Picture: Sanook

 

Thailand's Digital Economy and Society minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn is pressing ahead with ambitious plans to try and legalize electronic cigarettes in the country, reported Sanook.

 

Thailand lags behind many nations in banning the import and smoking of e-cigarettes despite the fact they are widely available in many places. 

 

Crackdowns on shops and importers take place from time to time though users are widely ignored. 

 

Chaiwut has met with representatives from tobacco growers and organisations producing products related to the industry or ECST. He has also met with an online group called "Manut Khwan" (Human Smoke).

 

Chaiwut told the media that he is looking into all aspects of the law and meeting with all interested parties.

 

He wants e-cigarettes to be allowed so that people can be weaned off regular cigarettes that are viewed as more dangerous. 

 

He said there are still ten million smokers in Thailand many of whom would like to quit. 

 

He is examining how tobacco growers could get income by somehow supplying the electronic cigarette industry as opposed to the regular tobacco industry.

 

And high up on his "to do" list it to look at ways the twilight industry could be properly taxed.

 

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He is thinking outside the box. Something frowned upon here.

Must have a vested interest somewhere down the line .....

2 hours ago, webfact said:

And high up on his "to do" list it to look at ways the twilight industry could be properly taxed.

Get that sorted and vaping will be the best thing sliced bread...but I still don't see how he's going to get past the Thai Tobacco Monopoly ????

He has my full support and I hope he's got good bodyguards. A lot of money at stake. 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

He is examining how tobacco growers could get income by somehow supplying the electronic cigarette industry as opposed to the regular tobacco industry.

 

What about biofuel or has this idea died out?

I am sure someone on here explained it is not illegal to own, possess or smoke e-cigarettes, it is only illegal to import and sell them......is that correct?

 

I see people very furtively smoking them for fear of arrest!!

Thai farmers grow corn, and corn can be fermented to make vegetable glucosamine, one of the ingredients in e-liquid.

4 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

I am sure someone on here explained it is not illegal to own, possess or smoke e-cigarettes, it is only illegal to import and sell them......is that correct?

 

I see people very furtively smoking them for fear of arrest!!

In the law it’s illegal like drugs but in real life people smoke it  everywhere lol

I wonder how much he was paid to trot out the lobbying messages of the vape and tobacco industry?

8 minutes ago, Kinnock said:

I wonder how much he was paid to trot out the lobbying messages of the vape and tobacco industry?

They are two different - competing - industries.

How refreshing it is to hear from a Thai Minister a well thought out and logical statement in relation to electronic cigarettes. As now a non smoker, using e cigarettes was the only thing that stopped me smoking (and I tried everything to stop prior). I hope he wins his fight with his colleagues to get this legislation passed. 

23 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

I am sure someone on here explained it is not illegal to own, possess or smoke e-cigarettes, it is only illegal to import and sell them......is that correct?

 

I see people very furtively smoking them for fear of arrest!!

Well if a foreigner is caught using it the police will try to extort 20 -50.000 THB and it won't go to the court. If you don't pay the bribe you are detained until you see the judge or pay bail if possible. As it is a small value of illegaly imported goods you'll get fined 800.00 Baht, deported and banned from entering Thailand for some time. It happened to many tourists (they don't have now) and expats. Now how bad is this?

 

Just now, nowhereman said:

Well if a foreigner is caught using it the police will try to extort 20 -50.000 THB and it won't go to the court. If you don't pay the bribe you are detained until you see the judge or pay bail if possible. As it is a small value of illegaly imported goods you'll get fined 800.00 Baht, deported and banned from entering Thailand for some time. It happened to many tourists (they don't have now) and expats. Now how bad is this?

 

Hahaha.....no wonder they are smoking them so furtively.....

27 minutes ago, thai006 said:

In the law it’s illegal like drugs but in real life people smoke it  everywhere lol

I have vaped in front of the police as did not know there were there. They did not say or do anything .Yet my friend last month got a road check and had one in his car. he had to go to court and was fined the cost of his e cig. about 2000 b 

1 minute ago, PEE TEE said:

I have vaped in front of the police as did not know there were there. They did not say or do anything .Yet my friend last month got a road check and had one in his car. he had to go to court and was fined the cost of his e cig. about 2000 b 

Lucky chap your friend.

1 minute ago, nowhereman said:

Lucky chap your friend.

French female tourist in March 2019 before the pandemic caught with a vape in Phuket. Worth reading if you vape in Thailand. https://www.motivape.co.uk/blogs/motivape-blog/tourist-in-thailand-arrested-fined-jailed-and-deported-for-vaping   

i hope there is a petition i will sign it . was on 60 cigs a day started vaping 6 years ago and not had one cig since .

5 minutes ago, nowhereman said:

Lucky chap your friend.

he is Thai so ???

 

Just now, PEE TEE said:

i hope there is a petition i will sign it . was on 60 cigs a day started vaping 6 years ago and not had one cig since .

Same here 5 years. One of the best things in my life.

 

Cigarettes are not viewed as more dangerous, they are proven to be so. I think it’s important the minister gets his head around this if he’s going to persuade his superiors to act 

1 minute ago, nowhereman said:

French female tourist in March 2019 before the pandemic caught with a vape in Phuket. Worth reading if you vape in Thailand. https://www.motivape.co.uk/blogs/motivape-blog/tourist-in-thailand-arrested-fined-jailed-and-deported-for-vaping   

Unavailable if true ? I have seen the police having a vape also so i expect its who catches you if your unlucky you get one who wants promotion  

2 minutes ago, nowhereman said:

Same here 5 years. One of the best things in my life.

 

I now vape as hobby Make my own juice coils etc. i love it 

Quote

 

 

1 minute ago, PEE TEE said:

I now vape as hobby Make my own juice coils etc. i love it 

 

haahaha me too bro ????

4 minutes ago, PEE TEE said:

Unavailable if true ? I have seen the police having a vape also so i expect its who catches you if your unlucky you get one who wants promotion  

sorry unbelievable 

would be great to have vape shops and cafes in Thailand lot of income for the country  

They should do a survey of non smokers, which is more tollerable. Cigarettes or E-Cigarettes. I know what the result would be

34 minutes ago, PEE TEE said:

i hope there is a petition i will sign it . was on 60 cigs a day started vaping 6 years ago and not had one cig since .

I tend to endorse your smoking solution to  60 stick a day, but like all things in life science will come to bear and it is widely acknowledged that most vape 'fuels' contain contaminants, some proven and some yet to be proven, which are harmful. Unexpectedly in a recent survey of many 'fuels' this included nicotine, six out of a hundred plus. My point here is that there is no safe way to check levels at POS.

10 minutes ago, Expat68 said:

They should do a survey of non smokers, which is more tollerable. Cigarettes or E-Cigarettes. I know what the result would be

Cigarettes far more harmful secondary smoke harmful smells acrid . Vapor from egigs can be very annoying to others vapers should consider others .some flavors smell nice and is only water vaper not harmful. Vaper is non ignition cigs are makes the difference between smoke and vapor.   My opinion 

Vaping is horrible and though legal in most countries is not allowed indoors or on transport. The stink and the volume of smoke is vile. They are a gateway to tobacco. They are not safe.