Why is ibogaine illegal in the United States?
Ibogaine was made illegal when it was classified in the same Schedule I category as LSD, psilocybin and mescaline in the 1960’s. Despite promising results during clinical trials on humans in the US, there has not been nearly enough of the funding needed to get ibogaine approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Pharmaceutical companies are not interested in bringing it to the market due to the lack of monetary reward (profits) from ibogaine’s sale or distribution. The single administration modality of ibogaine does not create a prospect for adequate and continuous revenue for pharmaceutical companies compared with methadone maintenance programs.