Ukraine Opens the Door to Psychedelic Research: A First Legal Framework Emerges
- Tadeusz Hawrot
- Mar 27
- 3 min read
Authors
Tadeusz Hawrot
Published
March 27, 2025
Last week, the Ukrainian Ministry of Health took an important step toward enabling scientific research with psychedelics. Two key draft documents were published for public consultation, laying the foundation for legal psychedelic research in Ukraine—something that, not long ago, would have seemed entirely out of reach.
The first document is a proposal to reschedule several well-known psychedelic substances: psilocybin, psilocin, LSD, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, MDMA, and ibogaine. These substances, currently listed under the most restrictive category, would be moved to allow their use in scientific and educational contexts.
The second is a draft by-law that sets out how research involving these scheduled substances would be conducted—what licenses are needed, who can apply, what safeguards must be in place, and how substances are to be tracked, stored, and destroyed.
Together, these changes would remove the legal roadblocks that have so far made it impossible to conduct meaningful research with psychedelics in Ukraine. And they mark the beginning of a longer journey toward evidence-based policy and, potentially, future medical access for those who need it most—especially veterans and civilians recovering from the trauma of war.
A year in the making
Over the past year, Psychedelic Access and Research European Alliance (PAREA) has been working closely with Ukrainian partners—including the Ukrainian Psychedelic Research Association (UPRA), the International Renaissance Foundation, and other international allies—to support the country’s emerging psychedelic science ecosystem.
The process began with a workshop we co-hosted in Warsaw in June 2024, bringing together nearly 50 Ukrainian and international stakeholders. That meeting laid the groundwork for a shared roadmap—and more importantly, built trust and alignment across different communities, from civil society to government.
Since then, we’ve helped coordinate follow-up meetings with the Ministry of Health, shared global models of psychedelic regulation (including input from Australia, the Netherlands, Israel, the UK, and the US), and supported UPRA’s tireless efforts to move this vision forward. UPRA’s team deep local knowledge and relationships have been essential in getting us to this point.
Why this is a big deal
If adopted, these new rules will enable Ukrainian universities, hospitals, and licensed research organizations to legally work with psychedelic compounds for the first time.
That means clinical trials—such as the upcoming single-centre pilot study on MDMA-assisted therapy for veterans—will have a real legal framework behind them. It means Ukrainian therapists can begin hands-on training using active compounds. And it means global researchers may soon find in Ukraine a willing and well-regulated partner for collaborative science.
The draft law also includes thoughtful detail on implementation. For example:
Institutions must obtain a license and follow secure handling and tracking procedures.
Research materials can include both imported substances and confiscated materials (as long as they're certified).
Training use is allowed, which opens the door to developing a new profession of psychedelic-assisted therapists.
From a European and global perspective, Ukraine is setting an example for how psychedelic reform can be done responsibly, transparently, and with public health at its core—even amid the profound challenges of ongoing conflict.
What’s next?
Right now, we’re working on several parallel efforts to build on this momentum:
A competency framework is in development to define who can be trained and what standards should apply for future therapists.
In one month, a MAPS-supported training for Ukrainian therapists will take place inside Ukraine. This will be a historic first for the country.
Several working groups are coordinating activities around legislation, clinical research, education, and public communication.
We are also continuing to act as a bridge between Ukrainian institutions and international allies, helping to ensure the work being done is visible, supported, and grounded in global best practices.
What can you do
This is a crucial window. The Ukrainian Ministry of Health has opened a 30-day public consultation period, during which organizations can submit feedback or expressions of support.
We’re asking respected scientific institutions, medical associations, universities, and civil society organizations to publicly support this legislative proposal. A short letter of support—sent directly to the Ministry—can genuinely help tip the balance.
If you represent an institution with a strong reputation in mental health, drug policy, or medical research, we encourage you to:
Send a short, formal letter of support to the Ukrainian Ministry of Health:
Share this opportunity within your networks of researchers, clinicians, or policy experts.
Note: We kindly ask individuals not to flood the Ministry with personal submissions—what’s needed now is support from credible, well-known actors that policymakers can trust.
This moment is the result of a year of bridge-building, learning, and deep collaboration between Ukrainian and international partners. There’s still a lot to be done—but Ukraine is now in a position to become a leader in the field of psychedelic science, not just in Eastern Europe, but globally.
Let’s keep the momentum going.