by Krajangwit Johjit

BANGKOK (NNT) - A prominent lawyer has warned the public about the consequences of possessing an e-cigarette or vaping device in Thailand.

 

The warning comes after police officers from Huay Kwang station were charged with taking a bribe from a Taiwanese actress in exchange for ignoring her possession of a vaper.

 

According to lawyer Ronnarong Kaewpetch, individuals caught in possession of a vaping device can face a maximum of five years in prison and a heavy fine that is four times the device’s price. He also noted that using a vaper in public violates Section 42 of the Tobacco Control Act, resulting in a fine of 5,000 baht.

 

In 2014, the Commerce Ministry banned the import of e-cigarettes, electric smoking devices, and vape liquids.

 

Importing such devices or liquids violates Section 20 of the Import/Export Act and carries a jail term of up to 10 years and/or a fine of five times the value of the goods.

 

A year later, the Consumer Protection Board began banning the sale of e-cigarettes and their liquids with violators facing a jail term of up to five years and/or a fine of 500,000 baht.

 

Although the regulations have caused confusion among Thai social media users as vaping devices are widely available and used in the country, Ronnarong stated that it is important that the public understand and strictly follow them to avoid serious consequences.

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230202101443365

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2023-02-02

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

When it comes to all laws governing this vaping, smoking and inhaling of ganga in all its forms i think that Thailand is confused as a child lost in a jungle and they themselves not sure what to do what to allowed what is in the public interest and what is not, while in Australia Legalising marijuana could generate $28 billion as new Parliamentary Budget Office report invigorates Greens Party campaign..

https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/legalising-marijuana-could-generate-28-billion-as-new-parliamentary-budget-office-report-invigorates-greens-party-campaign/news-story/40b55393f8d2b7ee66411b1a0cd6d0b6

That's a pretty stiff tariff- to say the least, especially for a harm reduction device! 

 

Anyone unable to quit a nicotine habit would be advised to revert to cigarettes I suppose.  It's a particularly baffling stance for someone from the UK, whose Health authority proclaims the following : vaping is at least 95% safer than smoking.

https://www.bmj.com/content/363/bmj.k5429

 

Still, Thailand knows best.

 

Speechless!????

 

 

They really need to bring Vaping under the umbrella of the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly and then legalize and tax it.

 

They are embarrassing themselves on the international stage by making it illegal with a 5 year prison sentence for possessing a device.  5 years! For something 95% safer than smoking a cigarette. ???? It makes the place seem like a basket case.

2 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

They really need to bring Vaping under the umbrella of the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly and then legalize and tax it.

 

They are embarrassing themselves on the international stage by making it illegal with a 5 year prison sentence for possessing a device.  5 years! For something 95% safer than smoking a cigarette. ???? It makes the place seem like a basket case.

As an interesting (or not) aside, the Thai Tobacco Monopoly has rebranded.

After well over a decade of riding my bike through their property that is now Suan Ben, I realized that they now call themselves TOAT, or Tobacco Authority of Thailand.

 

Anyone know when that happened?  

7 minutes ago, n00dle said:

Anyone know when that happened?  

2018

7 minutes ago, n00dle said:

As an interesting (or not) aside, the Thai Tobacco Monopoly has rebranded.

After well over a decade of riding my bike through their property that is now Suan Ben, I realized that they now call themselves TOAT, or Tobacco Authority of Thailand.

 

Anyone know when that happened?  

I guess they realized that when they are making a token effort to pretend to abide by competition laws, calling themselves the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly kind of gives the game away ????.

 

3 minutes ago, Salerno said:

2018

thx

2 minutes ago, n00dle said:

thx

I only know because at the time of the changes there was some hope of rescinding the dumb vaping laws 555

29 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

They really need to bring Vaping under the umbrella of the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly and then legalize and tax it.

 

They are embarrassing themselves on the international stage by making it illegal with a 5 year prison sentence for possessing a device.  5 years! For something 95% safer than smoking a cigarette. ???? It makes the place seem like a basket case.

Law enforcement for sure resists this as much as possible as it wouoe remove the 'tax' revenue stream from them. 

