Case of extortion of Taiwanese actress thrusts e-cigarette issues into the spotlight in Thailand

[webfact]

Daily News Thai Cap: Punishment for e-cigarettes?

 

Daily News reported on punishments related to the import and sale of what Thais call "buree fai faa" - e-cigarettes and "nam yaa buree fai faa" - vaping fluid. 

 

The issue is one of the features of the extortion case surrounding the Taiwanese actress Charlene An that is the talk of Thailand.

 

Many tourists are confused by the law and there have been calls for signage at airports to clarify the issue as it relates to visitors. 

 

The fact that the possession of such a device is at the heart of an extortion case will surprise few Thai watchers.

 

They are visible and ideal for the extortion of unwary tourists.

 

The import and sale of the devices is illegal.

 

Importers can face fines of 500,000 baht to one million baht and there are penalties of 5-10 years on the books. 

 

Thailand's authorities disapprove of the devices and say they are following WHO guidlines to protect children, young people and adults.

 

They take the stance that the devices are addictive and oppose the notion that they help people give up regular cigarettes. 

 

Many people and their governments around the world disagree, some don't.

 

That there are severe penalties for their import and sale in the kingdom is not in doubt, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

Even though the devices are openly on sale everywhere both at markets and online. A point made by the Singaporean known as "Mr Sky" in a call with whistleblower Chuwit Kamonwisit that can be read here. 

 

Sporadic crackdowns have resulted in some arrests over the last few years - when shisha was also declared as illegal. 

 

But while shisha smokers in restaurants and clubs were easy prey for fines the casual use by Thais and tourists of e-cigarettes is largely ignored in the country.

 

Daily News made no attempt to explore this finer issue that is at the heart of the extortion case.

 

Is the importation of a single personal device and its use in Thailand actually illegal? This question remains largely unanswered and open to "interpretation".

 

Many tourists who use the devices abroad are left in a kind of limbo - and could be at the mercy of the RTP when it so pleases them. 

 

Further muddying the waters is the legalization of marijuana. There are shops everywhere selling the drug.

 

While of course a separate issue this "laissez-faire" attitude to a drug that could have landed you in jail prior to last June further confuses tourists who vape. 

 

Indeed many marijuana users prefer vaping devices for their weed.

 

Are they to be arrested- or extorted - not for the substance but for the means use to smoke it?

 

Many questions remain unanswered in what many Thai observers will say is typical of the smoke and mirrors approach that exists in the kingdom. 

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2023-01-31

 

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[JonnyF]

They should really make it clear at the point of booking. If you are a smoker who has switched to Vaping, it's quite a big deal in that you either have to give up smoking (not great while on holiday) or switch back to normal cigarettes (which people may have spent several months moving away from).

 

Clearly the correct solution is to legalize Vaping, but the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly wouldn't like that. They'd prefer to continue making money while people kill themselves with normal cigarettes than see them switch to less harmful Vaping.

[ikke1959]

I see vapers everywhere, so allow them and sell only above 18 or so....Tourists will vape too and if they don't know that is not allowed they will not come, and stop with the nonsale of alcohol during daytime nonsense..... People should buy when they want and if there is doubt ask for id card...Nothing will change as in rural little shops you always have the possibility to buy your alcohol...and they sell no matter what age, now and they will keep doing it with or without the saleshours

[sammieuk1]

Its exactly the reason its unclear so that the police can have misunderstanding in their extortion racket ????

[Salerno]

19 minutes ago, webfact said:

Is the importation of a single personal device and its use in Thailand actually illegal? This question remains largely unanswered and open to "interpretation".

 

Yes it is, no interpretation required. Why try to muddy the waters?

 

Edited January 31, 2023 by Salerno

[steven100]

yet they allow cannibis shops everywhere ...

 

what a strange country with really messed-up strange laws.

[Pedrogaz]

Why are the leaders of Thailand so damned stupid? 

