On August 31, the government of Panama decided to regulate cannabis use for medicinal and therapeutic purposes. Indeed, Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen signed two executive orders: both govern Law 242, which governs the medicinal and therapeutic use of cannabis and its derivatives.
Furthermore, the decrees established a controlling institution, the National Directorate for the Monitoring of Medicinal Cannabis Activities. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health will be permitted to establish a national program to study and research therapeutic cannabis.
Indeed, the government is providing opportunities for internationally recognized centers, institutions, and universities to work on medicinal cannabis in Panama. Thus, knowledge on the subject can be expanded, and the country can rely on the most recent and innovative medical approaches.
The government's goal is to allow both domestic and international businesses to supply the Panamanian market with cannabis grown in Panama. To achieve this goal, cannabis-based pharmaceuticals will need to be imported from abroad for the first time, which is expected to take two years.
According to President Cortizo, Panama currently has one of the most solid cannabis regulations in the region. Thousands of patients will benefit from the government's decision because their suffering will be relieved.
Therapeutic cannabis is used to treat patients suffering from diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer, autism, HIV, AIDS, and arthritis. The use of therapeutic cannabis will be limited to patients who require it and have specific medical conditions. These patients will be enrolled in a dedicated registry, ensuring that the treatment is carefully monitored and supervised.
The authorities will closely monitor the entire cannabis marketing process in the country, from the cultivation fields to the final selling points. Indeed, the monitoring institution will be overseen by the Ministry of Public Security, and it will collaborate closely with representatives from the national police, as well as the national air, naval, and border services. Cannabis consumption for recreational purposes is still considered illegal.
According to experts, Panama is paving the way for the regulation of therapeutic cannabis in Latin America. Nonetheless, other countries in the region are following suit due to the rising demand for cannabis-based medications to alleviate the symptoms of chronic diseases.
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