approval, psychedelic therapies remain on the fringe. With it, they can enter the legal medical mainstream, prescribed by doctors, covered by insurance, and integrated into healthcare systems nationwide.

That mainstreaming may now be closer than ever.

In a dramatic sign of the times, the newly appointed (and controversial) U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has become an outspoken champion of psychedelic medicine in the federal government. 

“This line of therapeutics has tremendous advantage if given in a clinical setting and we are working very hard to make sure that happens within 12 months,” RFK Jr. told Congress during his testimony earlier this year. RFK has been open about his support for psychedelics in the past, but this was a public testimony to Congress that he intends to speed up the approval process and put the full weight of the U.S. health department behind these treatments.

Showing how significant this kind of support is, psychedelic stocks soared when RKF’s nomination was confirmed, with some psychedelic companies seeing jumps of 20% and higher in their stock prices. 

Adding to this regulatory support, the head of the FDA Dr. Marty Makary says exploring psychedelics is a “top priority” for the administration, particularly to help military veterans. In a recent interview, Makary called for “an expeditious and rapid review” toward federal approval, adding: “When it comes to some of these psychedelics and other plant-based therapies, I don’t think we’re listening to patients…I don’t think the medical establishment is listening to doctors.” 

Makary said, “People tell me that they believe that psilocybin was successful. It was a curative, or significantly helped, their severe mood disorder.”

For years, the psychedelic field has operated on the edge of legitimacy, despite the mounting evidence of potential benefits to patients in need. With both the HHS and FDA leadership now vocal in their support, the final barriers to medical legalization may soon fall.

A major UC Berkeley Psychedelics Survey has found that: 

• Over half of voters (56%) support FDA approval for psychedelics by prescription
• 78% support making it easier for researchers to study psychedelic substances.
• Almost half (49%) support removing criminal penalties for personal use and possession 

What This Means for Europe

Europe’s psychedelic policies are often shaped by caution, consensus, and coordination with both national and international regulatory bodies. But that doesn’t mean they exist in a vacuum.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA), like other global regulatory bodies, frequently looks to U.S. FDA decisions as precedents. If the FDA grants full approval to MDMA-assisted therapy or psilocybin for depression in the coming years, pressure will build for EMA and national health authorities to follow suit.

For example, the U.S. approved Spravato in 2019 (Spravato is a ketamine nasal spray for the treatment of severe depression) — and the European Union and UK health authorities soon followed, fast-tracking their approval of the controversial drug just a few months after the FDA’s approval. 

We spoke to Tadeusz Hawrot, founder of PAREA, an advocacy group focused on increasing access to psychedelic medicine in Europe. We asked him how decisions in the U.S. will influence health agencies in Europe?

“FDA approvals will be extremely significant. Right now, many European stakeholders still view psychedelics as investigational drugs, essentially saying, ‘show us the evidence’. Meaning large Phase 3 clinical trials demonstrating safety and efficacy. Until approvals happen, psychedelics won’t fully appear on the European regulatory radar.”

And it’s not just government approvals. Policy shifts in the U.S. can open up financial flows and commercial opportunities that ripple into Europe. European biotech firms, researchers, and psychedelic retreat operators will be watching closely. An FDA greenlight would likely trigger increased private investment, multinational research partnerships, and public demand for access in Europe.

“After FDA approval, our organization (PAREA) will have additional leverage to highlight that these therapies are accessible in the U.S., while Europeans are left waiting,” said Mr. Hawrot. “We hope Compass Pathways and other companies will soon consider Europe following their U.S. approvals. Currently, even leading European psychedelic companies prioritize the U.S. market. We’re actively engaging with EU policymakers to create a more supportive environment for mental health innovation in Europe.”

We’ve already seen early signs: European-based companies like Compass Pathways (UK-based) and Atai Life Sciences (German-founded) are deeply involved in U.S. trials and closely tied to American regulatory outcomes. 

If U.S. conservatives continue backing psychedelic reform, and bipartisan support solidifies — FDA approval in the U.S. may happen sooner than expected. And Europe’s policymakers could face growing calls, from both the public and business sectors, to keep up.

How U.S. Drug Approvals Influence Europe

The European Commission, the EMA, and the FDA have cooperation and data-sharing agreements. The EMA, for example, frequently reviews clinical trial results and decisions from the FDA to streamline its own approval process.

While Europe conducts its own assessments, FDA approval can accelerate European access by providing a trusted foundation of clinical data.

What began as an unexpected political realignment in the U.S. could soon catalyze a global shift. Conservative American politicians once united in their opposition to psychedelics are now championing their medical potential. 

Yes, the times are definitely changing. 

The stage is set for major policy change. As the U.S. moves forward, Europe will be forced to consider its own position — scientifically, commercially, and ethically. The challenge for Europe will be balancing this shift with its more cautious medical culture. But if the U.S. leads, Europe may have no choice but to follow.

Because if American conservatives can come around on psychedelics, anything is possible.