Bipartisan Oregon Bill Would Allow Physician-Supervised Ibogaine Treatment
- A bipartisan group of Oregon lawmakers introduced House Bill 4110 to allow licensed physicians to provide ibogaine to patients with certain mental health and substance use disorders, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety, and substance use disorder.
- The bill restricts treatment to patients aged 18 or older who can make and communicate healthcare decisions, requiring administration in a controlled setting with onsite healthcare professionals experienced in managing cardiac risks.
- The legislation defines ibogaine as a natural alkaloid from the Tabernanthe iboga shrub and would exempt it from Oregon’s controlled substances list when used according to the bill's provisions.
- The Oregon Health Authority and Medical Board would oversee implementation, protect compliant physicians from discipline, and the law would take effect January 1, 2027, while not providing protection against federal law enforcement.
A bipartisan group of Oregon lawmakers are working to pass legislation that would allow licensed physicians to provide ibogaine to patients diagnosed with certain mental health and substance use disorders. House Bill 4110 is sponsored by Representative Alek Skarlatos (R), Senator David Brock Smith (R) and Representative Rob Nosse (D), along with Representatives Court Boice (R), Darcey Edwards (R), Darin Harbick (R) and Rick Lewis (R). The proposal, which was filed on February 2nd with a public hearing held on February 10 in the House Behavioral Health Committee, would create a legal pathway for an attending physician to provide ibogaine to a patient for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders or substance use disorder. The committee has scheduled a work session and potential vote for this afternoon.
Under the bill, only patients who are at least 18 years old would qualify. The attending physician would need to determine that the patient is capable of making and communicating health care decisions. Treatment would be required to occur in a controlled setting with a health care provider on site who has experience managing cardiac complications, a safeguard included due to known medical risks associated with ibogaine.
The legislation defines ibogaine as a naturally occurring indole alkaloid extracted from the root bark of the Tabernanthe iboga shrub. It would amend state law to exclude ibogaine from Oregon’s definition of a controlled substance when it is obtained, provided and consumed in accordance with the measure.
The Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Medical Board would be authorized to adopt rules to implement the program. The bill also states that the Medical Board may not discipline an attending physician who provides ibogaine in compliance with the statute.
The measure specifies that nothing in the law would require a person to violate federal law or shield anyone from federal enforcement. If approved, the policy changes would become operative January 1, 2027, with the act taking effect 91 days after adjournment of the 2026 regular legislative session.