Jesse Gould, a former US Army Ranger who developed PTSD after three combat tours in Afghanistan, now runs Heroic Hearts Project, a non-profit that offers psilocybin and ayahuasca retreats to veterans, having hosted over 1,500 participants with a waitlist exceeding 2,000. His efforts come as at least eight US states — including Colorado, Oregon, and Minnesota — consider legalising psilocybin (a psychedelic compound derived from 'magic mushrooms') for therapeutic use, even as federal FDA approval remains pending. While some researchers caution that data supporting psilocybin for PTSD is still limited and that federal guidelines would provide clearer safety standards, Gould argues that the urgency is undeniable given that US veterans die by suicide at more than double the rate of the general population.