Kyrsten Sinema on Psychedelics, Policy, and Veterans: Inside the New Bipartisan Movement

Divergent States

In this exclusive interview, former U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema joins Divergent States to discuss the future of psychedelic medicine in American healthcare. From Ibogaine and PTSD to policy reform and bipartisan collaboration, Sinema opens up about her firsthand exposure to the healing potential of psychedelics through veterans' experiences - and why the time to act is now.

We explore how veterans are pushing the policy frontier, what FDA and CMS approval would mean, and why even critics of the current political landscape may want to support this shift.

Whether you're skeptical of government or hopeful for reform, this conversation tackles the friction between institutions and innovation—and why psychedelics might be the most disruptive medicine in a generation.

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🔑 Key Topics & Takeaways:

• Sinema’s introduction to psychedelics through Ibogaine and a veteran’s recovery story
• The bipartisan support behind psychedelic research and its surprising origins
• Why psychedelic medicine challenges the pharmaceutical business model
• The risks of corporate monopolization and how small biotech firms can resist buyouts
• The path to FDA and CMS approval for Ibogaine, MDMA, and psilocybin
• Why the Trump administration’s staffing of “disruptors” may accelerate reform
• Access, affordability, and insurance coverage: what’s next
• Her vision for psychedelic medicine by 2030

⏱️ Chapters for YouTube or Show Notes:

00:00 – Intro & Why Sinema Sparks Debate
01:20 – Why Interview Politicians on Psychedelics
04:00 – Sinema’s Personal Awakening to Psychedelics
06:30 – Ibogaine, Trauma, and Veterans
08:45 – Colleagues' Reactions to Psychedelic Policy
10:20 – Veterans in Congress Leading the Charge
12:00 – Risks of Big Pharma Infiltration
13:45 – Why Psychedelics Aren’t Big Moneymakers
15:30 – Making Treatments Accessible for All
17:40 – Decriminalization vs. Federal Policy
19:00 – Policy Regrets and Strategic Pragmatism
21:10 – Why She’s Still in the Fight Post-Senate
22:00 – Supporting Psychedelics Despite Politics
23:00 – Rebuilding Trust in Institutions
25:00 – Where the Movement Could Be in 5 Years
26:30 – Sinema’s Panels at Psychedelic Science 2025
28:00 – Collaborating with Heroic Hearts & VETS
30:00 – Outro: Reflections and Community Shout-Outs

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