Former Texas Governor Rick Perry Champions Ibogaine Research at Dallas Documentary Films Event

DALLAS – Former Texas Governor Rick Perry called for broader access to ibogaine, a psychedelic compound derived from the African iboga shrub, during a panel discussion following a screening of documentary clips on Thursday night. The event, held at Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas, underscored Perry’s growing role in pushing for clinical trials of the substance as a treatment for addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) among veterans.

Perry, who served as Texas governor (2000-2015) and later as U.S. energy secretary under President Donald Trump, shared his personal encounter with ibogaine during the discussion. In 2023, he traveled to a clinic near Tijuana, Mexico, for a 12-hour session. The experience, which he described as transformative, left him feeling unusually calm and clear-headed the next day.

“What we’re doing is changing the world,” Perry told the audience, “… and we’re saving lives.”

The screening featured excerpts from an upcoming film by British director Lucy Walker, who was also behind the Netflix series How to Change Your Mind. The documentary explores ibogaine’s origins in West African rituals and its modern applications, drawing on stories from U.S. veterans who sought treatment in unregulated Mexican facilities. Panelists alongside Perry included former NFL player Robert Gallery, ex-Marine Jay Kopelman and Dr. Martín Polanco, a physician who operates a veterans’ retreat near Tijuana using ibogaine and related psychedelics.

This appearance builds on Texas’ recent legislative push, where lawmakers in June approved up to $50 million in state funds for ibogaine trials under Senate Bill 2308, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott. The measure creates a research consortium involving universities, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies, with the state positioned to claim at least 20% of future revenues from any approved drug, 25% of which would support veterans’ programs. Perry, who first encountered ibogaine advocacy in 2006 through Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, has been instrumental in the effort, testifying before committees and leveraging his Republican credentials to counter skepticism about psychedelics. The funding positions Texas ahead of other states, including a stalled Kentucky initiative, and aligns with Perry’s broader campaign, which includes podcast appearances and international outreach to Israel and Ukraine.

Ibogaine remains a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law, meaning it carries no accepted medical use and high abuse potential in the eyes of regulators. Early studies suggest promise for interrupting addiction cycles and alleviating PTSD symptoms, but experts stress the need for rigorous, controlled trials to address risks like cardiac complications.

Dr. Polanco, a central figure in Walker’s film, highlighted during the panel how ibogaine has helped hundreds of veterans reset neural pathways damaged by combat. Yet, without FDA clearance, treatments stay offshore, raising safety and accessibility concerns for Americans.

Perry’s involvement signals a shift in conservative circles toward evidence-driven innovation. Here at Highly Capitalized Network-HCN, we’ve seen how targeted state investments can accelerate federal breakthroughs. Texas’ model, with its revenue-sharing clause, could yield economic returns while addressing a veteran suicide rate exceeding 6,000 annually. Still, success requires data integrity and bipartisan support, and one misstep in trial design could stall progress for decades.