> You could probably invent a kind of ketamine that does absolutely nothing interesting and yet still has the benefits. Maybe it can be done but the real reaso

> You could probably invent a kind of ketamine that does absolutely nothing interesting and yet still has the benefits. Maybe it can be done but the real reason that the companies are working on this is that they can patent these new drugs, and that would increase patients' costs (see esketamine vs ketamine). A better use of money might be to do larger studies of existing psychedelics/dissociatives, since these side-effects (psychedelic experiences) are enjoyable for most and we won't know long-term effects of new drugs and whether they do much besides what they would get potentially approved for. These companies would then have a big incentive and money to lobby to keep the existing psychedelics/dissociatives illegal.