Panama authorizes medical and therapeutical cannabis

On Wednesday, August 31, Panama’s President Laurentino Cortizo approved two legislative decrees on the medical and therapeutic use of cannabis and its derivatives, regulating the use and access to this substance for therapeutical, medical, or scientific purposes throughout the country.

“I signed the executive decree that regulates Law 242 of 2021, which regulates the medical and therapeutic use of cannabis and its derivatives; one of the most solid regulations at the regional level to allow the consumption of processed cannabis and provide relief to thousands of patients,” the Panamanian head of state said on his Twitter account.

Cortizo also announced the creation of a National Directorate for the Supervision of Activities Related to Medical Cannabis under the Ministry of Public Security, which will be responsible for controlling, “monitoring and supervising the necessary activities.”

In the Central American country, only people who can show a medical prescription are allowed to consume cannabis, with strict control and monitoring through a patient registration system.

“The purpose of all this is that Panama has the best management model for the medical cannabis industry. In the medium and long term, we intend to promote the establishment of local and foreign companies that can supply the domestic market with raw materials produced in Panama,” Cortizo said.

He also stated that “the commercialization of products will be carried out under strict import controls with a traceability program that includes monitoring from the growing areas to the laboratories and final points of sale.”

The law regulating the medicinal and therapeutic use of cannabis and cannabis derivatives results from three years of intense work and close collaboration and coordination between various agencies of the executive branch and the National Assembly.

According to the president, the rules approved on Wednesday are intended to ensure that Panama has the best administrative model for the medical cannabis industry.

“We intend to promote, in the medium and long term, the establishment of local and foreign companies that can supply the domestic market with raw materials produced in Panama.”

He pointed out that during this period, “they must authorize the importation of cannabis-based medicines, phytopharmaceuticals, and finished products that will allow them to meet the needs of our patients in the first two years after the entry into force of this regulation.”

With information from Latina Press