Panama is a Spanish-speaking country that links Central America and South America. It is known for its famous canal, which crosses its territory from one side to the other and allows ships to pass from one ocean to the other. Its president announced on Twitter: "I have signed the executive decree governing Law 242 of 2021, which regulates the medicinal and therapeutic use of cannabis and its derivatives; one of the strongest regulations in the region, to allow the consumption of processed cannabis and relieve thousands of patients."
Panama thus now has a regulatory framework for medical cannabis and its derivatives. It becomes the first country in Central America to allow the consumption of cannabis under medical conditions.
The bill follows an initiative by Crispiano Adames, President of the Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of Panama. It was approved by 44 votes in favor and 0 against. The text was enacted in October 2021 (Law 242 of October 13, 2021), before the implementing decree signed by President Cortizo.
Deputy Crispiano Adames, a member of the Democratic Revolutionary Party, stated that "This measure will help many Panamanians who until now were still unable to obtain this medicine."
