Missouri Lawmaker Hopeful as VA Launches MDMA Trial for Veterans
A retiring Missouri lawmaker who championed psychedelic therapy for veterans sees federal MDMA trials as vindication of his five-year advocacy effort.
JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI — A Missouri state representative who has championed psychedelic-assisted therapy for veterans expressed optimism this week following the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ announcement of a new clinical trial using MDMA to treat post-traumatic stress disorder.
State Rep. Dave Griffith, a Republican from Jefferson City who served as chairman of the House Veterans and Armed Forces Committee, has spent five years researching how psychedelic-assisted therapy helps veterans struggling with PTSD and depression. His legislative efforts in Missouri recently stalled, but the federal trial announcement has renewed his hope for the treatment’s future.
Federal Trial Launches MDMA Research
The VA announced last week it will conduct a clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted therapy, commonly known as MDMA-assisted therapy. MDMA is a synthetic laboratory-created substance also known as “ecstasy” or “molly” in recreational use, according to the VA.
“Kudos to President Trump for stepping up and taking the lead on this,” Griffith said. “PTSD is really a killer among veterans. If you listen to the testimony that’s been taking place over the last five years just in the Missouri House alone, the life change that it’s had for them is a really compelling reason why something like this would work.”
Missouri Legislation Stalls in Senate
Griffith’s final push for Missouri legislation allowing clinical trials of psychedelic-assisted therapy ended in disappointment this May. His bill passed with overwhelming support in the House but stalled in the Missouri Senate during the final days of the legislative session.
The representative, who is term-limited and will not return next year, acknowledged his time advocating for the issue has ended. “I’m not going to be there next year, I’m term-limited out,” Griffith said. “It’s really passing the torch to a lot of the other veterans that are on the Veterans Committee and those that see the value in it.”
Hope for Future Progress
The federal trial represents a significant development in psychedelic-assisted therapy research for veterans’ mental health treatment. Griffith’s advocacy came after years of studying research showing positive outcomes for veterans using these treatments for PTSD and depression.
The announcement follows President Trump’s recent executive action on accelerating medical research, though the specific details of that order were not fully detailed in available documentation. The VA’s decision to move forward with MDMA trials signals growing federal interest in alternative treatments for veterans’ mental health challenges.
Other veterans serving on Missouri’s Veterans Committee are expected to continue advocacy efforts for similar state-level legislation in future sessions, building on the groundwork Griffith established during his tenure in the House.
