Barriers and Facilitators for Psychedelic Research and Regulation in Brazil: Insights From Diverse Stakeholders
Clinical Therapeutics June 1, 2026 Anna Luiza Guimarães, Fernando R. Beserra, Lucas Cruz et al.
Interviews with 26 stakeholders in Brazil—including Indigenous leaders, clinicians, activists, and policymakers—revealed four barriers (accessibility, regulation, limited knowledge, and risks), three facilitators (need for innovation, scientific advancements, and legal loopholes), and four perspectives (integration of ancestral knowledge, idealization/mysticism/scientific rigor, user autonomy, and tangible social benefits) for psychedelic research and regulation. Themes were shared across groups but varied in emphasis, highlighting cultural, political, scientific, and clinical considerations for a region with a rich history of traditional psychedelic use.