The Association for the Reduction of Harm by Smoking of Panama and the Association of Smokers and Family Members for a Panama Free of Smoke asked the president,  Laurentino Cortizo, to veto as unenforceable Bill 178, which prohibits the use and commercialization of electronic administration systems of nicotine, electronic cigarettes, vaporizers, tobacco heaters and the like, with or without nicotine.

The project was approved on July 8, in a third debate, by the plenary session of the National Assembly.

According to the two associations, the Assembly "insists" on forcing more than 240,000 smokers to consume traditional or combustion cigarettes, with all the implications that this can generate for the health of the person and their families.