Cannabis in Panama is illegal for recreational use, but the law is often unenforced and its use is often tolerated by the general public. Its use is regarded as a taboo subject and it may be masked by the addition of food flavorings.[1] It is often consumed by the youth and cannabis extracts are sometimes used in e-cigarettes.[2][3]
Medical cannabis was legalized in 2021, after a bill passed the national assembly by a unanimous vote and was signed into law by President Laurentino Cortizo in October.[4][5] Panama became the first Central American country to legalize medical cannabis in doing so.[4]
The cultivation and use of cannabis (kan-jac) was banned in Panama in 1923.[6]
The Panamanian 1935 Judicial Register refers to cannabis being commonly known locally as "Canyac" or "Kan Jac".[7]