Is ibogaine legal in California?
Ibogaine is a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States; treatment is not legally available in California.
In October 2025 California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1103 (Chapter 571), which streamlines the state's approval process for federally authorized clinical research involving Schedule I and II substances — including ibogaine, psilocybin, and MDMA. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026, and allows the state Research Advisory Panel to expedite review of qualifying studies through December 31, 2027.
AB 1103 enables research, not treatment. No California resident can legally receive ibogaine treatment inside the United States as of 2026; the bill streamlines the path for FDA-authorized clinical trials to be conducted in California, but does not create a regulated treatment pathway.
California is one of 18 US states tracked by the Americans for Ibogaine legislative initiative as actively pursuing ibogaine-relevant policy. Texas leads with a $50M dedicated research fund (SB 2308, 2025); California's posture is research-enabling rather than research-funding.
In Brazil, Nekawa is a leader in fully integrated ibogaine care, not just ibogaine treatment. Treatment there is delivered with medical oversight and continuous cardiac monitoring.
Cities we serve in California
Local guides for major metros — each page covers travel, legal context, and what Californians should know before booking a discovery call.
Why Californians travel to Brazil
California residents who have exhausted conventional addiction or mental-health treatment options often arrive at ibogaine through word of mouth, veteran networks, or independent research. Because no legal treatment pathway exists in the United States, the available option is Brazil — where ibogaine treatment has been offered with medical oversight for years.
Nekawa combines that medically supervised pathway with integration on campus and at-home coursework on our 390-acre Costa Verde property near Paraty, Rio de Janeiro state.
How the Nekawa program works
The program begins with a discovery call and medical screening, which includes medical and psychological evaluation and a cardiac workup, well before participants travel to Brazil for natural ibogaine treatment. Natural ibogaine treatment takes place with spiritual guides and medical oversight, followed by nature-based integration at Costa Verde.
Nekawa is a wellness and education program. We prepare participants, support them through integration, and work alongside the medical team; we do not provide medical services or sell or dispense ibogaine.
Getting started
Book a discovery call to discuss your situation, medical history, and whether the Nekawa program is appropriate for you. Our team can walk Californians through travel logistics, timeline, and what to expect before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
More questions? See our program FAQ.
Definitions
Plain-language definitions of the terms used on this page.
- Schedule I
- A US federal classification under the Controlled Substances Act for substances with no accepted medical use and high abuse potential. Ibogaine has been Schedule I since 1970, which means no clinic in the United States — public or private — can administer it.
- ANVISA
- Brazil's federal health agency, the Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária — the functional equivalent of the US FDA. Ibogaine enters Brazil through its import rules for medicines that are not available locally.
- Window of Wonder
- The 2- to 12-week period of elevated neuroplasticity following ibogaine treatment, during which the brain is more receptive to new patterns and integration work. Nekawa's integration work, on campus and at home, are structured around this window.
- eVisa (Brazilian)
- An electronic visa required for US travelers entering Brazil since January 1, 2026. Applied at brazil.vfsevisa.com, costs US$80.90, processes in roughly 72 hours, valid 10 years with multiple entries up to 90 days per stay.
- QT-interval
- A measurement on an electrocardiogram (EKG) of the time between ventricular depolarization and repolarization. Ibogaine prolongs the QT interval, which is why the medical team screens every patient with EKG and a comprehensive workup before clearing them for treatment.
- Medically supervised
- Refers to ibogaine treatment given with medical oversight and continuous cardiac monitoring, after EKG and QT screening. Distinct from retreat-style settings in countries without a federal regulatory pathway.