Panama creates exception to sanitary registration and unlocks medicinal cannabis market

The Ministry of Health of Panama (MINSA), through the National Directorate of Pharmacy and Drugs (DGFD), published Resolution No. 372 on September 26, 2025, according to NewsWeed. The measure establishes the conditions that allow finished cannabis products for therapeutic use to be dispensed through an exception to the traditional sanitary registration.

In August 2021, Panama approved Law 242, authorizing the medicinal use of cannabis. Although this step was seen as historic for Central America, its practical application was delayed.

For years, Panamanian authorities faced difficulties in defining a clear regulatory framework and registration conditions for finished cannabis products. The absence of specific rules for certification prevented their placement in the market, even after the government issued manufacturing licenses to seven Panamanian companies in January 2024.

The adoption of the new Resolution 372 aims to fill this significant gap in the system. According to the Resolution, products containing Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) intended exclusively for medical use may benefit from an exception procedure to the traditional sanitary registration.

Requirements and conditions for medicinal cannabis registration

To take advantage of the exception procedure, manufacturers must submit a complete dossier to the National Directorate of Pharmacy and Drugs. This dossier should detail the product's composition, origin, manufacturer, and certificates of cannabinoid content analysis.

It is important to emphasize that these finished cannabis products can only be dispensed with a medical prescription, following the guidelines of the National Medicinal Cannabis Use Program. Labeling and packaging, in turn, must comply with rigorous sanitary standards to ensure traceability and patient safety.

A strong signal for the Panamanian industry

With the issuance of Resolution 372, Panama strengthens the credibility of its intention to establish a robust industrial framework for medicinal cannabis. The country, already strategic in international trade through the Panama Canal, now aims to position itself as a future regional center for the production and distribution of these products.

Although legislative modernization (such as Law 419 of February 1, 2024, on the registration of sanitary products) has facilitated a more agile regulatory environment, challenges persist. The industry now awaits the implementation of all operational procedures and the necessary training. Additionally, the involvement of banks and insurance companies in this new sector is still considered a factor of uncertainty.

With information from NewsWeed