Bill 153 of 2019, came into force with its promulgation in the Official State Gazette on October 15, 2021, and with the approved Law 242 of October 13, 2021, which regulates the medicinal and therapeutic use of cannabis, and also created the National Directorate for Monitoring Activities Related to Cannabis Panama became the first country in Central America on regulating this subject.
This law initiative aims to «create a regulatory framework that allows the use, supervised and controlled access to medicinal cannabis and its derivatives».
The use of cannabis will be Only «for therapeutic, medical, veterinary, scientific and research purposes in the national territory,» adds the approved text.
The law would allow importing, export, cultivation, production, and commercialization of this substance and its derivatives through a series of licenses granted by the State, and they are:
a) License to import cannabis derivatives for marketing purposes
b) Cannabis derivatives manufacturing license
c) License for the use of seeds and cultivation of cannabis plants
d) License for scientific research
Only 7 companies could be licensed.
The Costs for the License Granted in the amount of 200,000 dollars. The license will be valid for one year and for Renewal a renewal fee will be paid in the amount of 10,000 dollars.
Before issuing a license, the supervisory authority will verify that the applicant has at least $3 million in the capital, $500,000 of which must be on deposit with a local financial institution.
According to the law, patients who access medical cannabis treatment will do so «under strict safety standards» and surveillance.
The cultivation phases of this product will be carried out in designated areas with limited access and with a surveillance camera system.
Also, only pharmaceutical companies or companies specializing in therapeutic services will be able to get and market it.
The most relevant aspects included in this law:
• An Operation License is needed to import, export, re-export, and for manufacturing.
• These licenses will be granted for 10 years and will be canceled or suspended for any of the causes established by law.
• These licenses will only be granted to legal entities(companies).
• Licenses will be issued by the Ministry of Security, through the Office of National Security Strategies and Monitoring.
• The entities in charge of surveillance and control will be MIDA, ANA, and MICI.
• A registry of cannabis user patients will be kept using a Medical Certificate.
•Marketing at home or online is prohibited.
• Sale is prohibited in health food stores and clinics.
• Promotion and advertising are prohibited.
• Sale will only be allowed in authorized and certified pharmaceutical establishments.
• The local product will be subject to a strict control and surveillance system by the MINSA.