[pomchop]

9 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

Why are the leaders of Thailand so damned stupid? 

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[BritManToo]

23 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

Its exactly the reason its unclear so that the police can have misunderstanding in their extortion racket ????

Agreed, laws are designed to provide the police with opportunities to extort.

And their easiest victims are short term foreign tourists.

[bamnutsak]

47 minutes ago, webfact said:

Even though the devices are openly on sale everywhere both at markets and online.

And in use everywhere, 99.95% by Thais.

 

 

 

[mommysboy]

Vaping! Of all the recreational drugs to pick on this is the least harmful imo, and yet it's treated like a class 'A' drug.  

 

Still, Thailand has made its choice, so in the future I guess it will have to fully enforce its vaping laws, which is going to mean things will be handled officially- arrest, courts, fines/jail, and deportation for foreigners.  The whole thing borders on the absurd.  This is going to cost them dear.  The sensible thing would be to re-evaluate the laws, go by the scientific evidence, as the UK has done, but that won't happen in Thailand, and actually they'll likely double down.

 

One thing's for sure, vapers really shouldn't take these things out in public, or carry them in luggage- even if Thais are to be seen happily vaping in public, even if they see a cop doing the same.  Even farang private users in their own homes have to think carefully from now on - there's a risk, and it just got bigger.

 

What a <deleted>'s muddle!

 

 

[Peabody]

Are dry herb vapes in the same category?

 

[mommysboy]

4 minutes ago, Peabody said:

Are dry herb vapes in the same category?

 

Yes. It's the device and paraphernalia associated that are illegal. 

 

Nothing to do with the substance as such.  And the offence is evading excise duties, strangely by just buying one even if you buy it in Thailand from a store.

Edited January 31, 2023 by mommysboy

[Smokey and the Bandit]

2 hours ago, pomchop said:

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

You speak the unequivocal truth!

[Bangkok Barry]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Many tourists are confused by the law and there have been calls for signage at airports to clarify the issue as it relates to visitors. 

They are even more confused when they see these illegal products on sale in tourist areas and freely used by Thais in nightclubs. 

[BestB]

i though the law was clear so was the wording. Possession is illegal but vaping is not????

[Davedub]

Thailand - the only country on Earth where weed is legal but a vape can land you in trouble!

An unfathomable contradiction, even by Thailand's standards (until you follow the money).

If it were not for the needless damage to tourism and Thailand's image in general, the frightening reality of police shakedowns and the inexcusable violation of people's basic rights to make decisions for themselves, this situation would be hilarious.

[sikishrory]

2 hours ago, Peabody said:

Are dry herb vapes in the same category?

 

Apparently not. Theres a few shops selling them

[Burma Bill]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The import and sale of the devices is illegal. (Thailand)

For reference, also in Cambodia, should anyone decide to do a border run (28th January 2023):

 

"Authorities cracked down on illegal ‘vape’ or ‘e-cig’ suppliers in Siem Reap.....................Anti-Drug Bureau forces implement the crackdown on businesses that distribute prohibited e-cigarettes"

 

 

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501228588/vaping-crackdown-in-siem-reap/

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Even though the devices are openly on sale everywhere both at markets and online. A point made by the Singaporean known as "Mr Sky" in a call with whistleblower Chuwit Kamonwisit

Wait for the knee jerk reaction as all vaping stalls are raided.

[Lorry]

3 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

And in use everywhere

I really wonder where you live,  and the others who say this.  Pattaya?

In parts of Bangkok without farang I hardly see vaping (and certainly not Thais vaping). Outside Bangkok,  I have never seen it at all.

 

You know,  those lands beyond Soi Buakhao and Soi Bangla are also part of Thailand. 

[BritManToo]

3 minutes ago, Lorry said:

I really wonder where you live,  and the others who say this.  Pattaya?

