From Schedule I to the Clinic—Insights Into Psychedelic Drug Development From GHB
Brian S. Barnett, Franklin King
JAMA Psychiatry July 15, 2026 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2026.1901
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe regulation of Schedule I substances like psychedelics can follow a pathway similar to that of sodium oxybate, a product of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB). This Viewpoint reviews the case of sodium oxybate to illustrate how such substances might navigate regulatory approval despite their current legal status.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | The regulatory pathway used for sodium oxybate may serve as a model for other Schedule I substances, including psychedelics. |
Abstract
This Viewpoint reviews the case of sodium oxybate, a product of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), to illustrate how psychedelics and other Schedule I substances can proceed through a similar regulatory pathway.