Long before Rep. Allen Chesser (R-Nash) was a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, he was a member of the U.S. Army National Guard. He completed over 100 combat missions in Iraq as a turret gunner.
“I was fortunate enough to make it home, but many of us didn’t make it home. And even those of us that did make it home still fight battles on a daily basis, and unfortunately, some of us are still losing those battles,” said Chesser.
Chesser said the country loses between 17 and 44 veterans to suicide every single day, which underscores the need for newer, better interventions for mental health. He believes psychedelic drugs could help.
Senate Bill 1018, which has bipartisan backing, would establish a Breakthrough Therapies research grant fund and appropriate $5.4 million to study psychedelic medicines to treat military veterans, first responders and other trauma-impacted populations.
Rep. Allen Chesser (R) is joined by a bipartisan group of lawmakers and advocates at a June 16, 2026 press conference to support the research of psychedelics. (Photo: NCGA livestream)“Psychedelic-assisted therapy, chemical compounds like MDMA for PTSD, and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression have shown in clinical trials results that traditional medicines cannot match,” Chesser told reporters during a Tuesday press conference.
Sen. Bob Brinson (R-Beaufort), a U.S. Army veteran, is a primary sponsor of the bill in the Senate. Brinson said momentum is building at the federal level to cut through the red tape and speed up research, review and access to breakthrough therapies.
President Donald Trump in April signed an executive order for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to fast-track the review of psychedelic medicines for severe cases of depression and anxiety.
“We know not every veteran is broken. But we also know that for veterans who do need help, no single treatment works for everyone,” Brinson said. “I believe scientifically proven medical treatment should be an all-of-the above opportunity for those who need them.”
Sen. Sophia Chitlik (D-Durham) signed onto the bill when a combat Marine with persistent PTSD in her own district told her he had to leave the country to get access to breakthrough therapies.
“Study after study, including from our own NIH, have shown that psychedelics can yield durable, measurable results for treating trauma and depression,” said Chitlik. “I watched for years these incredible scientific developments scale. In some cases, just two to three supervised sessions of MDMA have effectively cured PTSD.”
With 600,000 veterans living in North Carolina, Chitlik said it makes sense for the state to play a leading role in advancing innovative treatments when the “inevitable reclassification of psychedelics” occurs at the federal level.
Gina Giorgio, founder of the advocacy group Carolinas for Care, said the FDA has already designated seven psychedelic medicines as breakthrough therapies and more than 30 states are advancing legislation to be ready.
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“For the North Carolinians who have spent years cycling through medications and therapies that haven’t worked, hope is the thing that keeps them here. Psychedelic-assisted therapies are giving that hope back to people,” said Giorgio.
Chesser pushed to pass similar legislation three years ago, only to see the bill stall in committee. He’s hopeful that as more members have had a chance to learn more about the benefits of psychedelic medicines, they will find the funding to study them.
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