California Funds $4 Million for Veteran Psychedelic Research

The California Initiative for Precision Medicine is seeking partnerships between academic research institutions and veteran communities.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Substance Abuse

California Funds $4 Million for Veteran Psychedelic Research

Live Poll

Should California spend public money researching psychedelic treatments for veterans?

California has made up to $4 million available for psychedelic treatment research focused on veterans. The funding will support partnerships between non-profit academic research institutions and veteran communities through a Request for Applications.

Why it matters

Veterans are underrepresented in many biomedical studies, and research that incorporates their experiences could inform future approaches to care for depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of certain psychedelics for these conditions.

The RFA will award up to $4 million over three to four years to project teams, in a state home to nearly 1.5 million veterans. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 41.9% of recent veteran VA health care users had a documented mental health or substance use disorder diagnosis in 2021, and the number of funded teams has not been disclosed.

The players

California Initiative for Precision Medicine (CIAPM)

CIAPM is a program within the California Health and Human Services Agency, launched in 2015, that funds precision medicine research and issued this Request for Applications.

The details

The funding was allocated by AB 113, a budget trailer bill signed earlier this year, and follows AB 2841 from 2024 and AB 1103 from October 2025, which removed barriers to psychedelic research and expedited its approval process. Applicants must submit a Letter of Intent by December 18, 2026.

2015: The California Initiative for Precision Medicine was launched as part of the California Health and Human Services Agency.
2024: AB 2841 was signed, eliminating certain barriers to psychedelic research in the state.
October 2025: AB 1103 was signed, expediting California's psychedelic research approval process.
December 18, 2026: Deadline for Letter of Intent submissions from RFA applicants.

Big Picture

This funding extends the sequence of California laws AB 2841 (2024) and AB 1103 (October 2025), which removed barriers to psychedelic research and expedited its approval, by directing state money toward veteran-focused studies.

Veterans in California may see new research studies offering psychedelic-based treatment options for depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders as funded teams begin their work over the next three to four years. Interested research institutions and veteran community partners should review the eligibility and submission requirements on the CIAPM site.

The takeaway

Research partnerships that include veterans' lived experiences may help close gaps in how psychedelic treatments are understood for conditions affecting this population. Eligible institutions should note the December 18, 2026 Letter of Intent deadline.