Is Hemp Legal in Panama?

Industrial hemp does not have a dedicated legal framework in Panama. Law 242 of 2021 and Executive Decree 25 of 2024 address medical cannabis but do not create a separate agricultural hemp regime distinct from the controlled-substance schedules. Cannabis sativa, regardless of THC content, is treated as a controlled plant under Law 23 of 1986 and Law 13 of 1994 unless cultivated under a MINSA license issued under the medical program. There is no 0.3 percent THC carve-out equivalent to the US 2018 Farm Bill, no industrial hemp licensing scheme through the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA), and no published technical standard for fiber, grain, or seed varieties.

The Ministry of Agricultural Development has discussed adding hemp to the country's agricultural policy in 2024 and 2025 stakeholder sessions, and the Asamblea Nacional has reviewed bills that would create a hemp registry, but none have advanced to law as of mid-2026. In practice this means hempseed food products, hemp protein, hemp textiles, and hemp building materials can only enter Panama as finished imported goods that contain no detectable THC. Domestic cultivation of any cannabis variety without a Law 242 license is illegal.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.