Legalizacion de drogas en panama

 As stated by respondents in a 2005 survey conducted in El Chorrillo, after the invasion, crime and drug trafficking increased, and living conditions in the neighborhood worsened. Coleen Acostapoints out that "the intervention added further to (Panama's) economic decline.

A nearly impenetrable jungle forms the Darien Gap between Panama and Colombia where Colombian guerrilla and drug dealersare operating with hostage-taking. This and forest protection movements create a break in the Pan-American Highway, which otherwise forms a complete road from Alaska to Patagonia.

The illegal drugtrade in Panama includes trans-shipment of cocaine to the United States. The 1989 United States invasion of Panama to topple President Manuel Noriega was justified in part by the need to combat drugtrafficking. Noriega, the dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989, had a relationship with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from the 1950s. More recently, Mexican cartels such as Sinaloa havebeen active in Panama.
Panama has turned down flat the legalization of drugs to end the drug wars, even before discussions have started.
The Government of Panama expressed its "absolute" rejection ofthe possibility, which has been raised in many countries, but will listen with "great respect" to  the proposal to open a debate on the question which will be submitted formally on Wednesday by thenew government of Guatemala.
"We are not at for  decriminalizing  drugs " said Panama’s Minister of Foreign Affairs,  Roberto Henriquez while confirming that  the vice president of Guatemala,RoxanaBaldetti, will be in Panama Wednesday to open a Central American tour to explain her government's proposal to open a debate on the possible decriminalization or legalization of drugs as a strategy tocombat drug trafficking and curb the extreme violence generated in the region. 
On the same day, Panama will be visited by the US Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, who on Monday,...