No mercy for vaping in Thailand! Despite recent hopes on the subject, the country has decided to stick to its position of banning all forms of electronic cigarettes as well as the sale and import of these products in the country. Conversely, cannabis is decriminalized.
A HARD LINE, AN ILLEGAL DECISION!
The Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul indicated during the 20th National Conference on Tobacco and Health that e-cigarettes and other new ways of smoking tobacco represented a hidden danger for society, especially for young people and adolescents.
He mentioned a study carried out by the National Bureau of Statistics of Thailand in 2021 which revealed that more than half of the approximately 80,000 vapers in Thailand were teenagers between the ages of 15 and 24.
"The result of this study proves that e-cigarettes have created new smokers, especially among the youngest populations. They start smoking younger, faster, and are more likely to be affected by cigarette smoke, which has a negative impact on society, the economy, and the environment.” said Anutin.
The Minister also recalled that the Ministry of Public Health, as part of its three-year management plan, had never supported and strongly prohibited the use and importation of vape products in all their forms.
"No matter the vaping advertisements that say they are harmless and harmless to health, the Ministry of Public Health does not believe these excuses and does not support e-cigarettes in any way. But all the people we see vaping are essentially using illegally imported e-cigarettes. Officials must systematically take action against offenders. The confiscation of vaping products will continue in order to prohibit their sale online and on the black market." he added.
Meanwhile, online critics point out that Thailand recently decriminalized marijuana but continues to take a hard line against vaping and shisha.