In parts of Bangkok without farang I hardly see vaping (and certainly not Thais vaping). Outside Bangkok,  I have never seen it at all.

 

You know,  those lands beyond Soi Buakhao and Soi Bangla are also part of Thailand. 

Vaping by Thais all over and around Chiang Mai.

[BestB]

6 minutes ago, Lorry said:

I really wonder where you live,  and the others who say this.  Pattaya?

In parts of Bangkok without farang I hardly see vaping (and certainly not Thais vaping). Outside Bangkok,  I have never seen it at all.

 

You know,  those lands beyond Soi Buakhao and Soi Bangla are also part of Thailand. 

try joining thai vape groups and then you will realize there are people beyond your neighbors 

[PingRoundTheWorld]

4 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Clearly the correct solution is to legalize Vaping, but the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly wouldn't like that. They'd prefer to continue making money while people kill themselves with normal cigarettes than see them switch to less harmful Vaping.

Common misconception that vapes are less harmful - they are not - they are far more toxic than normal cigarettes, and to make matters worse people think they are candy sucking on them all night long - far more than they'd do with a cigarette.

 

 

There should be a better effort to educate people on the dangers of vaping, as well as better enforcement to disallow vaping around other people as the toxic fumes are even worse than cigarette second hand smoke. Ever since these cancer vaporizers became more popular I routinely suffer respiratory complications whenever some ***** blows it in my face. I've tried telling people not to so many times but since they don't think of it as cigarettes they keep forgetting every time. I guess the solution is to avoid people who vape completely - no big loss.

 

[Salerno]

1 minute ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

There should be a better effort to educate people on the dangers of vaping

About the only thing worth reading in your post.

[Lorry]

9 minutes ago, BestB said:

thai vape groups

Huh? What's that?

Thais come together in groups to vape?

Or are you talking about fb groups?

Is there really something like that? 

[PingRoundTheWorld]

Just now, Salerno said:

About the only thing worth reading in your post.

And likely the only action that will not be taken.

[TigerandDog]

21 minutes ago, Lorry said:

I really wonder where you live,  and the others who say this.  Pattaya?

In parts of Bangkok without farang I hardly see vaping (and certainly not Thais vaping). Outside Bangkok,  I have never seen it at all.

 

You know,  those lands beyond Soi Buakhao and Soi Bangla are also part of Thailand. 

You obviously haven't been to Chiang Mai Province over the last few years, or if you have you're not very observant. Vaping is rampant amongst Thais in this part of the world.

[Lorry]

5 minutes ago, TigerandDog said:

You obviously haven't been to Chiang Mai Province over the last few years,

Correct.

I didn't know that people vape there.  The smog there is not enough? 

[bananafish]

Vaping is very bad for me, I get a host of physical and psychological side effects from it.

Tossing and turning at night unable to sleep, terrible nightmares once I do sleep, awaking in the middle of the night with a racing heart, increase in daytime resting heart rate by 30+ BPM, irritability and increase in negative emotion. 

 

I almost broke up with my girlfriend because I was tying all this to starting shortly after we started dating. I was all set to break up with her, and was starting to hate being in her company, for no reason, as she hadn't done anything bad.

 

Then one day, because of the constant waking from nightmares with a racing heart, I checked my heart rate throughout the day, and it sat at between 95 and 105 BPM.

 

I am relatively young and in very good physical shape, so this freaked me out a bit.

 

So I stopped vaping right away, and within 24 hours all the symptoms above went away. Normal sleep, no nightmares, my resting heart rate sits around 65 BPM, and the craziest thing of all, my affection for my girlfriend returned. 

 

I stopped smoking some time ago but took up vaping from being around her, because she vapes. So all these symptoms did start since being around her, but it was the vaping. 

 

Totally shocking to me that it impacted me so much, but I googled and found some corroborating anecdotes. 

 

So if any of you vape and are having any of these issues, it's worth knocking it on the head for a while to see if it's responsible.