STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – A bipartisan effort to fund pioneering research into ibogaine as a potential treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) took a major step forward Monday, as the House Appropriations Committee approved HB2871.

Sponsored by State Representative Justin Wilmeth, the bill would allocate $5 million to support clinical research into the use of ibogaine, a plant-derived compound that has shown extraordinary promise in treating the devastating effects of TBI and PTSD—conditions that affecting thousands of American veterans.

“Too many of our veterans are fighting a war they never left—one that rages inside their own minds and bodies,” said Representative Wilmeth. “The treatments we have now for veterans struggling with PTSD and brain injuries aren’t working for far too many of them. Ibogaine offers a real chance to change that, and Arizona can be the tip of the spear in delivering a next-generation solution that finally gives them the help they deserve.”

HB2871 directs the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) to award grants to a research institution with expertise in neurological studies, ensuring that a certified clinical study of ibogaine’s effects on TBI and PTSD is conducted safely and effectively. The bill ensures long-term funding stability by exempting the appropriation from lapsing.

Ibogaine has gained increasing attention for its potential ability to reduce PTSD symptoms and repair neurological damage. Veterans, including Texas Congressman Morgan Luttrell and retired SEAL Marcus Luttrell, have publicly credited ibogaine with helping them recover from the physical and mental toll of combat.

Former U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema, who testified in support of the bill, emphasized the urgency of advancing ibogaine research.

“Current treatments for PTSD and traumatic brain injury aren’t cutting it,” former Senator Sinema said. “We owe it to our veterans to find better solutions. Ibogaine has shown promise not just in treating PTSD, but in repairing brain injuries that were once thought to be permanent. Arizona is uniquely positioned to lead this effort, and I’m committed to helping raise the private funding necessary to make it happen.”

Sinema testified that she has pledged to raise $5 million in private funds to match the state’s investment, ensuring the study moves forward.

“We need to act—not just talk,” Representative Wilmeth added. “Our military heroes risk everything for this country, and we can’t let outdated regulations or bureaucratic red tape to stand in the way of a treatment that could help them recover. If ibogaine has the potential to revolutionize care for these conditions, Arizona should be at the forefront of proving it.”

HB2871 now advances to the full House for consideration.

Justin Wilmeth is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 2 in North Phoenix. Follow him on X at @JustinWilmethAZ.