U.S. Increases Legal Production of Psilocybin and DMT for Medical Studies in 2026

In a significant shift in U.S. drug policy, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), equivalent to our Federal Police in substance control, announced in early January 2026 an increase in the legal quotas for the production of various psychedelics for scientific research purposes in the new year.

According to the website Marijuana Moment, the measure substantially raises the amounts that authorized laboratories will be able to manufacture of compounds such as psilocybin, psilocyn, and DMT, substances traditionally classified as Schedule I (high potential for abuse and no recognized medical use) under U.S. legislation.
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According to the DEA, the new limits reflect the estimated need for medical, scientific, and industrial research, as well as allowing for the maintenance of stocks and meeting potential legal exports. 

Among the main changes are:

Psilocybin — the annual quota increases from 30 kg to 50 kg in 2026.

Psilocyn — the increase is even greater: from 36 kg in 2025 to 80 kg next year.

DMT (dimethyltryptamine) — adjusted quota from 20 kg to 25 kg

Other compounds that have sparked scientific interest, such as methylone and 5-MeO-DMT, also had their quotas expanded in 2026 compared to previous years' levels.

The increase in quotas does not mean that the recreational use of these substances has been legalized. The authorized quantities are exclusively for research in controlled contexts, such as universities, hospitals, and laboratories. 

Still, the move reflects a growing scientific and clinical interest in psychedelics as potential treatments for conditions such as treatment-resistant depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other psychiatric illnesses.

With information from Marijuana Moment.