It’s sleek, its modern. It’s elegant, just like you. But can you bring your vape to Panama? Will you be able to re-restock once you are here? This article is about the legality of vaping in Panama. If you’re into this sort of thing then congratulations – you’ve got another adjustment to figure out as part of your relocation!
Legality
First, a quick disclaimer that these types of regulatory frameworks are not my typical area of practice. Legalese is a mostly legal blog, and this article that is meant to be light, informative and entertaining more than to impart a fully developed legal opinion.
I’ll aso clarify this article is not about marijuana vapes. The evolving laws around the cannabis landscape in Panama would be an interesting article, but it is beyond the scope of this particular article.
Rather, this article is about your standard, more benign “smoking alternative” types of vapes. Your e-cigs, Juuls, suburban soccer-mom type of vapes. These have gotten popular around the world, including in Panama.
Last year, Panama’s president signed a new law regulating vapes. Here are the main points:
- The new law prohibits the sale and import of all vaping and heated tobacco products, with or without nicotine.
- The law does NOT criminalize use. But it bans vaping in any place where smoking tobacco is not allowed. Smoking is prohibited in all indoor public places, indoor workplaces, public transportation and terminals, outdoor sporting venues and pretty much everywhere that isn´t your house.
- The new law also prohibits internet purchases.
- The law does NOT prohibit exports to other countries, or the reshipping of products in Panama destined for export to third countries.
So vaping is NOT illegal in Panama, but you should be careful about where you do use it outside of the home. And vaping enthusiasts will probably prefer to buy their apparatus, cartridges and any other vaping accessories before coming to Panama as there isn’t a legal channel for buying them locally or on the internet for shipment to Panama.
The law does not specifically speak to the legality of entering Panama with a vape for personal use, but the logical interpretation of what the law DOES say is that you probably can. And in any case, lots of people do. However, be sure to check your airline’s policy as most of them will say that you need to carry your vape in your carry-on luggage.
Is vaping socially acceptable in Panama?
You will see signs in restaurant establishments and restrooms asking you to refrain from vaping, but you will also see people vaping around town. Not tons, but you definitely see people.
Vaping in public also seems to be more prevalent among foreigners and locals of higher social status. That is probably because those people either brought the vape and/or the habit from outside of Panama.
I have never seen someone act bothered by other people vaping, and I have never seen someone called out for vaping in the presence of others. I am sure it probably happens, but I would say there isn’t a lot of sensitivity around vaping in Panama.
Could you buy vaping products in Panama?
I say could you (not can you, and not should you), because imports and sales of vaping products in Panama is prohibited. However, such transactions do take place… in the darkest alleys of the most blighted areas around town.
That’s just a joke. In fact, there is a pretty extensive supply in Panama of all different kinds of vapes – with nicotine and without nicotine… peach flavored, strawberry flavored, and sour gummy worm flavored (probably), etc. Again, these transactions are not legal, but the risk of getting in trouble as a buyer is probably pretty low in terms of probability and severity.
As I said, this is not an area of the law that I practice. Maybe there are other Panamanian lawyers out there making a fortune defending foreigners for their personal use vape charges. It could be a niche market. All I am saying is that I do not hear about those stories.
But keep in mind that it is a grey market. And apart from the potential health risks already associated with vaping, there are probably some additional risks that arise from informal supply chains and a lack of regulation. Also, keep in mind that the price markups in any grey market are usually a bit ridiculous.
Bottom Line?
The new law does not prohibit vaping in Panama, as long as it occurs in a permitted area such as a private residence. But the new law also does not really offer a clear, legal channel for obtaining vape products for personal use. It does say that importing vape products for sale in Panama is illegal, and it also prohibits buying them online.
Noticeably, the law does not specifically address bringing them into Panama for personal use. A natural interpretation then is that it is permitted, but make sure you comply with airline policies as well.
And this is the type of law that is likely to change from time to time. So depending when you are reading this, then check with Google in case the rules may have evolved a bit.
If you liked this article, then be sure to check out the rest of my growing (mostly) legal blog: Legalese.