 

Thailand has embarrassed themselves in countless other issues already, one vaping law issue does not make much of a dent to the reputation... This country is not far from a failed state like Russia. 

16 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

I guess they realized that when they are making a token effort to pretend to abide by competition laws,

Foreign companies and local competition are not banned from importing and distributing tobacco products in Thailand.

Looks like 750 years in jail for me then ????

First of all lawyers can say what they want but as long as the police doesn't enforce any law, nobody will take it seriously what they say. No helmets, no seating in back of cars, alcohol secretly sales, sextoys,  bribing officers, illegal gambling, shops/bars/restaurants without right paper and just name it and now they start again with e cigarettes, while a lot of Thai people use them and they are freely available in the country...If you want that people take you serious, than you have to enforce on every law, 24 hours day 7 days a week..

Secondly, vaping is much better than smoking, although still unhealthy.. In almost the whole world it is allowed but Thailand want to attrack tourists, but bans every jpy they want to have.. driving motorcycles, vaping, drinking beer, and jetski/taxi/tours/ scamming....Why do they want tourists?? There are better destinations with less restrictions, as cheap as, and even beautiful as Thailand. Tourists come because you make the difference and Thailand is not Thailand of 10 years ago anymore and so tourists know that too...

It's funny that I see all the time people with these devices in Thailand. And nobody gets arrested. Strange. 

What do you call a country where you can buy dope 24/7 but not a can of beer at five minutes past two, and where vaping or a device can get you a 500,000 k baht fine or years in prison? - a madhouse.

So why don't they go catch all the guys selling in tables on suk and get 500,000 baht.   It's only 5000 for having a ecig so 27k?   The cops are digging their hole deeper in the much.  Now politicians are going to get <deleted> and have to do something.    This lawyer should have also stated the laws and penalties regarding cops demanding money or taking bribes.   Hopefully the Thai people get <deleted>.   I know everyone on FB has seen this 27k extortion and how the cops are trying to cover their ask. 

You can't make this stuff up....smoke weed or cigs all day everyday, sold everywhere....can't buy beer from 2 to 5 at big stores but ma and pa no problem....hookers everywhere but cops see no prostitution....want to get immigration done just pay an agent to bribe someone for you to avoid hassles.  Kill a cop hyped up on cocaine and flee?  No problem.

 

Have a vape pen....oh u are in big big trouble now.

 

 

So when a tourist bring (import) his ecig to Thailand, without knowing the law, then he can face a jail term of up to 10 years.

 

It is clear that such laws with completely absurd penalties open the door to corruption.

 

According to the motto: "You now have a big problem, but I can help you. For xxxxx Baht I let you go."

I'm looking for a woman's toy (d...o) that has a vaping device incorporated. Anybody has one ?

 

Would love to go to court for possessing a vaping sextoy ????

 

30 millions turist multiplied per

X fines from Vaper smoker = ????????

why vape when you can get high?

4 hours ago, proton said:

What do you call a country where you can buy dope 24/7 but not a can of beer at five minutes past two, and where vaping or a device can get you a 500,000 k baht fine or years in prison? - a madhouse.

Colorful and exotic.

Why does he has to say that Vaping is Illegal? It's the Law everyone knows that.

Except tourists ,but they should know from their travel Agency what's Legal or Illegal.

13 hours ago, digger70 said:

Why does he has to say that Vaping is Illegal? It's the Law everyone knows that.

Except tourists ,but they should know from their travel Agency what's Legal or Illegal.

They get caught out..... naïve enough to think that items that are openly sold cannot be illegal! Or that if someone will rent them a motorcycle with no licence, it is okay etc etc.

I find it interesting, but not surprising how a government news channel uses the language to change the angle some what;

 

“…after police officers from Huay Kwang station were charged with taking a bribe from a Taiwanese actress in exchange for ignoring her possession of a vaper.”

 

kinda sounds like the payment was the vapers idea - like she offered a bribe, and the poor police just couldnt resist..!

 

whereas the truth is, as with every shakedown - they found the leverage, and using the threat of prison extorted 27k.